Red Light Management and Swedish company The Very Good have launched a joint venture, Red Light Management Scandinavia.
The new company will be based in Stockholm, Sweden.
It will be headed by Red Light Management UK founder James Sandom and The Very Good founder and CEO Jakob Emtestam.
Red Light Management Scandinavia is, the company says, the first international artist management company to enter the Scandinavian market.
The company says its roster includes Swedish Grammy-nominated artists such as Olga Myko, Sunnan, and Augustine.
Olga Myko is signed to Atlantic Records UK.
The team brings together former TEN Music Group head of A&R Ali Vedadi and former Universal Sweden Senior Marketing Manager Love Appelgren with The Very Good‘s GM Manne Björkman and Emtestam.
“Today’s industry demands more from managers than ever before.”
Jakob Emtestam, The Very Good
They will work with Sandom and his London-based team, including Danish artist and producer manager Alexandra Mills and Red Light UK managing director Lisa Ward, as well as the global Red Light Management network.
“Scandinavia has over-indexed creatively for decades, and we see a clear opportunity to strengthen the region’s management community,” said James Sandom, Red Light Management. “Live, publishing and recorded music companies already have established structures, but artist management has not developed in the same way until now.
“We want to build an ecosystem that supports patient artist development and creates bridges for Scandinavian artists to export internationally wherever possible.”
“Scandinavia has over-indexed creatively for decades, and we see a clear opportunity to strengthen the region’s management community.”
James Sandom, Red Light Management
“Partnering with Red Light Management to establish this hub allows us to bring international expertise and much-needed stability to the Scandinavian management scene,” said Jakob Emtestam, founder and CEO of The Very Good. “Today’s industry demands more from managers than ever before.
“By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing over working in silos, we are creating a foundation essential for building and sustaining long-term careers…”
Ali Vedadi was named lead A&R at TEN Music Group‘s streaming imprint Tenacity in 2017, as previously reported by MBW.
Lisa Ward joined Red Light Management in London in 2016, after a decade at Universal Music Group.
Red Light Management‘s roster has included Grammy winners such as Chris Stapleton and Alabama Shakes.
Coran Capshaw founded Red Light Management in 1991 in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the company describes itself as the largest independent music management company in the world.
Its UK operation launched in 2012, with a roster that has since included Kaiser Chiefs, The Vaccines, and Bastille.
In 2022, Firebird Music Holdings acquired a minority stake in Red Light, with Capshaw continuing to lead the company.
Red Light has continued to expand in recent years, forming a strategic alliance with Warner Music in Japan in 2024 and striking a partnership with Ledgin Management last year.Music Business Worldwide
Red Light Management, a prominent music management company, has partnered with Swedish firm The Very Good to establish a new joint venture called Red Light Management Scandinavia. This venture is set to be headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and will be led by James Sandom, who is the founder of Red Light Management UK, alongside Jakob Emtestam, the founder and CEO of The Very Good.
The formation of Red Light Management Scandinavia is significant as it marks the entry of the first international artist management company into the Scandinavian market. The new company aims to build a roster that includes notable Swedish artists, such as Grammy-nominated Olga Myko, Sunnan, and Augustine. Olga Myko is particularly notable for being signed to Atlantic Records UK, highlighting the caliber of talent that the new venture aims to represent.
The management team for Red Light Management Scandinavia is comprised of experienced professionals from various sectors of the music industry. Ali Vedadi, formerly the head of A&R at TEN Music Group, joins the team, along with Love Appelgren, who was a Senior Marketing Manager at Universal Sweden. They will work alongside Manne Björkman, General Manager at The Very Good, and Emtestam. The team will also collaborate with Sandom and his London-based colleagues, such as Danish artist and producer manager Alexandra Mills and Red Light UK managing director Lisa Ward. This collaborative approach reflects the joint venture’s commitment to harnessing a global network to enhance the Scandinavian music scene.
In discussing the venture, Jakob Emtestam emphasized the evolving demands of the music industry, stating that today’s environment requires more from managers than ever before. He noted the importance of creating a collaborative ecosystem where knowledge-sharing prevails over working in isolation. This foundational approach is aimed at fostering long-term careers for artists.
James Sandom echoed this sentiment, highlighting the creative strength of Scandinavia, which has over-indexed in terms of artistic output for decades. He expressed a clear vision for the initiative: to strengthen the region’s artist management community. While live music, publishing, and recorded music sectors have established frameworks, artist management in Scandinavia has lagged behind. Sandom indicated that Red Light Management Scandinavia seeks to build a supportive ecosystem for artist development and create pathways for Scandinavian artists to gain international exposure.
The leadership team is well-equipped to drive the venture forward. Ali Vedadi, who was previously lead A&R at TEN Music Group’s streaming imprint Tenacity, brings extensive industry experience. Lisa Ward, who has been with Red Light Management in London since 2016 after a decade at Universal Music Group, also adds significant expertise to the team.
Red Light Management, founded in 1991 by Coran Capshaw in Charlottesville, Virginia, is recognized as the largest independent music management company in the world. The company has built a robust roster over the years, representing Grammy-winning artists such as Chris Stapleton and Alabama Shakes. Its UK operation launched in 2012 and has included notable acts like Kaiser Chiefs, The Vaccines, and Bastille.
In recent years, Red Light Management has expanded its reach, securing a minority stake from Firebird Music Holdings in 2022 and forming strategic alliances, such as a partnership with Warner Music in Japan in 2024 and a collaboration with Ledgin Management the previous year.
Through the establishment of Red Light Management Scandinavia, the company aims to leverage its extensive industry experience and success to enhance the talent management landscape in Scandinavia. By integrating local talent with international expertise, they hope to create a thriving environment for artist development and management, ultimately enabling Scandinavian artists to flourish on the global stage.
Overall, this joint venture signifies a promising step towards evolving the music management landscape in Scandinavia and addressing the increasing demands of the contemporary music industry. With a strong leadership team and a commitment to collaboration, Red Light Management Scandinavia is poised to make a significant impact on the region’s music scene.
