Photo Credit: Red 11 Music
WME further bulks up its Nashville agency representation by acquiring Red 11 Music.
WME hasannouncedits acquisition of Red 11 Music, bulking up its agency representation in Nashville. Jon Folk, Red 11 founder and CEO, joins WME as Partner with the rest of the company and its clients — including Shooter Jennings, Turnpike Troubadours, and Giovannie & The Hired Guns — now operating under WME.
Employees from Red 11 will join WME’s Nashville office, including agent Geoff Turner, coordinators Josh Green, Dan Kuklinski, and Jeremy Upton, and agent assistant Lindsey Wines, bringing WME personnel in Nashville to 65, along with 25 partners.
The acquisition is the latest deal for WME, which has maintained a strong presence in Nashville since 1973. Led by Becky Gardenhire, Jay Williams, and Joey Lee, the Nashville office last purchased a boutique Nashville talent firm in 2010. That deal brought Lee into the fold when the company acquired his 360 Artist Agency, bringing with it country star clients like Miranda Lambert.
“We have long-admired Jon and the business he has built with Red 11,” state Gardenhire, Lee, and Williams. “Jon (Folk) and his team have a proven track record of success, and we look forward to working with them to grow the Americana genre even further.”
“We’re thrilled to be joining WME and the incredible resources and expertise they bring to the table,” adds Folk.
WME’s acquisition of Red 11 arrives on the heels of the Academy of Country Music Awards unveiling its nominees. WME clients Lambert, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, and Cole Swindell each received five nominations.
Touring remains a highlight for WME’s representation, with the company having booked 40,000 music engagements in 2022 in a post-pandemic “recovery of live entertainment such as music and comedy touring.”
WME’s parent company, Endeavoris currently securing its own major acquisitions in wrestling company WWE, looking to pair it with martial arts sports league UFC. Endeavor’s stock has seen a 15 percent increase since this year’s first day of trading.