Four music industry pros — Matt Geffen, Ben Schecter, Charlie Perl and Tim Jordan — have officially launched the new multi-sector entertainment company Forge Music Group.
Comprised of Forge Management, Forge Records and Forge Publishing, the new company will help artists, producers and songwriters by “combining strategic management with creative and commercial expertise,” according to a press release.
“We’re in a unique time where great music and art travels the world in a way that has never been seen before,” said Schecter, Forge’s president, in a statement. “Our roster spans six continents, and it’s incredibly rewarding to help our artists and creatives build careers that transcend borders while pushing forward both commerce and creativity.”
The company launches with notable rosters for each of its three divisions. Forge Management boasts clients including Japanese rapper Yuki Chiba, singer-songwriters Nat & Alex Wolff, singer-songwriter CARLA (a co-writer on Tame Impala and JENNIE’s “Dracula), Joe Reeves (Stella Lefty’s “Boston,” Morgan Wallen’s “What I Want” and “I Got Better”), JULiA LEWiS (Bad Bunny’s “DTMF”) and producers Southside and Wheezy (Drake’s “Ran to Atlanta”).
“Great records start in the room with great producers and songwriters,” said Jordan, Forge Management GM. “Our producer and songwriter division exists to give talent the support, space, and opportunities to do their best work.”
Forge Publishing’s signings include Ebubé, Avery Lynch and Grammy-winning producer Peter Lee Johnson. And of Forge Records, which is releasing music by the likes of bixby, singer-songwriter Carol Ades and DJs Lucas Dekker and Jhay Rivas, label GM Perl says: “As one of the few boutique, owner-operated labels, we bring the urgency and attention to detail it takes to build timeless artist careers.”
Furthermore, Forge already has film projects in development, including music supervision work for Fleur, the upcoming feature from director Ellie Foumbi, Plot Twist Productions, Killer Films and AGC Studios that will star Halle Berry and Matthias Schoenaerts.
“We learn every day from our artists, producers, partners, and team, whose talent and perspectives shape everything we build,” said Geffen, Forge’s CEO. “It’s a big sandbox, and our job is to bring extraordinary people together and let them create.”
Prior to Forge, its four co-founders worked at The Revels Group, the multi-sector music company working across artist management, a record label, publishing, tour management and more, and Coup D’État Music, the Revels joint venture co-owned/co-founded by Geffen, Schecter and Perl. The Revels Group, through its writers and producers, has had a hand in major releases this decade by artists including Drake, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar. Coup D’État, meanwhile, publishes writers such as Afrobeats musician Victony, and has label signees including rocker Kami Kehoe, rapper Sainté and country artist Zach Hood; Coup D’État has partnered in recent years with companies such as 10K Projects, Avex USA Publishing and Concord Music Publishing.
