‘Culturally, we’re in a second that values vulnerability and rawness. My position is to assist make these artistic connections potential.’

Jennifer Fierman’s profession within the music business has been pushed by a deep love for dwell music. It has additionally been formed by a fascination with the connection between artists and their audiences.

Since becoming a member of Disruptor Information in 2015 as Head of A&R and Publishing, Fierman has helped form the corporate’s evolution from its EDM beginnings right into a powerhouse of artistic collaboration, administration, and publishing.

“I used to be all the time drawn to the expertise of dwell music,” Fierman says. “In school and highschool, I liked going to reveals and watching the connection between musicians and followers. I didn’t know precisely the place I match into that world but, however I knew I needed to be a part of it.”

Her first job was at Jive Information, working in publicity. From there, she took on just a few completely different roles earlier than realizing that A&R was the place she really belonged.

Earlier than becoming a member of Disruptor, Fierman labored throughout main labels together with Common, Warner, and Sony Music, gaining a deep understanding of what it takes to develop world artists and construct artistic partnerships.

She’s been instrumental in guiding artists and songwriters like Evan Blair — who wrote and produced Benson Boone’s newest single Mystical Magical (which peaked at No.4 on High 40 Radio within the US) and labored on Boone’s world hit Stunning Issues, which reached No.2 on the Billboard Scorching 100 and topped the charts in 19 international locations.

Fierman additionally manages songwriter Sarah “Solly” Solovay, identified for her work on Teddy Swims’ hit single Dangerous Desires (which peaked at No.7 on the UK Singles chart and No.8 on the US Pop Airplay chart), and Are You Even Actual? that includes Giveon, which reached No.1 on the Grownup R&B Airplay Chart and was co-written with Sean Kennedy.

She has helped develop producer-songwriter Pink Slip (Kyle Buckley), who co-wrote the Katseye viral hit Gnarly, and labored intently with Dove Cameron throughout her breakout 12 months, together with the discharge of her High 40 single Boyfriend.

Fierman says that she goals to bridge the hole between creative authenticity and business success — a stability she describes as “connecting human expertise with world attraction.”

“It took me a very long time to seek out the proper residence that allowed me to develop,” she says. “It’s not all the time nearly your expertise or intuition; typically it’s concerning the atmosphere you’re in.”

Right here, Fierman tells MBW about artist growth, the significance of artistic belief, the evolving position of girls in music, and why discovering the proper companions has been key to her success.

What led you to hitch Disruptor Information?

I’d identified Adam Alpert (Founder and CEO of Disruptor) for a very long time. When The Chainsmokers began taking off, we reconnected. On the time, I used to be working in publishing, and Adam instructed me about what he was constructing at Disruptor, an organization that may unite a label, publishing, and administration arm beneath one roof.

What drew me in was that mix of major-label energy and unbiased consideration to element. After years at main firms, I used to be craving a spot that allowed for extra private care and inventive freedom, and Disruptor provided precisely that.

What was your greatest problem in growing the Disruptor Author/Producer & Selector Songs roster?

Our greatest problem for the Disruptor Information aspect was breaking out of our high-profile roots in EDM music. We actually needed to diversify by signing artists who felt cohesive and complementary to at least one one other that would assist us construct past the style of EDM.

As a result of we function throughout label, publishing, and administration, we would have liked creatives who understood that ecosystem; who noticed the worth of working as a part of a related artistic community.

“We actually needed to diversify by signing artists who felt cohesive and complementary to at least one one other that would assist us construct past the style of EDM.”

On The Selector Publishing aspect I centered on figuring out A&Rs and writers with like-minded tastes who may perceive one another’s artistic decisions. We recognized a  few key partnerships early on and constructed from there.

What makes you assume: ‘This particular person has one thing particular?’ What’s your method to serving to them, and the way have you learnt it’s an artist it’s best to dedicate your time to?

It’s not nearly discovering individuals who have a extremely clear sense of who they’re, but additionally a way that I can add worth to it. We by no means wish to create an individual’s complete persona. It actually begins with them understanding their beliefs, objectives, and musical model. Once I really feel like we will add worth, that’s once I realize it’s the proper match.

You’ve labored intently with Dove Cameron and Evan Blair. What was that course of like?

After we signed Dove Cameron, she was transitioning out of her Disney period and discovering her new sound. It took time to align her with the proper creatives that actually helped construct out a sonic panorama. As soon as she started working with Evan Blair (whom we publish), every thing began to click on.

Evan had all the time been an exceptional author. I used to be all the time his fan, and he had completed this EP, Fairly Poison, with a Warner-signed artist named Nessa Barrett, which blew me away.

The world he constructed for her, so distinct and emotionally wealthy, was precisely what I’d been trying to find with Dove. That collaboration led to Boyfriend, which grew to become her greatest track up to now. I really like how particular that track is, you might inform how distinctive it’s in its perspective and the writing, and even simply the way in which it sounds. It’s Jazz Pop manufacturing, in a really cool, distinctive means.

Sean Kennedy is one among my latest shoppers, and I can’t keep in mind a time once I wasn’t his greatest fan. His music all the time spoke to me from afar, and extra not too long ago, we discovered ourselves in a spot to work collectively. He not too long ago collaborated with Solly on Are You Even Actual, which got here out with Teddy Swims and Giveon [at the] prime of the 12 months, and I’m actually happy with it.

“I really like the way it seems like a return to my ‘fan self’ once I discover creatives whose music speaks to me so passionately.”

I really like the way it seems like a return to my “fan self” once I discover creatives whose music speaks to me so passionately. Having the chance to assist them work out the way to get that music heard and construct the proper methods to take it to the subsequent stage has been such a pleasure of mine.

Talking about Evan Blair… Benson Boone’s hit ‘Stunning Issues’ is exploding in every single place. How do you stability artistic freedom with business attraction?

As a lot as I’d like to take credit score for the proper synergy of these worlds, it actually comes all the way down to the artists, the writers, and their groups.

I’ve all the time been drawn to music that mixes genuine emotion with business potential, and all through my profession, I’ve labored to facilitate connections with these shared values.

Culturally, we’re in a second that values vulnerability and rawness. That’s what permits songs like Stunning Issues and Dangerous Desires written by Sarah “Solly” Solovay to attach with audiences in every single place. My position is to assist make these artistic connections potential.

How would you describe the position of A&R in 2025, at a time when music discovery is pushed by information, TikTok, and AI?

I believe all of it will depend on how we use it. Each time new know-how enters the music business, we’ve discovered that combating it isn’t all the time one of the best reply, particularly if it’s going to maintain pushing ahead, as AI clearly will.

It’s about studying the way to combine it responsibly. AI may be useful in small methods, like testing vocals or pitching demos, however at a bigger scale, it’s nonetheless unclear. What’s essential is that we don’t lose the human aspect of creation, as a result of that’s what listeners join with.

Being in a management position, what adjustments have you ever seen for girls on this subject, and what nonetheless must evolve?

There have positively been constructive strides. Extra girls are operating departments and shaping government groups, which is unbelievable, and I work with so many who I like and that I name mates each day.

If I needed to spotlight one space the place I’ve seen actual change, it’s feminine artist managers — there are such a lot of highly effective girls managing big pop artists in the present day, and I can’t keep in mind ever noting this earlier than.

That mentioned, the very fact we’re nonetheless asking the query means there’s work to do. One space I’d like to see extra progress in is feminine producers. There’s nonetheless an actual gender hole there.

What’s been the most important problem in your profession to date?

Aligning the proper companions. Adam [Alpert] has all the time given me the house to belief my instincts and absolutely understand my concepts, and that’s once I’ve completed my finest work.

So I encourage folks to maintain that in thoughts when confronted with adversity. It took me a very long time to seek out the proper residence that allowed me to develop. It’s not all the time nearly your expertise or intuition; typically it’s concerning the atmosphere you’re in.

Who’ve been your mentors alongside the way in which?

I’ve discovered from everybody — even the troublesome folks. Each expertise taught me one thing priceless. I can’t level to at least one single mentor, however I’ve labored with unbelievable leaders and creatives who formed how I believe and lead. I’d prefer to imagine I’ve absorbed a bit of of every of them.

What recommendation would you give to younger executives beginning out in music or A&R?

My recommendation is to belief your instincts and do not forget that reaching success doesn’t all the time imply hitting an enormous residence run out of the park. Wins present up in some ways alongside the way in which, whether or not it’s constructing a relationship that you simply carry all through your profession or a peer that you simply took an early assembly with.

“My recommendation is to belief your instincts and do not forget that reaching success doesn’t all the time imply hitting an enormous residence run out of the park.”

Early on, it’s straightforward to get discouraged and jaded while you’re not reaching the “end-all-be-all” model of success we frequently think about. Nevertheless it’s necessary to do not forget that every thing has goal. It simply may take a while to see it come full circle.

I wouldn’t be right here if I hadn’t made strides alongside the way in which. I didn’t have any relationships within the music business previous to becoming a member of it. I constructed each single contact I’ve. It’s actually necessary to recollect how priceless that’s while you’re striving towards your objectives.

Are there any world actions or sounds you’re most enthusiastic about proper now?

I really like the Ok-Pop motion. I work with Kyle Buckley (Pink Slip), who was touring to Korea and collaborating with Ok-Pop artists lengthy earlier than the crossover exploded. I work with him on Katseye, on the track Gnarly, which is simply so out of the field and wild. It was simply such a enjoyable expertise.

“I’m fascinated by how Ok-Pop is reintroducing the vitality of the millennial pop I grew up with, the place it’s all about choreography, large manufacturing, and persona.”

I’m fascinated by how Ok-Pop is reintroducing the vitality of the millennial pop I grew up with, the place it’s all about choreography, large manufacturing, and persona. That’s in all probability one of many actions I actually look out for and revel in being a part of it.

When you may change one factor concerning the music business, what wouldn’t it be?

I believe the apparent reply is songwriter compensation. It’s the most important difficulty we face. So many sensible folks can’t afford to pursue songwriting full-time, and we’re dropping voices we don’t even learn about but. I hope we discover a resolution quickly as a result of the way forward for nice music will depend on it.

Virgin Music Group is the worldwide unbiased music division of Common Music Group, which brings collectively UMG’s label and artist service companies together with Virgin and Ingrooves.Music Enterprise Worldwide