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Karma Artists is a producer and artist management business, established in 2012,[1] in London, England, by Jordan Jay and Ross Gautreau. It grew into a multi-faceted entertainment company including publishing (Karma Songs), records (Ka Records) and TV projects.

History

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Jordan and Ross met while working in A&R at Polydor Records (Universal Music Group).[2] During their time there, Jordan helped form The Saturdays and The Wanted, as well as working on Girls Aloud and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, while Ross worked in an A&R Scout position at the label championing new and unsigned artists including James Bay, Jacob Banks and The 1975.[3] Ross also held roles at ASCAP,[4] Fairwood Music,[5][6] and Epic Records (Sony). Following this, they set up Karma Artists together.

Between them they have consulted for The X Factor, The Voice UK,[7] Eurovision Song Contest, Rip Tide (film), TV show ‘Project Icon’, Warner Music Group, ITV, and Fremantle, and participated on the Brit Awards Voting Academy.[8]

At the time of winning the Artist & Manager Awards Writer/Producer Manager of the Year category in 2021,[9] Karma-represented creators contributed to 10 UK No.1 albums and 400 million units sold, working with artists like Charlie Puth, OneRepublic, David Guetta, P!nk, Take That, James Arthur, Little Mix, Olly Murs, The Script, and Katy Perry.

Jordan contributed to the 2021 Producer & Songwriter Manager Edition of the Music Managers Forum (MMF)'s Managing Expectations report.[10][11]

Karma Artists has partnerships and consulting projects with EMI,[12] XL Talent,[13] and Budde Music.[14][15][16][17]

A&R projects Jordan worked on with EMI include Westlife's No.1 comeback album Spectrum, 2x No.1 The Vamps albums, and the Top 5 soundtrack for Elton John's Rocketman which saw lead song '(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again' awarded an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Song, and the album shortlisted at The Grammys.[18]

Jordan also signed and developed Olivia Dean,[19] whose debut album Messy garnered three 2024 BRIT Award nominations[20] and a Mercury Prize nomination in 2023.[21] In an interview with Music Week, she said: “I love Jordan, and I’m really proud of the record we’ve made together, he’s been so helpful.”[22]

Awards & nominations

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Karma Artists was nominated in the Songwriter & Producer Management Company of the Year category at the Music Business Worldwide (MBW) A&R Awards in 2023 and 2024 [23][24]

Karma Artists was recognised as Writer/Producer Managers of the Year at the 2021 Artist & Manager Awards,[25] hosted by music industry bodies Music Managers Forum (MMF) and Featured Artists Coalition (FAC).[26]

Jordan was nominated Pop/R&B A&R of the Year at the 2019 Music Business Worldwide (MBW) A&R Awards.[27]

Karma Artist executives Jordan and Ross were recognised in Music Week’s 30 Under 30 longlist.

Roster

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As of spring 2024, the core Karma Artists (management) roster consists of:

Karma Songs (publishing) roster:

  • Johan Fransson
  • Nick Bradley
  • Jez Ashurst

Alumni: Tre Jean-Marie,[30] and Finn Keane aka Easyfun.

References

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  1. ^ "Manager Spotlight: Jordan Jay". Music Managers Forum, 11 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Feature: Jordan Jay & Ross Gautreau". Music Business UK, Q4 2020. 16 December 2020.
  3. ^ "The A&R Sessions with Karma Artists". Pack London, 12 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Alumni, Ross Gautreau". BIMM Music Institute.
  5. ^ "Karma Artists". Tileyard.co.uk.
  6. ^ "Fairwood Music".
  7. ^ "Ross Gautreau, Music Department". IMDB.
  8. ^ "BRIT Awards Voting Academy 2019". BRITs.
  9. ^ "Artist & Manager Awards 2021, in association with Soundcloud: Mogwai to receive Pioneer Award, KARMA ARTISTS TO RECEIVE WRITER/PRODUCER MANAGER AWARD". The Independent Music Insider, 28 October 2021.
  10. ^ "MMF publish Managing Expectations: Producer and Songwriter Management Edition (The Producer & Songwriter Manager Edition of the MMF's Managing Expectations report 2021)". Music Managers Forum, 13 December 2021.
  11. ^ "MMF calls on industry to provide more support for managers of songwriters and producers". Music Week, 13 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Jordan Jay x EMI A&R". Record of the Day, 29 April, 2021.
  13. ^ "XL Talent, Producer / Songwriter Management". XL Talent, About Us.
  14. ^ "Budde Music and Karma Songs extend publishing partnership with Nick Bradley". Music Week, 2 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Budde Music and Karma Songs extend their agreement with songwriter Nick Bradley". Creative Industries News, 1 November 2023. November 2023.
  16. ^ "One Liners: Foy Vance and (famous) friends, JLS, Nick Bradley + more". Complete Music Update (CMU), 2 November 2023. 2 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Budde Music and Karma Songs extend collaboration with Nick Bradley". Record of the Day, 1 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Jordan Jay". Record of the Day, 29 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Olivia Dean and EMI co-president Rebecca Allen talk artist development as debut LP impacts Top 10". Music Week, 4 July 2023.
  20. ^ "BRITs 2024 Nominees revealed!". brits.co.uk, 2024.
  21. ^ "Mercury Prize, previous shortlists". mercuryprize.com, 2023.
  22. ^ "No Messing: Olivia Dean & her teams talk debut album and navigating the industry". Music Week, 18 June 2023.
  23. ^ "THE A&R AWARDS 2023: THE FINALISTS REVEALED!". Music Business Worldwide, 26 September 2023. 26 September 2023.
  24. ^ "THE MUSIC BUSINESS UK AWARDS 2024 IN ASSOCIATION WITH YOUTUBE: THE FINALISTS REVEALED!". Music Business Worldwide, 26 September 2024. 26 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Artist & Manager Awards 2021, in association with Soundcloud: more winners announced". Featured Artists Coalition, 19 November 2021. 9 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Artist & Manager Awards - Full List of Winners". AM Awards blog.
  27. ^ "THE A&R AWARDS 2019: THE FINALISTS REVEALED!". Music Business Worldwide, 24 September 2019. 24 September 2019.
  28. ^ "UK: Red Triangle sign exclusive publishing deal with BMG". BMG UK, 18 August 2020.
  29. ^ "Jez Ashurst profile". Genius.
  30. ^ "CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING SIGNS NATHAN DAWE AND MABEL HIT MAKER TRE JEAN-MARIE". Concord, July 25, 2022. 25 July 2022.
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