EXCLUSIVE: Artists First, the management and production company founded by Peter Principato, has launched a Music Division led by veteran exec and entrepreneur Carmen Murray.
In her role as Founding Advisor, Murray will help establish and guide the company’s music strategy while developing new opportunities across music, sports, branding, intellectual property, and strategic partnerships. Along with her partner Michael Michel, she will work closely with Artists First’s management teams to create meaningful pathways for athletes and actors to engage with the music industry through business development, brand collaborations, and other cross-industry initiatives.
Murray is the founder and Co-CEO of Title 9, a management, production, and intellectual property company repping artists, producers, songwriters, and other creatives. Alongside Co-CEO Michel, she has helped build the company into a strategic platform for talent development, content creation, and intellectual property growth across music, film, television, sports, and emerging media.
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Throughout her career, Michel has cultivated and led strategic partnerships with the likes of Universal Music Publishing Group, Def Jam Recordings, Atlantic Records, Republic Records, Epic Records, Motown, Warner Chappell Music, EMPIRE, MNRK Music Group, BMG, SRC Records, and Roc Nation.
“I’ve worked closely with Carmen for many years and have seen firsthand her ability to deliver results across multiple areas of the entertainment industry,” said Artists First Chairman Principato and CEO E. Brian Dobbins. “She has an extraordinary reputation and a collaborative approach that aligns with our culture. As we continue to grow, we’re sharply focused on opportunities that create genuine synergy across the company to expand what’s possible for our clients, and Carmen is uniquely positioned to help us do that.”
Murray said, “Artists First has built an extraordinary reputation by championing talent and fostering long-term creative careers. I am honored to help lead the launch of the Music Division and create new opportunities at the intersection of music, entertainment, sports, and brands. Throughout my career, I have seen that the greatest opportunities are created when creative communities unite around a common purpose. I look forward to bridging relationships across the creative community and helping build the Music Division into a significant driver of growth, innovation, and market impact for the organization.”
