New Leaders: Maverick’s Nick Jarjour Has His Sights Set on Music Industry Domination
The youngest partner at Maverick, the consortium headed by Madonna and U2 manager Guy Oseary and counting such iconic artists as Paul McCartney, The Weeknd and Nicki Minaj on its roster, Nick Jarjour is a musical matchmaker of sorts. The Toronto native represents producers and songwriters (Cirkut, Alex Da Kid and Starrah are clients) and teams them up with artists like the Weeknd, Calvin Harris, and Maroon 5.
All told, songs he’s had a hand in have been consumed more than 250 million times. They include Calvin Harris’ “Feels,” Camila Cabello’s “Havana,” Katy Perry’s “Swish Swish” featuring Nicki Minaj, Rihanna’s “Needed Me,” and Maroon 5’s latest, “Girl Like You.”
“All I want to do is make hits and empower artists,” says the 31-year-old, who was named one of Variety‘s “New Leaders” of 2017. “My goal is to help them dream as big as possible.”
It’s a mantra he has personal experience with. After toiling away in Toronto, mostly working for free, Jarjour found himself in Europe where he helped develop up-and-coming artists for Warner Music France and a host of indie labels and publishers. As legend goes, Jarjour would end up crashing on Cirkut’s floor — the producer who came up through the Dr. Luke bootcamp of pop hits — and learning the art of hitmaking from the other side.
Focusing on what he calls “an underdog roster,” Jarjour discovered the songwriter Starrah and eventually took on Cirkut for management too. His latest signing is Alex Da Kid, a well-known name in the industry who has seen chart-topping singles and albums with Imagine Dragons and Eminem. “With Alex,” says Jarjour, “it’s about how can I bridge the gap between music and brands.”
Jarjour joined Maverick in 2016 after impressing Oseary and manager Gee Roberson during a negotiation. “I had to stay true to the artist, so I was battling David and Goliath style,” he says, declining to name the act in question. “Gee and Guy said to me, ‘You’re a maverick.’ These were legends of the music industry that I studied from afar. So to have the guys at Maverick see me as a peer and an equal … It’s an honor.”
Jarjour credits his success to the “collaborative” nature of Maverick, where he is free to work with any of the collective’s managers or acts. “I can supply all of the artists with hits,” he says. “Using music as a thread can bring us together.” An ear for hooks and a brain for business, he’s eyeing a new digital venture “that bridges the gap between brands, music and social media.” Adds Jarjour: “I’ve been involved in so much great music already, but I know it’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
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