Joel Zimmerman, WME’s head of electronic music, exits Cutbacks – Variety

Joel Zimmerman, WME’s head of electronic music, has left the agency. Diversity Learned through multiple sources. Zimmerman was the agent in charge of a roster that included Weekend, Calvin Harris, Deadmau 5, Kigo, Murda Bitz and Steve Aoki.

Zimmerman, who is based in Los Angeles, joined the agent in 2006 as co-head of the department with husband producer Pete Tong, who was a Moonlight as a DJ and radio host. Coming from its own company Division One, Zimmerman brought an impressive stability to the artists and created the department as EDM exploded as a genre. The popularity of dance music raises astronomy fees around the world, but especially for top actors in Las Vegas, where there were no runs for a seven-image residency at night.

Speaking at a conference in 2012, Joel Zimmerman famously announced: “If there was a movie with a war bid on EDM, I would probably be Darth Vader.”

Zimmerman could not be reached; WME did not respond DiversityRequest to comment.

The touring sector and live entertainment space as a whole have been damaged by the coronavirus epidemic, which has effectively shut down spaces and gathered huge crowds.

A significant number of WME agents and other staff are in the process of being laid off. Rumors about the WME downsizing process have been circulating for weeks, with many WMEs contributing to feelings of anxiety and uncertainty within. WME Heavyweights is trying to help find new opportunities for some of the potential losers – as talent managers or executives in production entities.