Blaze James Launches Artist Management Company The Fellowship

Veteran artist manager Blaze James has launched his new artist management company, The Fellowship.

Backstory:

• James’ career began in 1994, when he discovered At the Drive-In in a small bar in Los Angeles and went on to manage their career until their 2001 split.

• Launching the management company Black Sheep Fellowship, he also oversaw the careers of Sparta, The Murder City Devils, TSOL and Coheed and Cambria, whose career he still manages 23 years later.

• After collaborating with other artist management companies such as The MGMT Co and Velvet Hammer, James spent a decade as Roc Nation’s ‘Head of Rock,' managing artists such as Korn, Rival Sons, Basement and others, garnering multiple Grammy nominations and several Top 5 singles, including a Number 1 at Rock Radio.

• He stepped down from that role in January to found The Fellowship, “a management company where DIY ethics and 30 years of experience intersect.”

The roster:

• The Fellowship launches with prog-pop pioneers Coheed and Cambria, seminal shoegaze act Failure, London’s hardcore songsters High Vis, fast-rising LA anthemic alt-punk band Militarie Gun, former MTV VJay and current radio host Matt Pinfield, and Philadelphia’s Soul Glo.

The structure:

• James is joined at The Fellowship by Conrad Loebl and Jess Loud.

• Loebl’s 20-year industry career has seen him work as a talent buyer, event producer, DJ, booking agent, artist manager and visual design artist.

• Loud’s career started in 2014 managing the fan experience for the Sixthman-produced KISS Kruise and The Outlaw Country Cruise. She met James when project managing Coheed and Cambria’s S.S. Neverender Cruise.

What they said:

• Blaze James: “The Fellowship will seek to be home to like-minded managers, artists, creators and more. Our current roster, which includes Coheed and Cambria, Failure, High Vis, Militarie Gun, Matt Pinfield and Soul Glo, speaks for itself, from the most exciting new bands to deeply respected career artists.”