Matt Shay Joins Make Wake Artists

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Matt Shay. Photo: Rebecca Ward

Matt Shay has joined Make Wake Artists as the company’s first General Manager. In his role, he will lead a team of nearly 50 employees that offer in-house marketing, tour strategy, content planning, merchandise development and more.

“I’ve long admired what Kappy has built with Make Wake, and from the inside, it’s even more impressive.” says Shay. “The depth of the staff, the strength of the leadership team, and the range of services spanning merchandise, digital, label services, publicity, brand partnerships, writer/producer management and beyond create a truly robust platform for artists to build long-term careers. Kappy is a visionary founder, and he and the team have created a culture and infrastructure that is one of one in this business. I’m thrilled to be joining Make Wake and to help build on this incredible foundation as we take the company and its artists into the next chapter.”

Shay has more than 30 years of experience in the music industry, with a background in artist management, A&R, record label leadership and film and TV production. Most recently, he founded ARTIST MGMT and previously served as President of C3 Management, where he managed artists including The Head And The Heart, Modest Mouse, Mt. Joy, Jack Harlow, Future and The Strokes.

Before moving into management, he spent 10 years at RCA Music Group, rising to SVP of A&R/Marketing and General Manager of Black Seal, working with artists such as Pearl Jam, Maroon 5 and Alicia Keys. He joins Make Wake along with artists from his current roster, Bella McCormick and Chris Ryan.

“I met Matt five years ago and we hit it off right away,” adds Chris Kappy, Founder of Make Wake Artists. “He understood my vision and respected that I wanted to do things differently because everyone told me what I was doing wasn’t ‘how things are done here.’ Matt brings that ethos to Make Wake. I wasn’t looking for someone who would simply agree with everyone. I needed a forward-thinking leader who could challenge conventions and continue to move us forward. Our culture is thriving, and adding him to the organization is a win for our team, our artists, and the future of Make Wake.”

Madison Hahnen
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