Activist Artists Management Adds Mak Symmonds & Chelsea Fodero

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Mak Symmonds & Chelsea Fodero. Photo: Courtesy of Activist Artists Management

Activist Artists Management has added Mak Symmonds and Chelsea Fodero as Artist Managers.

Symmonds brings nearly a decade of experience across artist management, marketing and career development. Most recently, she served as Director of Marketing at SMACK, leading strategy across the company’s management, label and publishing divisions. Before that, Symmonds served as Day-to-Day Manager for Chris Tomlin, Patrick Droney and Redferrin.

“Mak is the kind of person who instantly puts people at ease,” shares Matt Maher, Founding Partner at Activist Artists Management. “She brings experience, curiosity, a deep love of music, and a collaborative, roll-up-your-sleeves approach that’s exactly how we like to work at Activist. She understands how to build meaningful, long-term careers for artists, and we’re excited to have her bring that perspective to our team.”

“I’ve always believed some of the best careers are built on real relationships with artists, with fans and with the communities they serve,” says Symmonds. “Over the years, the moments I’m proudest of are the ones where an artist creates something that lasts, on stage and off, and that’s exactly the work I’m excited to keep doing. Activist builds for the long haul, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join a team that cares this deeply about artists.”

Fodero joins Activist with more than 15 years of experience in artist management, touring and day-to-day operations. Most recently, she served as Day-to-Day Manager for USHER, helping oversee his sold-out Past Present Future World Tour, as well as creative, styling, merchandising and brand partnerships, including collaborations with Ralph Lauren, Baccarat, MLB, the Atlanta Braves and Selfridges. She previously worked with GRAMMY Award-winning Producer of the Year Andrew Watt, Alicia Keys and Mac Miller.

“Chelsea has worked at the highest levels of the business and knows firsthand what it takes to manage the day-to-day of a global artist career,” says Bernie Cahill, Founding Partner at Activist Artists Management. “She’s thoughtful, relentless about the details, and deeply committed to the artists she works with. We’re thrilled to have her join Activist and excited for what she’ll bring to the team.”

“I’ve spent my career in not only the day-to-day logistics but also the large scale operations of every aspect of an artist’s career, and I’ve learned that the biggest moments, whether it’s a sold-out tour, a GRAMMY stage or a global campaign, are built on hundreds of small decisions made well,” adds Fodero. “Activist has a reputation for putting artists first and thinking long-term, and that’s the kind of management I believe in. I’m excited to bring everything I’ve learned to this team and help artists build careers that are as sustainable as they are ambitious.”

Fodero is based in New York, while Symmonds is based in Nashville and Los Angeles.

Lauryn Sink
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