Casey Wasserman, founder and CEO of talent and marketing agency Wasserman Group, is placing the company for sale amid the fallout from his appearance in the Epstein files.
As The Wall Street Journal reports, Wasserman sent a memo to staff on Friday (13 February) telling them that he felt he had “become a distraction”, and that he would thus begin the process of selling the company.
It comes after flirtatious email exchanges between Wasserman and the now jailed Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, which dated back to the early 2000s, were released online as the US Justice Department continues to share evidence it gathered in relation to the crimes of Maxwell and the late pedophile and child sex trafficker Epstein.
Wasserman Group, through its Wasserman Music subsidiary, oversees management and events bookings for some of the biggest names in music. Many of the artists on its roster – which was removed from public view on the company’s website amid the backlash – have since spoken out against Wasserman, and some have begun the process of cutting ties with the company. Among those figures are Chappell Roan, Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino, Wednesday, Orville Peck and Sylvan Esso.
The Wrap also recently reported that a group of music agents working at Wasserman had demanded that Casey leave the firm. The group of agents, who represent some of Wasserman’s most high-profile client, delivered an ultimatum to Casey that he sell the music business and leave, or they will leave the agency.
Longtime agency executive Mike Watts is set to lead day-to-day operations of the company going forward. Wasserman has also faced calls to resign from his position as chair of the LA28 Olympics committee, but has not yet heeded those calls.
