On Thursday, February 5, Best Coast’s frontwoman Bethany Cosentino became the first artist signed to the influential Wasserman Agency to publicly address the troubling revelations regarding its founder and CEO, Casey Wasserman. The controversy erupted following the disclosure of a flirtatious relationship between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell, who has been convicted of sex trafficking and was a key accomplice of convicted child predator Jeffrey Epstein. These developments coincided with the release of a new set of three million files in the Epstein case.
Cosentino expressed her outrage regarding Wasserman’s apology, where he stated he “deeply regrets” his communications with Maxwell. She called for him to resign and urged the agency to change its name, reflecting the seriousness of the situation.
In response to Cosentino’s discourse, a wave of artists, primarily from the indie scene, have joined the conversation, either announcing their departure from the agency or hinting at possible exits unless Wasserman is held accountable. They have shown solidarity with their agents while expressing their discontent with the agency’s leadership. On Monday, February 9, Chappell Roan became the first prominent artist to step away from Wasserman, indirectly referencing the growing uproar without explicitly mentioning Epstein or Maxwell.
This surge of artist departures poses a significant challenge for Wasserman, whose agency represents major stars including Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, SZA, Noah Kahan, Lorde, and Kenny Chesney. With ongoing discussions about accountability and ethics in the entertainment industry, it remains to be seen if any of these high-profile acts will follow Roan’s lead.
As the situation continues to unfold, we will track the responses of Wasserman’s clients and their positions on this matter, which could have lasting implications for the agency’s reputation and operations in the industry. The collective outcry highlights a growing demand for accountability and change within the corporate landscape of music management.