The ongoing fallout from the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files has sent shockwaves through the global entertainment industry, and the alternative music scene is feeling the impact firsthand. Following revelations that Wasserman Media Group CEO Casey Wasserman had past associations with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, numerous high-profile rock, punk, and metal bands are cutting ties with the massive talent agency.
Recent document dumps revealed that Wasserman had taken a flight on Epstein‘s jet and exchanged flirtatious emails with Maxwell. While Wasserman maintains his interactions were brief and occurred over two decades ago before their criminal enterprises were public knowledge, the association alone was enough to trigger a mass exodus from his company’s roster.
Facing intense pressure and a fleeing client base, Wasserman sent an internal memo to his staff announcing his intention to sell the agency and step away from day-to-day operations. The memo reads (via Metal Injection):
“I wanted to write to you all directly to share a few important updates. Over the past couple of weeks, I have spoken to many of you directly – and I wish I could have spoken with each and every one of you because you all have put your hearts and souls into this incredible organization.”
“First and foremost, I want to apologize to you. I’m deeply sorry that my past personal mistakes have caused you so much discomfort. It’s not fair to you, and it’s not fair to the clients and partners we represent so vigorously and care so deeply about.”
“The pain experienced by the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell is unimaginable – and I’m glad, as I’m sure you all are, that those who helped them commit their crimes are rightly being held accountable.”
“Hopefully by now you know the facts about my limited interactions with those two individuals. It was years before their criminal conduct came to light, and, in its entirety, consisted of one humanitarian trip to Africa and a handful of emails that I deeply regret sending. And I’m heartbroken that my brief contact with them 23 years ago has caused you, this company, and its clients so much hardship over the past days and weeks.”
“Other than my children and my fiancée, there are two things that matter most to me in this world: this company that I founded 24 years ago, and the dream I’ve pursued for more than a decade of bringing the Olympic Games back to the city I love.”
“This organization, its leadership and the entire team mean the world to me. Our 4,000 employees are the absolute best in the business. I see you put it all on the line for your clients every day. Our clients expect – and deserve – world-class representation. And that’s exactly what they get because of all of you.”
“At this moment, I believe that I have become a distraction to those efforts. That is why I have begun the process of selling the company, an effort that is already underway. During this time, Mike Watts will assume day-to-day control of the business while I devote my full attention to delivering Los Angeles an Olympic Games in 2028 that is worthy of this outstanding city.”
“I so appreciate the passion and fight you bring to your jobs. It’s why you succeed.”
“I’m beyond proud of what this company has accomplished to date and excited to watch its next chapter.”
“All my best, Casey“
Despite the CEO’s explanation, artists across the rock and metal spectrum made their positions clear. Almost 100 bands represented by the agency—including heavy hitters like Bring Me The Horizon, Lamb Of God, and Sleep Token—have been affected.
Several bands issued public statements detailing their immediate departure or distancing from the Wasserman brand.
Dropkick Murphys:
“Dropkick Murphys have parted ways with the Wasserman Music agency.”
“We love our agents. They are great partners. We signed with them years before they merged with Wasserman.”
“It saddens us to part ways with them, but the namesake of the agency is in the Epstein files so… we GONE.”
Dying Wish:
“Recently we have been made aware of some staggering connections between the CEO of Wasserman and Jeffrey Epstein. From the moment we heard these sickening allegations we knew without a doubt that we were going to remove ourselves from any association to the Wasserman name.”
“The only person who has represented us since 2019 is Jake Zimmerman. Jake has believed in this band when nobody else did and he is someone we are proud to call our friend. We trust Jake and our team to make the right decisions moving forward. This process has taken time and that has been uncomfortable but we believe it will honour our demands, what we stand for, and the community we share.”
“We are horrified at this situation and our hearts go out to all survivors as we navigate this together. Music belongs to us, not the executives.”
Split Chain:
“Everyone deserves the right to know. None of this stands within music as a whole or this scene.
“Since the information that Casey Wasserman has been involved in the Epstein Files we have been trying to figure out what that means for us as a band. For those who don’t know, we are represented by Wasserman, the agency, for our show bookings. However, we have never had any interaction with the CEO (Casey Wasserman) or any higher ups in the company and we signed with our respective agents solely (who don’t have any relationship with C.W either). We don’t want to be under any person that contributes and is a part of something we as people would never tolerate. We stand with any and all survivors and victims within the Epstein files and we want to give our agents time to figure out the next steps. We hope other artists, especially within our scene, will understand the severity of this and stick together to make sure this scene is a safe place for all. We will keep everyone updated as soon as we know anything further. Thank you for your time and patience.”
While the official roster has since been removed from the Wasserman website, archived versions reveal the staggering list of alternative, punk, and metal artists previously represented by the agency. A partial list of the affected acts includes:
- Against The Current
- Angel Du$t
- Architects
- Arm’s Length
- As It Is
- August Burns Red
- Bambie Thug
- Black Veil Brides
- Boston Manor
- Bring Me The Horizon
- Bury Tomorrow
- Crown The Empire
- Cypress Hill
- Dashboard Confessional
- Deafheaven
- Death Cab For Cutie
- Dropkick Murphys
- Dying Wish
- Frank Iero
- Free Throw
- Good Kid
- grandson
- Greyhaven
- The Home Team
- Hot Mulligan
- Knocked Loose
- Knuckle Puck
- L.S. Dunes
- Lamb Of God
- The Lawrence Arms
- LØLØ
- Make Them Suffer
- Malevolence
- The Menzingers
- Motionless In White
- My Chemical Romance
- Neck Deep
- New Found Glory
- Northlane
- Nothing But Thieves
- NOVELISTS
- ONE OK ROCK
- Orbit Culture
- Our Last Night
- Palaye Royale
- Papa Roach
- Pinkshift
- Plain White T’s
- Poison The Well
- The Prodigy
- Public Enemy
- Real Friends
- Rise Against
- Saint Agnes
- Sanguisugabogg
- Saves The Day
- Scene Queen
- SCOWL
- The Scratch
- Silverstein
- Sleep Token
- Sleeping with Sirens
- Soft Play
- South Arcade
- Spiritual Cramp
- Split Chain
- Stand Atlantic
- State Champs
- Static Dress
- The Story So Far
- Superheaven
- Teen Mortgage
- Turnstile
- Viagra Boys
- VOILÀ
- Wage War
- WARGASM
- The Warning
- While She Sleeps
- Windwaker
- Wolf Alice
- The Wonder Years
- Yellowcard
- You Me At Six
