Raw Power Management's CEO Shuffle: What It Signals About Artist Development in 2024

Raw Power's Leadership Playbook: Stability Over Spectacle

When Raw Power Management founder Craig Jennings announced Matt Ash and Don Jenkins as new Joint CEOs this week, the music biz barely blinked. But this quiet transition speaks volumes about where artist development is headed post-streaming boom.

The Numbers Behind the Move

• 15-year tenure: Both promoted execs joined Raw Power during the MySpace era
• 83% retention: Artist roster stability since 2019 (versus industry average 61%)
• 2.4x ROI: Average return on development investments for Raw Power clients

Why Artist Development Is the New Venture Capital

Jennings' move to Executive Chairman mirrors a trend we're seeing across music-tech: founders stepping back from daily ops to focus on strategic bets. It's the same playbook that's worked for:

• Q Prime (Cliff Burnstein)
• Milk & Honey (Lucas Keller)
• Three Six Zero (Mark Gillespie)

But here's what makes Raw Power different—they're applying VC-style patience to artist careers. While competitors chase TikTok virality, Ash and Jenkins have quietly built a 14-person team specializing in...