Lucas Keller

Lucas Keller (born 1984) is an American music executive and manager. He is the president and founder of Milk & Honey Management, which represents a number of prominent songwriters, producers, and artists. He was included in the 2018 Billboard 40 Under 40, an annual list of the top young executives in music,[2] and was also named as one of seven fast-rising executives on the Billboard Power 100 list that same year.[1]

Lucas Keller
Born1984
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
OccupationMusic executive, talent manager
Years active2002—present
OrganizationMilk & Honey Management (President & founder)[1]
Websitemilkhoneyla.com

Biography

Keller was born and raised in the Waukesha suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[3] He started out as a guitarist in a local band and worked as a promoter for Phenomenon Concerts.[4] He attended the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh for four years before dropping out in 2006 to pursue his career.[5]

Keller moved to Chicago and managed bands for Uppercut Management, best known for managing Kid Rock.[6] In 2008, he moved again to Los Angeles and worked for management firm The Collective,[5][4] where he became the youngest executive in a department that managed Linkin Park, Enrique Iglesias, Kanye West, Peter Gabriel, and others.[6] Among his clients during this time was Scott Weiland, whose 2013 separation from Stone Temple Pilots Keller helped negotiate in court.[5][7] He also signed reggae artist Jimmy Cliff[8] and won a Grammy Award for Cliff's 2012 comeback album, Rebirth.[9] Keller left The Collective shortly afterward.[4]

Milk & Honey Management

Keller founded Milk & Honey Management in 2014, self-financing and initially operating from his home.[5] Among the clients who followed him from The Collective was songwriter and former Evanescence member David Hodges, who co-wrote the company's first hit song, Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years". Keller and Hodges also co-founded the publishing company Third & Verse together in partnership with Kobalt,[5] Keller and Sir Nolan founded Deep Cuts Publishing,[10] and Keller and client Oak Felder partnered with publisher Reservoir on the joint venture The Orphanage Music Publishing.[11] The Orphanage has released singles by artists including John Legend, 5 Seconds of Summer, and Kehlani.[10]

Since its founding, Milk & Honey's roster, which includes Hodges, Sir Nolan, Oak Felder, Charlie Handsome, Rich Costey, and Oliver Heldens, has sold more than 400 million records,[5] and clients have been credited on songs including Nick Jonas' "Jealous", Alessia Cara's "Here" and "Scars to Your Beautiful", Selena Gomez and ASAP Rocky's "Good for You", James Arthur's "Say You Won't Let Go", Demi Lovato' "Sorry Not Sorry", Dua Lipa's "IDGAF", the Backstreet Boys' "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", Panic! at the Disco's "High Hopes", Khalid and Normani's "Love Lies", Bebe Rexha's "I'm a Mess", Big Boi's "All Night", DJ Khaled's "No Brainer", Ben Rector's "Brand New", Fifth Harmony's "All in My Head (Flex)", Rag'n'Bone Man's "Human", Maren Morris and Vince Gill's "Dear Hate", Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa's "See You Again", Luis Fonsi and Demi Lovato's "Echame la Culpa", Kehlani's "Distraction", Galantis and Hook n Sling's "Love on Me", Steve Aoki and Louis Tomlinson's "Just Hold On", "Money in the Grave" by Drake featuring Rick Ross, "Miss Me More" by Kelsea Ballerini, The Chainsmokers and 5 Seconds of Summer's "Who Do You Love", Lewis Capaldi's "Hold Me While You Wait", Kygo's "Stargazing", Calvin Harris and Rag'n'Bone Man's "Giant", Khalid's "Better", Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You", Daughtry's "What About Now", Bryce Vine's "Drew Barrymore" and "La La Land" featuring YG, and Blink 182's "California".[5][12][3][2][13] In January 2018, Milk & Honey signed producer/songwriter duo Andres Torres and Mauricio Rengifo, who produced Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's hit song "Despacito".[14] During the week of July 10, 2018, seven songs on the Mediabase Top 40 chart featured credits from Milk & Honey signings.[12] Keller's clients have sold over 400 million records worldwide,[6] had number 1 songs in five different genres (country, dance/electronic, pop, rock, and rap),[15] and received eight nominations at the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019.[3] The company has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, London, and Amsterdam.[12][16][17]

Other work

Keller has been vocal about improving Spotify royalty rates for songwriters and ensuring the future value of writers' catalogs.[3] In April 2019, after Spotify and other streaming companies appealed a U.S. Copyright Royalty Board decision to raise songwriter royalty rates, Keller organized an open letter signed by over 100 participants in Spotify's "Secret Genius" initiative for producers and songwriters, including Louis Bell, Greg Wells, Teddy Geiger, Ian Kirkpatrick, Frank Dukes, Mike Elizondo, T-Minus, Scott Harris, Ross Golan, and Shane McAnally.[18] The letter reads in part: "Now, we can see the real reason for your songwriter outreach. You have used us and tried to divide us but we stand together...Do the right thing and drop your appeal."[18] Keller has been vocal in his opposition to the rising number of copyright infringement cases in the music industry, calling them unfair for songwriters and the songwriting community.[19]

Keller has also been active on behalf of LGBTQ individuals in the industry; in 2018, he co-hosted with James "JHart" Abrahart and Brett "Leland" McLaughlin the inaugural "Out to Brunch" luncheon, a gathering of LGBTQ artists, songwriters, and other creatives in the music industry intended to foster collaboration and community. Notable attendees at the event included Troye Sivan, Justin Tranter, Ilsey Juber, Ferras Alqaisi, and Adam Lambert.[20] He co-hosted the second annual Out to Brunch event in 2019, with notable attendees including Jesse Saint John, Vincint, Carlie Hanson, and Dorian Electra.[21] In 2019, Keller was named on Billboard's inaugural Pride List as one of the leading LGBT executives in the music business.[15]

Notable clients

Keller represents 48 clients through Milk & Honey,[3] including Oak Felder[12], Sir Nolan[12], David Hodges, Jamie Hartman[12], Oliver Heldens[12], Charlie Handsome[3], Andres Torres & Mauricio Rengifo[14], Rich Costey, Stuart Crichton[12], Hook n Sling, Eric J[12], MaRLo, and John Feldmann[13].

References
  1. Staff (Jan 25, 2018). "Power 100 Heat Seekers: 7 Fast-Rising Execs in 2018". Billboard. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  2. Staff (Oct 18, 2018). "40 Under 40: Billboard Reveals Music's Top Young Power Players of 2018". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  3. Gail Mitchell (May 10, 2019). "Milk & Honey Founder Lucas Keller on Keeping Spotify in Check, Shunning Contracts and Why Indie Is Best". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  4. "Power Player: Lucas Keller" (interview). All Access Music Group. Mediabase. April 24, 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  5. Hauer, Sarah (Nov 2, 2017). "Two guys from Wisconsin are behind hits from the likes of Demi Lovato and Carrie Underwood". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  6. Tim Ingham (Nov 8, 2018). "'Lots of people told me that managing songwriters and producers wasn't a real business.'". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  7. Fricke, David (Dec 22, 2015). "Scott Weiland: Stone Temple Pilots, Jamie Weiland Remember Troubled Singer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  8. "VitalSigns: The Industry BeatAgency, Management, Label, Tour Promoting Company & Public Relation Firm Signings". CelebrityAccess Encore. May 5, 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  9. "Jimmy Cliff - Artist". Grammy.com. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  10. "How John Legend And Alec Benjamin Hitmakers Went From Music Producers To Entrepreneurs". Forbes. June 24, 2020.
  11. Staff (Dec 5, 2017). "Reservoir inks JV with Grammy-winning songwriter Warren 'Oak' Felder". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  12. Staff (July 10, 2018). "Milk & Honey Roster Dominates Pop Radio With Seven Songs in the Top 40". Variety. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  13. Music News Desk (May 1, 2018). "Milk + Honey Management Signs Producer/Songwriter John Feldmann". Broadway World. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  14. Estevez, Marjua (Jan 22, 2018). "'Despacito' Producer-Songwriters Andres Torres & Mauricio Rengifo Sign to Milk & Honey Management". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  15. "The Pride List 2019". Billboard. August 8, 2019.
  16. "MILK & HONEY MAKES A STATEMENT WITH ITS NEW UK OFFICE". musicbusinessworldwide.com. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  17. "AFTER UK LAUNCH, FAST-GROWING MILK & HONEY EXPANDS INTO EUROPE WITH AMSTERDAM OFFICE". musicbusinessworldwide.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  18. Danny Ross (Apr 12, 2019). "Musicians Hit Back Against Spotify's Attempt To Lower Pay". Forbes. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  19. "Copyright Chaos?". Billboard. August 8, 2019.
  20. James Patrick Herman (May 21, 2018). "Adam Lambert, Troye Sivan, Gay Hitmakers Talk Homophobia in the Industry". Variety. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  21. "Top Music Industry LGBTQ Executives, Creators Debate Bias in the Biz, Hail Lil Nas X". Variety. August 12, 2019.
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