Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Sosis.
Hi Jon, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started in New York City working with Warner Music Group on the distribution side, but also produced a comedy web series there “Labeled” about the music industry which led to a mockumentary spinoff starring one of their artists Anya Marina called “Anya Marina: Indiependent Woman.” All of those pieces combined help me realized how much I loved both working directly with talent and helping strategize distribution, marketing rollouts and project pitches.
A few years into Warner Music Group, I began managing my first artist and when the pandemic hit, I accepted a job in Los Angeles launching and running a full service production studio, record label and podcast network where I was entirely hands on with talent and production. Producing a handful of comedy specials and helping get some amazing projects off the ground like Adam Ray’s “Dr. Phil LIVE” really amped up my desire to make talent and project development my career path.
The Dev Pit was born and in 2023 I accepted a contract with BuzzFeed to help them on the comedy side as well before completely going independent and full-time at The Dev Pit in 2024. Working with talent to develop and launch their projects and careers from pitch decks to global releases is our top priority. Our current roster includes Seattle-based singer/songwriter Kellie Rose who just had an amazing show in LA to promote her latest single “Same Team,” singer/songwriter Diana Herrera who just released her first single “If She Calls” and is prepping her EP for release in the next few months and the hilarious comic Morgan Miller who is getting ready to tape her first comedy special this fall. Exciting things are coming for The Dev Pit.
All that being said, in my 20’s I had been sick with Ulcerative Colitis and after some surgeries in 2014, I found my love for LEGO and launched “Building Friendships,” a web series where I interview entertainers while we build LEGO. Like “Hot Ones,” without the nausea. As much as I don’t think my face belongs in front of a camera, I love talking to people and hearing their stories so this has been one of the most natural things I’ve fallen into. From Jodie Sweetin and Amanda Knox to Christina Perri and Bobby Moynihan, I’ve had an amazing lineup of guests on to build and chat so this has become a passion project of mine as well. We’re about to wrap our third season and can’t wait for what’s to come in 2026.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If anything you do involves a smooth road, you’re doing it wrong. I think the biggest struggle with everyone is finding that road and taking that first step onto it. Living in Los Angeles is not cheap so every decision requires a look at the long game to make sure you’re in a place to be doing the things you want to do with the resources you have.
I think some of the struggles of working with talent are proving to them that you’re going to give them the attention they need to accomplish their goals. There are a lot of people out there that prefer to be with a big company just so they can show that off to people. When I see bigger companies where their managers/agents have 15 clients, all I can think is “there are probably 12 of them that will never reach their full potential because it’s not humanly possible for someone to give them all equal attention.” So for me, the biggest challenge is finding the few artists I want to work with because there’s SO much good talent out there, especially in LA.
Aside from that, it really comes down to making yourself financially stable while the company builds and I’ve fortunately been pretty good with my money so it gave me some flexibility in launching the company.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
After 17 years, I’d say my overall specialties are development and distribution. While I have 10+ years of experience in the production end of creative, I think the development of the projects and the release strategy is where I most benefit my talent. There are so many options on how to make something and how to get it to the world that I feel like having the right person there for those two pieces is more important than the actual production for me. There are way more talented people than myself in that arena and I’d let them do their thing the visions to life (with our collaboration of course).
I’m most proud of the collection of talent I’m working with now. They’re so diverse in their backgrounds and skillsets that it’s allowed me to become a better manager and creative in navigating it all.
I’d say what sets me apart from others, especially on the business side of this industry, is that money is not even in my top 5 of priorities when I take on talent. A lot of managers/agents take on tons of talent because they’re putting all the crumbs together to make a cookie that’ll pay the bills. On top of that, there’s a lot of hip-pocketing going on where managers and agents will lead a client on and won’t sign a client until they start generating revenue. I get it and it’s not easy, but it’s EASIER than the traditional work of actually developing the talent and focusing on quality, not quantity. I LOVE being a part of the journey from the beginning. It’s a marathon and it feels like a lot of people in the industry just want to start at the finish line.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’ve had so many people help me along the way in the music industry and met so many more amazing people since I left. Brigette Boyle, Bill Taylor and Cat Kreidich really showed me how to develop and run teams that are in my opinion the most important, but not always the most appreciated. That comes in handy when you’re working with talent that are just getting started and may not get the industry love now that they will in a few years.
I also genuinely appreciate every opportunity I get. Richard Reid at BuzzFeed replied to a cold e-mail and took a risk on me bringing comedy into the BuzzFeed fold and those are the types of people I always appreciate and respect. The industry is changing and nobody is taking risks so when you find someone willing to, you can’t help but respect it.
As much as I’ve learned how things should work from amazing people, I’d say I’ve also worked for folks who, possibly more importantly, showed me how things should NOT work. They’re all important in your development.
Pricing:
- $50/hour – Consultation
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thedevpit.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sayitaintsosis and https://www.instagram.com/buildingfriendshipsseries
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathansosis
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingfriendships
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sayitaintsosis
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Van Corona
