March 20, 2017

Meet Emerson Bran of Emerson Bran Management in Van Nuys

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emerson Bran.

Emerson Bran is a producer, manager, and promoter to some of the world’s most renowned and award-winning Latin & Jazz artists. Since the inception of Emerson Bran Management, a booking and management agency in 1999, he has been committed to bringing some of the finest performers in the industry. From International festivals to intimate performances, to anywhere in between, Emerson possesses an imaginative approach to business that has enhanced his overall relationships with artists and clients. He is also among a handful of Latino-owned and operating agencies in the United States.

He grew up listening to a variety of music and was instantly dancing at the age of 5. As a teen, Emerson took informal piano lessons, and as his taste and musical likings broadened he progressed into taking percussion lessons in his early and mid-20’s. With early beginnings doing street promotions for various clubs in Los Angeles, he quickly established relationships with talent managers in Salsa music. It was at this pivotal time, when he began to be sought-after and asked to promote and represent acts.

Today he is an integral part in sharing these dynamic musical genres to the world. His artist roster is impressive and stems from fresh and emerging talent to established award winning artists, clinicians, and educators of the world. From artist bookings, artist management, concert production, and talent consulting, Emerson partners with a wide range of individuals, corporations, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. He stays on top of technology, as well the latest trends and developments in media so his artists are always ahead of the game. Most recently, Colombian Saxophonist, Justo Almario became the first Latin Jazz artist to have a smart phone app to keep his fans informed with the latest news and concerts.

Emerson has booked artists for major venues and events worldwide including the Playboy Jazz Festival, JavaJazz Festival (Indonesia), Barranquijazz (Barranquilla, Colombia), Aspen Ideas Festival, San Antonio Jazz Festival, Jazz Al Parque (Bogota, Colombia), Conference on World Affairs, Playboy Jazz Festival and many LiveNation venues. Some of the artists under Emerson’s roster include: Grammy-Award winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Justo Almario, Cuban Pianists Daniel Amat, Aruan Ortiz and NEA Jazz Master Candido Camero to name a few. Some of his artists have taken part in musical scores for acclaimed films such as Happy Feet, Sideways, Rio, and in television series like Sex in the City on HBO and Latin Music USA a documentary for PBS. Emerson’s deep creative collaborations with artists have allowed the agency to expand on the services it provides, and join artists in the recording studio to create music.

For the last 10 years he has served as producer and artistic director for the Inside Latin Jazz Series at the Ruth B. Shannon Center for Arts, which was created to offer intimate and penetrating onstage interviews and performances. The series also offers a repository to document the history and stories of some of the living statesman as well as established artists. Working closely with the Whittier College staff and Moderator/Flute Soloist Danilo Lozano, he has produced this eclectic series for fans to feel closer, inspired, and learn about their favorite artists.

Emerson approaches all endeavors with passion, integrity, and dedication. He believes that technology and social and digital media improve music and build fan bases and audiences, especially for the Latin and Jazz genres which are typically niche commercially consumed. A versatile entrepreneur, Emerson loves working with other entrepreneurs and arts organizations that share the same goal of improving the arts world, developing up-and-coming artists, careers, and businesses.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Aside from the regular struggles that a business brings, for me it has been difficult as I have to educate buyers on the music, the artists, and the importance of booking our artist. Once they finally buy, then I have to educate and worry about marketing the show, along with advancing and doing any and all other arrangements for the day of the performance.

Add to that the fact that I’m a small agency, unlike ICM, WME or any other recognized agency, whose most agents are in an office fielding calls. I actually have to be the one doing all the calling and emailing.

Then include the fact that I’m Latino and represent Latin Musicians, this just adds another layer of persuasion to the buyers. The presenting field in the US is always behind, luckily for me a bulk of the income has come from international dates.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
EBM specializes in Latin Jazz, Jazz and Afro-Caribbean music, all of the artists in our roster are Latinos and play within these genres. I’ve been blessed to already be recognized as “the Latin Music guy”, people tell me they see the passion when I talk about the music, the musicians and because I’ve hung out with recognized educators, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about Latin Music History in the US. I can honestly say that we were somewhat working on 360 deals with some of our artists even before LiveNation did, simply because there is not much media, label (almost non-existent) or marketing support.

What sets me apart from other agencies out there is that we are Latino owned, focusing on a genre that, even though it is utilized on every aspect of media, it is under represented in the presenting world, we know the market for our music and we are able to tap it, when given the right support. Most agencies are representing Latino talent because they see the changes in demographics and have always pursued for economic reasons. For me the most important thing is to see my culture represented on a great stage.

What were you like growing up?
I’ve always liked music, my grandma would always remind me of the time when I was 5 years old and said that I did not want to be a Christian.

Growing up I listened to a variety of music, as a kid I liked Michael Jackson, but I also have memories of my parents listening to Queen, Alabama, Carole King and the like. As a matter of fact my parents named me after ELP (Emerson, Lake & Palmer). My mother used to listen to a lot of Spanish ballads like Roberto Carlos, Julio Iglesias, Paloma San Basilio, Nelson Ned and the like.

Middle school was fun for me as I also began to experience more mainstream music, to the likes of LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, The Fugees, Chubb Rock, Slick Rick, NWA, Naughty by Nature. In high school I got into House, Trance, Industrial music, some New Wave, as well as Regional Mexican music. I even had a DJ system, my dad had bought it and let me play with it, so I would DJ a lot of friends’ parties and even some ditching parties. I liked playing a lot of disco and 70’s as there were all kinds of house dj’s already.

It wasn’t until after the service that I began to indulge more into Afro-Caribbean music again and began to learn more about the different cultures and heritage of the music, and how it is interwoven in popular music in the US.

Contact Info: