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Dru Bass has joined Independent Artist Group (IAG) as a talent agent, coming over from WME where he spent over four and a half years as a crossover music/talent agent.
At WME, Bass repped a high-profile crossover roster including SZA, Druski, Coco Jones, Dominique Thorne, Audrey Nuna, and EJAE, bridging music, comedy, film, TV, and brand partnerships.
Simultaneously, IAG also promoted Shadman Ishraq to agent in Comedy Touring, where he'll work with IAG's roster including Chris Tucker, Martin Lawrence, and Mike Epps.
- The move signals IAG's continued push to expand its crossover entertainment capabilities, following recent signings like Omar Benson Miller and Christina Hendricks.
Independent Artist Group (IAG) has made two notable moves, hiring Dru Bass as a talent agent and promoting Shadman Ishraq to agent in Comedy Touring.
Bass arrives at IAG from WME, where he spent over four and a half years working as a crossover music and talent agent. His WME roster was a who’s who of genre-blending talent: SZA, Druski, Coco Jones, Dominique Thorne, Audrey Nuna, and EJAE.
Before WME, he worked crossover at UTA with artists like Young Thug, Burna Boy, Lil Wayne, Tierra Whack, and Lauryn Hill, and earlier held roles at CAA, Universal Motown, RCA, and iHeartMedia spanning marketing, A&R, and business affairs.
Just as Sam Rubin joined Artists Representatives from Innovative Artists, Bass brings major-agency experience across music, comedy, and TV to an independent shop ready to leverage it.
IAG Head of Global Talent Andrew Rogers praised Bass’s “major agency experience working across departments” as ideal for the company’s team-first approach to representation.
In a double announcement that mirrors Derek Blum’s move to Arise Artists Agency, Ishraq, who started in IAG’s mailroom in 2023, earned his promotion to Comedy Touring agent, where he will work alongside stars like Chris Tucker, Martin Lawrence, Mike Epps, Ronny Chieng, Josh Johnson, Eddie Izzard, and Ms. Pat.
The double announcement arrives on the heels of IAG recently signing Sinners alum Omar Benson Miller and Mad Men star Christina Hendricks.
Takeaways
Dru Bass’s move from WME to IAG is a telling sign of the times. Top crossover talent agents are no longer viewing the boutique indie agency space as a step down.
For Bass, who’s built a career bridging hip-hop, R&B, comedy, film, and brand deals, IAG’s “team-first” structure likely offers more agility and creative control than a mega-agency.
Pairing this with an internal promotion for Shadman Ishraq, a true IAG homegrown story from the mailroom up, signals a company investing in both external talent and internal culture. The comedy touring department in particular now looks more stacked than ever.
With Bass’s deep music and comedy connections, which artists from his former roster might follow him to IAG? Is IAG quietly becoming one of the most well-rounded independent agencies in the industry, and does that challenge the dominance of the Big 4?
