Matt Maher

Matt Maher is a Founding Partner of Activist Artists Management, head of the Activist Nashville office and oversees clients such as The Lumineers, Dwight Yoakam, Bobby Weir, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and Felicity.

Since 2013, Maher has helped propel the career of multiple GRAMMY Award winner and Americana Artist of the Year, Dwight Yoakam. The country icon was honored in 2019 with both the prestigious BMI President’s Award and an induction into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame as the sole artist-songwriter in his class. In 2018, Maher and Cahill negotiated the full-time SiriusXM artist channel, Dwight Yoakam and the Bakersfield Beat, now in its third year of existence. Maher also secured Yoakam’s inaugural and ongoing residency at Wynn Las Vegas, a special production that showcases themes from the Bakersfield Beat artist curated SiriusXM channel, exploring the development and influence of California Country music from its Dust Bowl genesis to the modern era.

Maher helped lead the charge on the release of The Lumineers’ 2019 album III, a record that topped album sales charts and spawned #1 singles at both the AAA and Alternative radio formats. In conjunction with III, the critically acclaimed band also headlined premiere festivals in the US and internationally, and The Lumineers’ III: The World Tour ranked in the Top 10 North American Tours according to Pollstar. In 2020, Maher also helped architect the Work Hard and Be Nice album and radio campaign for Michael Franti & Spearhead, debuting at #1 on iTunes Top Albums (Singer/Songwriter – US) and Franti’s first #1 single at AAA radio since 2010. Maher was also instrumental in securing a support slot for Franti on Kenny Chesney’s upcoming 2021 stadium and amphitheater tour. At Activist, Maher has also negotiated multi-million-dollar master and publishing catalog sales for Activist artists.

Maher is a member of the Governor’s Board of the Nashville Chapter of NARAS and sits on the advisory council of the T.J. Martell Foundation hosting the annual “Bad Ass of the Year” event. Maher is an active member of NARAS, AMA, CMA, ACM, BMI and has been listed as one of Billboard’s annual Nashville Country Power Players. He has called Nashville home for 25+ years.

Prior to Activist, Maher was a partner at Roar Management where he helped launch the music division and ran the Nashville office. While at Roar, Maher helped lead the department that managed three-time GRAMMY Award winner Zac Brown Band. During their decade together, ZBB grew into a stadium act with dozens of sold out stadiums shows, including attendance records at Fenway Park and Coors Field, and seventeen #1 singles at multiple radio formats. At Roar, Maher also oversaw the career of Ben Rector, growing his fanbase and assisting the 100% independent artist to achieve multiple #1 singer-songwriter releases, hit singles at Hot AC radio, and perennial sold-out tours of large theaters and boutique amphitheaters. Prior to working in management, Maher was a singer-songwriter in a rock band signed to Capitol Records LA and EMI Publishing.