Bass Drops and Bad Vibes: Artists Ditch Wasserman Music Agency

Wasserman Music and the Epstein Fallout with Artists dropping the Agency

Listen up, my fellow bassheads, kandi kids, and PLUR warriors: Today’s news hit like a rogue laser at 3AM on the rail—Casey Wasserman, big-shot founder of Wasserman Music (yep, the talent agency repping everyone from Ed Sheeran to Subtronics), got dragged into the latest Epstein file dump. Three million new pages, and boom: flirtatious emails with Ghislaine Maxwell herself. You know, Epstein’s convicted accomplice in the whole trafficking nightmare. Wasserman’s “I think of you all the time... what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?” vibes from 2003? Chef’s kiss of the absolute worst kind. And let's not gloss over that 2002 "humanitarian" trip he took on Epstein's infamous plane—because nothing screams "philanthropy" like jet-setting with predators.

His apology? “Deeply regret[s]” the chats, claims no real relationship with Epstein or Maxwell. Bro, we’ve heard that one before. Meanwhile, he’s chairing the LA 2028 Olympics—because nothing says “global unity” like questionable connections to a sex-trafficking ring. The LA Times is reporting internal chaos: agents furious, possible spin-off or sale of the music arm, and top talent bolting if he doesn’t bounce. Oh, and get this—the agency's website? Poof. Artist roster scrubbed clean, now it's just a sad little contact form. Desperate much? Insiders are whispering about a buyout plan to ditch Wasserman and rebrand, while a posse of music agents is straight-up demanding he GTFO. Good luck with that, Casey—your name's toxic now.

But here’s the glowstick-twirling good news, ravers: The artists are peacing out in droves, and I am here for it. From a rave perspective, this is PLUR in action—Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect means calling out exploitation, protecting the community, and dropping anyone toxic faster than a bad trip. These creators built their careers on vibes, consent, and safe spaces (hello, festival harm reduction tents). They’re not about to let their art fund a name tied to this mess. And shoutout to the agents caught in the middle—most artists are clear: the staff are solid, decent folks who've earned trust over years. It's the top dog that's gotta go.

Shoutout to the queens and kings leading the exodus and the remix—now with even more electronic fire as the fallout snowballs seven hours later:

Chappell Roan (the first major star to dip on Feb 9): “I hold my teams to the highest standards... Artists deserve representation that aligns with their values and supports their safety and dignity.” Iconic. Her festival sets are pure euphoria—now she’s protecting that energy. Updated flex: "This decision reflects my belief that meaningful change in our industry requires accountability and leadership that earns trust."

Subtronics Jesse Kardon straight-up said they have “no intention to stay” and called for Wasserman to “step the f–k down.” Bass music legend dropping truth bombs? Respect. Rave scene needs more of this zero-tolerance energy.

Lane 8 Daniel Goldstein (that dreamy deep house maestro who's graced stages like EDC and CRSSD): Announced via Instagram stories he's cutting ties—straightforward and no-nonsense, aligning with the wave of EDM artists bailing. Festival season just got a moral upgrade.

Tape B, Mersiv, Daily Bread, Smoakland—these bass and electronic heavy-hitters all dropped announcements on Instagram stories, joining the exodus with quick, resolute posts about distancing themselves. Mersiv's dubstep drops hit hard, but this move? Even harder. Daily Bread's soulful vibes now come with extra integrity.

Levity (rave circuit staples): Also via Instagram stories, confirming they're out—perfect timing as the EDM community rallies against this mess.

Billie Eilish (huge update—yes, that Billie): She's among the latest to cut ties, per EDM sources, adding massive star power to the movement. Her whispery anthems just got a backbone of steel.

Orville Peck, Weyes Blood, Sylvan Esso (who's been vocal AF), Gigi Perez, Chelsea Cutler, Bully, Hot Mulligan, Dropkick Murphys (who just said “we GONE” because “the namesake of the agency is in the Epstein files,” and they've been speaking out loud), Wednesday (officially bounced: "For the sake of his staff we hope that he steps down... but until that happens or we find a new home... we will not continue to be associated with Wasserman"), Beach Bunny (demanding he remove himself and his name: "Continuing to be represented by a company led by and named after Casey Wasserman goes against our values and cannot continue"), and more indie/alt heroes announced exits or started the extraction process.

Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast kicked it off with an open letter on Feb 5: “As an artist represented by Wasserman, I did not consent to having my name or my career tied to someone with this kind of association to exploitation. Staying quiet isn't something I can do in good conscience — especially in a moment when men in power are so often protected, excused, or allowed to move on without consequence.” Queen of calling for the ouster—paving the way for the wave.

Salute (that fire Austrian DJ who's all over the electronic scene): Dropped on X: "I'm looking to leave Wassermann btw, and if you're on their roster you should chat to your agent about doing the same." Rallying the troops? Yes, please—especially since Wasserman reps so many DJs and rave-adjacent acts.

Alexis Krauss of Sleigh Bells: Not fully out yet, but her Instagram roast is gold: "Would I love to just leave Wasserman Music? Yes I would. Can we? No, because I love and respect our agent... The agents at Wasserman are not the villains." But she nails the bigger picture: "I’m not saying we’re powerless, but without systemic change and accountability for those at the highest levels of power, no meaningful change is going to occur." Preach—rave culture thrives on that kind of introspection.

Water From Your Eyes and others like them are piling on with statements, echoing the call for rebranding and accountability. The list keeps growing, folks.

These aren’t just exits—they’re statements. Most shout out their hardworking agents and staff (solidarity with the crew caught in the crossfire), but draw a hard line: No more associating with Wasserman’s name or legacy. As Weyes Blood put it: “unequivocally clear: I will not remain with Wasserman.” Orville Peck echoed the compassion for the team while bouncing. This is artists using their platform for accountability in an industry that too often protects the powerful—especially timely in the electronic world, where Wasserman's grip on DJs could shake up festival lineups.

From the rave trenches, this hits different. We’ve seen how toxic power dynamics wreck scenes—predators at afters, exploitation behind the decks, burnout from unsafe spaces. PLUR isn’t just stickers; it’s rejecting anyone who flirts with the wrong crowd. These artists leaving? That’s the real drop—the one that shakes the foundation and makes room for better representation. Imagine agencies that actually prioritize artist safety, consent culture, and ethical leadership. With the agency repping so many in our vibe tribe, this could force real systemic shifts.

Big names like Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Lorde, and SZA still haven’t publicly weighed in (their silence is... loud), but the indie, rising, and electronic stars are leading the charge. If more follow—especially festival circuit staples—the dominoes could topple. Wasserman’s Olympics gig might stay safe for now, but in music? He's cooked.

Ravers, let’s amplify this: Support these artists at their next shows, stream their tracks, buy the merch. Share their statements. Demand better from the industry. Because if there’s one thing we know in the rave world, it’s this: When the bass drops, everything changes. And right now? The beat is calling for justice.

Stay safe out there, protect each other, and keep the good vibes only. Shoutout to the agents pushing for that buyout.

*Sources include the Artists Instagram Stories on February 11 and 12, 2026 and other disclosures across social media and outlets.