"IT'S NOT ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW, BUT WHO KNOWS YOU!" - Jeriel Johnson (a friend)
ABOUT
Over the last 10 years, the COMPLEX GROUP have made artists' dreams become reality. We help determine an artist’s unique positioning in the music industry, build a start-up business plan and assemble the right team of partners to become a successful brand. Our work ranges from consulting to strategic development and artist management.
Former clients include Karmin, Becky G, Anderson .Paak, Kevin Ross, Meghan Trainor, Charlie Puth, Sublime with Rome, Dirtyheads, Jeremih, Tiwa Savage, Melanie Fontana, J Gitty, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, CADE, NSTASIA, a.o.
BUSINESS PARTNERS
We're incredibly proud to announce our joint venture partnership with POSITION MUSIC, to launch our music publishing company, PURPLE COW PUBLISHING, focusing on breaking the next generation songwriters, producers and artists bridging the worlds of mainstream and music licensing effortlessly.
Founded by the COMPLEX GROUP & THE ELEVEN, Creative House LA is a new home for LA music and content creators focusing on breaking boundaries of independent music industry structures.
Meet The Team
Nils Gums
Founder/CEO/Manager
Nils Gums is the Founder and CEO of The Complex Group. Member of the Board of Trustees of Berklee College of Music. He discovered, managed and was the driving force behind the successes of multi-platinum- selling duo Karmin, who accumulated close to half a billion views as independent artists on YouTube. Nils worked with Meghan Trainor, Charlie Puth, Anderson. Paak, Becky G and most recently Stacey Ryan who is having the biggest moment for TikTok reaching over 300 Million people in the Spring of 2022. Nils was a business partner of Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins who has produced/written records with sales in excess of 250 million units worldwide.
Shannon Pires
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Tour Marketing
Shannon Pires, a Day-to-day Manager at The Complex Group, has a strong background in artist relations and content strategy. Her work on the Artist & Label Relations team at Vevo and her experience at labels such as Glassnote Records and Republic Records, has allowed her to develop relationships with key music partners and the wider artist community. She has supported various music campaigns by identifying creative opportunities, advising on release strategies, and delivering marketing and optimization recommendations.
She loves working closely with artists to help them achieve their goals.
Elsa Guiraud Mange
Elsa Guiraud Mange is the Executive Assistant to the Founder & CEO, Nils Gums. She graduated from UCLAx and SKEMA Business School with a Double Certificate in Digital Marketing and Management & Business of Entertainment and a Master's degree in Management. At the young age of 15, Elsa left her home in Montpellier, France and began her travels across two continents, studying Marketing and Management in several cities before landing in Los Angeles. Making the decision to work in the music industry came easy to Elsa as her love for music derives from the community that exists at concerts.
Executive Assistant
Digital Marketing
Joachim Müller
Tour Marketing - Tour Management
Joachim Müller, Mentee, has gained several years of artist management & booking experience in the German music industry.
Joachim's most recent management clients include artists "Poulish Kid" & "Citna". Being a serial entrepreneur, after graduation in Economics & Politics, Joachim co-founded a thriving 20-person Gastronomy business, which he ran for more than 3 years, while also garnering experience in the booking business.
In 2022, Joachim established a 2-day music festival with over 25 artists and 3 stages near Berlin. Since the pandemic, Joachim has shifted his focus to developing artists and music producers.
Being part of Nils Gums' "mentoring program", Joachim is looking to expand his knowledge and network in the American music industry.
Jake Zahm
Day-to-Day Manager
Jake Zahm, a Day-to-day Manager at
The Complex Group, has a background in Communications with an emphasis in Ethical Leadership at Boise State University.
He got the opportunity to give sales pitches to 500 person audiences in high school which
helped him learn key insights to public speaking.
Growing up in an entrepreneurial family has helped him learn the effort and hard work it takes to manage.
Moving to Los Angeles last fall was a big step in his journey to working in the music and entertainment industry.
Jake will work closely with artists in order to help them reach their goals in their careers.
