As a founding partner of premier boutique entertainment firm GDR,
Damien Granderson is at the forefront of the music industry for his dynamic and strategic approach to advising clients for long-term entrepreneurial success. Over the past year, he represented acclaimed reggaeton artist
J Balvin in an unprecedented joint-venture recording agreement with
UMG in addition to numerous other cutting-edge deals for his client. These include performance agreements for the popular online game
Fortnite and the
Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show, an endorsement agreement with
McDonald’s and a talent agreement in connection with Balvin’s documentary,
The Boy From Medellín. Granderson also represented
A$AP Rocky in his endorsement agreement with
Gucci for its “Life of a Rock Star” campaign, which launched in the fall of 2020, as well as
A$AP Worldwide’s partnership with
PacSun, which will include special collaborative drops throughout its term.
Other significant deals include
J. Cole’s endorsement and collaboration agreement with
Puma, singer/songwriter
H.E.R.’s endorsement agreement with
Tommy Hilfiger,
NE-YO’s partnership with the streaming and social media app
LÜM (which is expected to revolutionize interaction between artists and their fans),
Young Thug’s
YSL Records joint-venture agreement and renegotiation with
300 Entertainment (which includes such artists as
Gunna and
Lil Keed) and Young Thug’s contract negotiation with
Atlantic. Granderson also represents hip-hop powerhouse
Quality Control Music, one of the hottest record labels in the business, whose star-studded roster includes
Lil Baby,
Migos,
City Girls,
Lil Yachty and
Lakeyah.
Founding and Managing Partner
Guy Blake is Chair of the firm’s Music Publishing Practice. He has handled numerous matters for such GDR clients as J. Cole, Young Thug, J Balvin,
Harvey Mason Jr.,
Bernie Taupin, Quality Control Music,
Timbaland,
Beluga Heights Records, H.E.R.,
Hayley Williams (
Paramore) and
Primary Wave. Prior to launching GDR, he served as Partner at
Davis, Shapiro, Lewit, Grabel, Leven, Granderson & Blake and as SVP Legal & Business Affairs at
Warner Chappell Music.
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