JAY BYRD
Marina Del Rey,CA
Summary
Dynamic and visionary executive with 20 years of experience in live events, specializing in touring strategy, event promotion, contract negotiation, and optimizing fan experiences. Skilled in team building, budget oversight, and ensuring labor compliance, consistently delivering high-profile events that surpass client expectations.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Global Promoter - Live Experiences & Touring
Live Nation Entertainment
Los Angeles, CA
07.2021 - 01.2026
- Directed end-to-end touring operations for club, theater, amphitheater, arena and custom-venue experiences.
- Established and managed touring teams of production leads, technical specialists, and coordinators to streamline event execution.
- Owned master touring budgets and schedules, ensuring timely delivery of events while mitigating operational risks.
- Coordinated logistics vendors, fabricators, and union crews across multiple markets to enhance operational efficiency.
- Collaborated with marketing teams to create promotional strategies for events and artists.
- Served as senior operational lead on-site during critical load-ins, load-outs, and installations.
Senior Agent & Touring Executive
Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Beverly Hills, California
08.2015 - 03.2021
- Executed global touring strategies for permanent and temporary venues to maximize audience reach.
- Managed multi-market touring operations, overseeing union labor, permitting, and logistics for seamless execution.
- Developed detailed project plans for high-profile events and engagements.
- Collaborated with clients to develop and implement strategic marketing and promotional campaigns that enhanced event visibility.
- Facilitated communication between artists, producers, legal teams, and agencies to ensure alignment.
- Researched industry trends to provide clients with insights on opportunities and risks.
- Mentored junior agents in negotiation strategies and client relationship management.
Music Touring Agent & Executive
William Morris Endeavor (WME)
Beverly Hills, California
05.2006 - 08.2015
- Negotiated talent contracts with clients and industry partners to secure favorable terms.
- Developed tailored tour plans addressing specific client needs and objectives.
- Coordinated with talent managers, lawyers, and financial advisors to provide integrated services tailored to client needs.
- Led cross-department teams to develop strategic initiatives that aligned with client objectives.
- Cultivated relationships with key partners to enhance collaboration and support strategic goals.
- Evaluated departmental needs and delegated tasks to maximize production efficiency.
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Business
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT05-2003
Skills
- Attractions touring strategy
- Contract negotiation
- Touring operations
- Event promotion
- Team leadership
- Labor compliance
- Vendor management
- Budget management
- On-site production
Selected Highlights
- Built and scaled $100M+ in global touring deals for major artists including A$AP Rocky, Lil Baby, Chris Brown, Anita Baker, Don Toliver, and Mary J. Blige.
- Negotiated and executed seven-figure equity and sponsorship partnerships for Lil Wayne and Jon Batiste, aligning brand value, touring strategy, and long-term monetization.
- Helped break and scale business (touring and deal strategy) for Jon Batiste, Common, Queen Latifah, and Jason Derulo through targeted market planning and stakeholder alignment.
- Directed end-to-end touring logistics, routing, and on-site execution across complex multi-market runs; strengthened forecasting, risk planning, and post-move performance analysis to improve tour predictability and cost control.
Websites
Accomplishments
2022, 2024, 2025 Billboard Power Player
Timeline
Global Promoter - Live Experiences & Touring
Live Nation Entertainment
07.2021 - 01.2026
Senior Agent & Touring Executive
Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
08.2015 - 03.2021
Music Touring Agent & Executive
William Morris Endeavor (WME)
05.2006 - 08.2015
Bachelor's Degree - Business
University of Utah