EDM and Business Dynamo Deadmau5 Signs With Independent Artist Group (EXCLUSIVE)

Canadian electronic music producer Joel Zimmerman, better known to fans worldwide as Deadmau5, has entered into a representation agreement with Independent Artist Group. The pact covers an unusually broad range of disciplines: music, film, television, digital content, gaming, technology, and intellectual property. For Zimmerman, the signing marks a shift in representation, as he was previously repped by CAA.

IAG chief executive Jim Osborne and president Kyle Loftus praised the artist in a joint statement, calling him “a once-in-a-generation creative force who represents exactly where we believe the entertainment business is going — the intersection of music, technology, content and ownership.” The executives pointed to his track record of staying ahead of industry shifts, citing his work in live production, streaming, gaming, software, and digital experiences. IAG, formed in 2023 through the merger of several talent agencies, has positioned itself as a home for multi-hyphenate creators whose careers extend well beyond a single medium.

While music remains central to Zimmerman’s output, Osborne and Loftus made clear that their ambitions for him reach further. “We look forward to bringing the full resources of IAG to help Joel expand his ideas and intellectual property across film, television, digital and other platforms while continuing to grow his global music business,” they said. Zimmerman echoed that sentiment, explaining that IAG’s record of building crossover content and ownership opportunities for musical artists drew him to the firm. “As my business continues to evolve across touring, music, technology and new ventures, I’m excited to partner with a team that understands our goals and objectives and can help us build what’s next,” he said. The arrangement mirrors a wider industry pattern in which artists pursue representation that treats music as one component of a larger portfolio rather than the entire enterprise.

As part of the IAG deal, Zimmerman plans to revamp several of his existing business ventures and creative properties. These include the digital interview series “Coffee Run,” the video game company Oberhasli Games, and Auto/Pilot, his live-performance software platform designed for creative mixing, real-time arrangement, sampling, sequencing, and automation. A fixture in electronic dance music since he began releasing material in 2005, Zimmerman has remained a dominant force in the genre for decades and is widely regarded as an outspoken advocate for artist rights and ownership. His Mau5trap label has released music by acts such as Skrillex, Rezz, Noisia, Feed Me, and i_o. Skrillex, whose real name is Sonny Moore, emerged from underground dubstep scenes to become one of the most commercially successful electronic artists of the 2010s — a trajectory that underscores the reach of the Mau5trap ecosystem.

In March 2025, Zimmerman sold his song catalog and the Mau5trap label to Create Music Group in a transaction valued at more than $55 million. The deal covered the sound recordings and copyrights of over 4,000 songs and also established a joint venture to release future recordings by Deadmau5 and from Mau5trap. He continues to be represented by manager Dean Wilson of Circuit Group/Seven20 and attorney Dina LaPolt. LaPolt, a prominent music industry lawyer, has been a vocal figure in high-profile copyright and artist-rights battles — a stance that aligns closely with Zimmerman’s own long-standing public position on ownership and control of creative work.