for us by us
In business and entertainment, there are descriptors and identifiers that have been used so much, the words have lost their value. In the case of Ashaunna Ayars, founder of The Ayars Agency, she may be frequently spotted working and moving among Hollywood luminaries now, but she maintains her Queens, NY realness. No hype allowed. So, when you hear her described in bold terms, know that her story backs it up:
She’s a true multi-hyphenate:
A talent manager/content creator and live entertainment
producer/brand marketer with a proven track record
plus partner and client lists that include
Mary J. Blige, Amazon Prime Video,
Nickelodeon, and Essence Festival.
She’s a born and bred hustler, who rose from an eager Atlantic Records intern at 19, to an SVP at Def Jam, then at Warner Music, by the age of 30. She then left her SVP position in the middle
of a turbulent business climate, moved across the country, and launched a successful full-service agency that services Grammy and Oscar-winning talent and legacy brands by 40.
She’s a connector bar none. Ashaunna has worked closely and maintained relationships with foundational executives and transformative talent over the years including Wu Tang Clan, Swizz Beats, Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Jeezy, Ne-Yo, Jill Scott and Jason Derulo.
She remains a trusted voice and effective advisor for labels and brands alike.
She’s a results-driven strategist, continuously working on projects across various sectors of music, film and television, live entertainment and touring, and brand partnerships which over her career have included work with Pepsi, Macy’s Coca-Cola, Cover Girl, Target, Wal Mart, Best Buy, Beats Music, HSN and Starbucks.
Most importantly, Ashaunna is unlimited. While grounded by her family and faith, she’s emboldened by her dreams, and impervious to fear. “Move fast and break things” is a tech entrepreneur’s mantra, but “move fast and create things” has always been the unofficial mantra of hip-hop – the culture in which Ayars was raised and shaped.
Now, with careers worth of experience, having seen the landscape and culture shift and take new shape multiple times, Ashaunna is looking towards the future. The Ayars Agency expands
and adds value to clients’ careers through legacy-shaping marketing, branding and partnerships. In the example of Mary J. Blige, over 30 years into her career she remains as visible and relevant as ever.
In early 2022, TAA partnered with Blige to create Strength of a Woman festival, a weekend experience in Atlanta with a mission and purpose to educate, elevate, and empower
black women. Ashaunna also negotiated a multi-million dollar deal with AMAZON for Mary J Blige’s “My Life” documentary – to which she is attached as Executive producer
alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Ashaunna and The Ayars Agency continue to create and produce key experiences that highlight culture and offer points of connection including marketing strategy for films like “When They See Us” for Netflix and “Harlem” for Amazon Prime Video. Additionally, Common’s A Toast to the Arts, a celebration of the creators and cast behind the year’s most outstanding narratives, which over the last 5 years has become a premier awards season event. And the inaugural Essence + New Voices Entrepreneur Summit and Target Holiday Market, a weekend of immersive experiences and activations to provide resources to Black female entrepreneurs.
The Ayars Agency has also moved into the content creation space, fostering opportunities for more Black stories from Black creators to come to life- brokering deals with BET, Lionsgate, Lifetime, and Apple. Personally, Ayars is using her career experience and knowledge as part of the advisory board for the newly formed Black Music Action Coalition, a group of artists, producers, songwriters, managers, business managers, attorneys and other industry professionals formed to combatlong-standing systems of racism and disparity within the music industry.
Forward-thinking, adaptive, strategic, intentional… Ashaunna Ayars is more than descriptors. She is tangible results.
ESSENCE +
NEW VOICES
ENTREPRENEUR SUMMIT
