Entertainment · Music · published 2026-10-08 · via Billboard

Floating Leaf Joins Red Light as WMG Offloads EMP Merch in Latest Music Deals

Jeb Hurt’s Austin-based artist management company Floating Leaf Entertainment has joined Red Light Management, bringing clients including Koe Wetzel, Kolby Cooper and Fox & Vead into the larger firm. The deals roundup also covers Carter Gregory’s Plot Twist forming a joint venture with 10K/Atlantic, Capitol working with Christian and gospel label Wings Music, and Warner Music Group selling EMP Merch to whynow.

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Jeb Hurt started Floating Leaf Entertainment in Austin. Its clients include country acts Koe Wetzel, Kolby Cooper, and Fox & Vead. By joining Red Light Management, those artists gain access to a larger international operation covering music, touring, brand partnerships, and entertainment. Red Light's Ben Kline praised Hurt's artist instincts and trust among clients.

Separately, whynow bought EMP Merchandise from Warner Music Group. whynow, led by CEO Gabe Jagger and based in London, plans a Berlin hub. EMP dates to 1986, serves over 10 million customers, and runs a large licensed merchandise catalog. WMG had bought EMP in 2018 for a reported $180 million.

Count: First para: Jeb(1) Hurt2 started3 Floating4 Leaf5 Entertainment6 in7 Austin8. Its9 clients10 include11 country12 acts13 Koe14 Wetzel15, Kolby16 Cooper17, and18 Fox19 &20 Vead21. By22 joining23 Red24 Light25 Management26, those27 artists28 gain29 access30 to31 a32 larger33 international34 operation35 covering36 music37, touring38, brand39 partnerships40, and41 entertainment42. Red43 Light's44 Ben45 Kline46 praised47 Hurt's48 artist49 instincts50 and51 trust52 among53 clients54. Second: Separately55, whynow56 bought57 EMP58 Merchandise59 from60 Warner61 Music62 Group63. whynow64, led65 by66 CEO67 Gabe68 Jagger69 and70 based71 in72 London73, plans74 a75 Berlin76 hub77. EMP78 dates79 to80 1986, serves81 over82 10? Actually "over 10 million" words: over83 10? If numbers count? 10=84 million85 customers86, and87

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This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “The Deals: Jeb Hurt’s Floating Leaf Management Joins Red Light; WMG Sells EMP Merch to whynow.” Browse more stories.