The Charger Blog
Cheryl Paglierani ’06 reflects on her work with Post Malone, a global superstar who recently broke the record for the most simultaneous top 20 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, with nine tracks.
September 19, 2018
It was three years ago when Cheryl Paglierani ’06, an agent with the United Talent Agency, met Post Malone.
"We had a meeting that took place at a studio in NYC scheduled for 10 p.m.," Paglierani tells Billboard. "Post arrived at around 1 a.m. We sat on a stoop outside and talked for a half hour. At the end of our conversation he looked up at me and said, 'I like you,' and hired me there on the spot."
Today, Post, a singer, songwriter, and record producer, is a global superstar. The 647 Instagram followers he had three years ago has ballooned to nearly 13 million. He recently headlined what Billboard called one of the surprise tours of the summer that reported more than $16 million in sales.
His latest album went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and broke the record for the most simultaneous top 20 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, with nine tracks, including the hit "Rockstar," which spent eight weeks at No. 1. He also was one of the breakout performers at Coachella.
And last month, Post broke Michael Jackson's 34-year-old record for most weeks on Billboard‘s Top R&B and Hip-Hop Albums chart, with his album "Stoney" reaching its 77th week compared to the 76 weeks that "Thriller" spent on the chart.
"The reason Cheryl is such an effective agent for Post’s touring success is her knowledge for the business," Post’s manager Dre London tells Billboard. "She took a shot, with what only myself and very few others saw as an emerging worldwide superstar, early on in his career. Not many agents are willing to do that."
A graduate of the University’s music industry program, Paglierani started her career at William Morris Endeavor, a worldwide leader in the talent representation industry. There she worked under famed hip-hop agent Cara Lewis, who has represented the likes of Kayne West and Eminem.
Paglierani moved on to Creative Artists Agency in 2012 and in 2014 joined The Agency Group, which was purchased by United Talent Agency (UTA) in 2015. She now works in UTA’s Beverly Hills office.
Paglierani’s advice for those looking to make it in the music industry?
"Do not let the roadblocks stop you. There were many times in my career where I thought this might not work out for me. Overcoming the struggles make for the best stories once you've pushed through."Cheryl Paglierani ’06
She’s excited for what the next year will bring for the roster of artists she is representing.
"I made a promise to myself early on to invest in artists who create music that I'm genuinely passionate about and we have some great things brewing," she says. "I’m lucky to be in a position to help artists amplify their voices. That’s what drives me, and it’s the best feeling."
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