Verswire: Revolutionizing the Music Industry with Equitable Partnerships

Sherry Saeedi's Verswire is more than just another record label – it's a movement that's challenging the status quo of the music industry. By combining venture capital backing with artist development, Saeedi and her partners, including Mark Hoppus (Blink-182), Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy), and Nick Lippman (Matchbox Twenty's manager), are offering musicians a fairer and more equitable path to success.

Empowering Artists to Reclaim Their Creative Journey

Pioneering a New Approach to Artist Development and Funding

Sherry Saeedi, a 32-year-old Canadian-Iranian woman, is the founder and CEO of Verswire, a venture capital incubator for the music industry that provides label services. With a "Shark Tank-meets-record label" approach, Verswire has achieved trailblazing success, fostering the breakout of alt-rock band Beauty School Dropout, their first-ever signing.Launched in May 2022, Saeedi and her partners are dedicated to opening doors for women and minorities in the industry. "My initial interest in joining Verswire stemmed from my passion for driving substantial innovation within the music industry," said Lippman, a partner at Verswire and at Lippman Entertainment. "I saw its potential as a transformative home that could fundamentally reshape the relationships between artists and labels. Our objective is to cultivate partnerships that would not only foster artists' creative development but also offer significant financial benefits."

Securing Substantial Funding to Fuel Expansion

In December of 2023, Verswire announced a .3 million investment from E.O.A. Productions and idobi Radio, with additional funding from other investors, to launch a new publishing arm with Kobalt Music Group in 2024. The company also announced the signing to its label roster alt-rock duo Girlfriends, composed of Travis Mills and Nick Gross."In the realm of innovation, disruption is the currency of progress," said Nicole A. Parke of E.O.A. Productions and an investor. "E.O.A Productions' investment in Verswire isn't merely a financial decision; it's a testament to our unwavering belief in Sherry Saeedi, and her ability to excel over adversity in this industry.""Amidst the discord of uncertainty in the music industry, E.O.A Productions aligns with Verswire; As its foundational makeup empowers artists to reclaim their creative journey, forging a new era where talent meets entrepreneurship, and passion fuels prosperity," said Enoch K. Osei-Acheampong of E.O.A. Productions and also an investor.

Overcoming Skepticism and Resistance in the Music Industry

Saeedi faced her share of hurdles while spearheading the disruptive VC model at Verswire. She encountered considerable skepticism from investors and industry professionals alike when introducing her innovative "Shark Tank-meets-record label" concept.The music industry, often steeped in tradition and resistant to change, made convincing others to embrace a new way of doing things a significant challenge. "The music industry tends to be rather archaic, where we're the last to adopt or the last to want to change," Saeedi observes. She attributes this resistance to a fundamental human aversion to change, coupled with the intricate and interconnected nature of the industry. "It's hard to change because there's a lot…it's an intricate tapestry…people in general, like the human species, don't like change."However, Saeedi's unwavering belief in her vision and her determination to "do good with a good heart" propelled her forward. She persisted in seeking out investors who shared her passion for empowering artists and reshaping the industry. "I kept going, I believed in myself…borderline be delusional that you got it, that you…I just think that if you work hard with a good heart, you are unstoppable."Her resilience paid off as Verswire successfully secured substantial funding and gained traction in the industry. Saeedi's story serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and a testament to the power of perseverance and passion in overcoming obstacles and driving transformative change within the music industry.