IAG Hires Dru Bass As Talent Agent, Ups Shadman Ishraq To Agent In Comedy Touring

EXCLUSIVE: Independent Artist Group has hired Dru Bass as an agent in the Talent department, promoting Shadman Ishraq to agent in Comedy Touring.

A seasoned executive, Bass comes to IAG from WME, here he was a crossover music/talent agent. During a little more than four and a half years there, he focused on developing and expanding creative opportunities that bridged music and comedy clients with film, television, brand partnerships, and other entertainment platforms — helping artists, producers, and creators to navigate today’s increasingly interconnected media landscape. He worked with a diverse group of crossover clients including SZA, Audrey Nuna, EJAE, Dominique Thorne, Druski, and Coco Jones, among many others.

Before joining WME in late 2021, Dru worked for multiple years in the crossover space at UTA, servicing a roster of artists spanning hip-hop, R&B, and beyond — including the likes of Young Thug, Tierra Whack, Burna Boy, Lil Wayne, and Lauryn Hill. During his time there, he also served on the leadership committee of UTA’s inclusion advisory group, Unity.

Earlier in his career, Bass worked in music crossover at CAA and across music business functions at companies including Universal Motown, RCA, and iHeartMedia — roles that gave him insight spanning marketing, A&R, and business affairs.

“Dru’s major agency experience working across departments makes him a perfect fit for our team first approach to representation, giving us added depth to help better serve our clients,” said IAG’s Head of Global Talent, Andrew Rogers.

As for Ishraq, he immediately jumps into working with some of the top names on the IAG Comedy Touring roster which includes Ronny Chieng, Josh Johnson, Chris Tucker, Martin Lawrence, Mike Epps, Eddie Izzard and Ms. Pat, among others. Homegrown, he started working in the agency’s mailroom in 2023 before segueing through roles in TV Lit and Content Development and, ultimately, Comedy.