John Legend is entering a new chapter in his career after signing with Roc Nation for management, ending a nearly two-decade run with longtime manager Ty Stiklorius and her company, Friends at Work.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the move places the Grammy-winning singer under the guidance of Roc Nation CEO Jay Brown, adding him to a roster that includes Rihanna, Megan Thee Stallion, A$AP Rocky, Lil Uzi Vert, and Clipse.
The timing of the switch remains unclear, but Legend was still listed on Friends at Work’s roster as recently as February. Stiklorius also publicly discussed her work with the singer during a Global Citizen panel in Beverly Hills earlier this year.
Roc Nation did not issue a formal statement on the signing, though the company posted a photo of Legend from his A Night of Songs & Stories Tour shortly after reports of the move surfaced.
The change marks the end of one of the music industry’s longest-running artist-manager partnerships. Stiklorius has been working with Legend since 2006, when the two launched JL Ventures together, and she became his full-time manager.
Their partnership continued through several major career shifts, including her move to The Artists Organization, her leadership role at Troy Carter’s Atom Factory, and, eventually, the launch of Friends at Work in 2015.
“Twenty years is a lifetime in this business, and I’m proud of the work John and I did together that was rooted in creativity, trust, love, and ambition,” Stiklorius said in a statement. “I’m energized by what’s ahead for both of us as I pass the music management baton to Jay Brown at ROC Nation.”
She added that she will “continue to be John’s partner in the many for-profit and non-profit ventures we built together and John’s biggest champion.”
Those ventures extend far beyond music. In addition to building Legend’s recording career, Stiklorius worked with him on the production company Get Lifted Film Co., which has backed projects including La La Land, Underground, Rhythm + Flow, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, Citizen Ashe, and the documentary Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children.
Their company also helped develop John Legend Ventures, which expanded the singer’s brand into television, film, philanthropy, and business.
Before managing artists, Stiklorius earned an MBA from the Wharton School and worked in strategy and business development.
