POWER 50 2025: Jaddan Comerford (UNIFIED)

BACKGROUND CHECK:

Jaddan Comerford has spent more than 20 years shaping the direction of Australian music, with UNIFIED Music Group growing into one of the country’s most influential independent enterprises. Beginning his musical career as the Director of The Staple Group, Jaddan founded UNIFIED in 2011, snowballing into an ecosystem that spans record labels, distribution, management, publishing, touring, merchandise, marketing, technology and venture investment.

With the likes of UNIFIED Artist Management, the Community Music platform, the UNFD label, Lonely Lands Agency, The Annex, Sound Story, and Side Stage Ventures – just to name a few – peppering his CV, it’s clear that Jaddan is someone who can’t sit still in the music world – intent on building sustainable careers, investing in Australian talent and ensuring the country’s music culture thrives on the global stage.

THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIAN MUSIC:

With so much on his plate at any given time, it's hard to adequately summarise the myriad achievements that 2025 has brought with it. While UNIFIED Music Group’s management roster has grown from 26 to 35 artists in the past 12 months, it's also brought with it #1 records (Ocean Alley), ARIA Awards and local and international tours with Pearl Jam (Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers), sold-out stadium tours (Tones And I), and so much more. 

With an eye to opportunity, he also created new ventures, including a JV to attack the burgeoning Indian market with 7Entertainment.

Add in the growth of Community Music from its 2024 launch to adding a publishing and sync offering, the launch of the Ground Floor Accelerator Program, and industry advocacy at the likes of SXSW Sydney, BIGSOUND, and more, and it's clear Jaddan’s influence extends far beyond his own organisation. Dedicated to increasing the visibility and cultural capital of Australian music through the development of digital infrastructure, professional support for artists, and effective industry advocacy, by the time you accurately sum up the past 12 months for Jaddan, he’s probably already sorted another year’s worth of achievements.

THE MUSIC SPEAKS:

Jaddan Comerford is a clear industry leader, not just wheeling and dealing to get other people’s discoveries over the line, but finding and developing talent from the ground up. And talent for Comerford can come from anywhere, with his support, mentorship and partnership blossoming into unique business models which put his fingers in many industry pies, from management to label to live booking to festivals. 

While he’s not afraid to put himself out front, he’s also surrounded himself with an incredible leadership team (including his partner Rachael Tulloch who is the management brains behind the incredible career of Vance Joy) and a collaborative approach to his many business ventures means that he is the first to listen, learn and teach learnings to others across the Unified Group. 

Ultimately, though, Jaddan’s strength in music is in his choice to still be in it. As an entrant on the AFR’s young rich list, he could be sitting on an island right now, but instead, he’s probably at a gig checking out a new artist or overseas scoping out a new territory that might be ready for the Unified treatment.