Upper Hand Management Launches! A Heavy Music Manager Supergroup

Four music managers specializing in heavy music–Josh Pulgarin, Scott Lee, Jackie Andersen, and Ryan “Dog” Nelson–are coming together to form Upper Hand Management. A union of forces from two prominent management companies, this new collaborative group will allow these seasoned music professionals to provide more creative and extensive support to the bands they’ve made their names nurturing.

Upper Hand’s team has deep roots in the heavy music scene, with experience spanning touring, artist management, and the broader music industry. Prior to launching Upper Hand, Lee and Pulgarin operated under SL Management, while Anderson and Nelson built their roster as part of Good Fight Management, which will continue operating following their departure.

Since 2021, SL Management’s roster has grown from developing bands playing 200-capacity rooms to headlining 4,000-capacity venues, from hundreds of streams to more than 1.5 million, with artists including Currents, Kublai Khan TX, and Bodysnatcher achieving substantial touring and streaming success. Lee is a co-founder of Armada, a go-to merch supplier for the music community, and in major festivals, as well as Sound Rink, a premiere VIP ticketing platform for touring entertainers. In addition to her role as manager, Andersen heads SharpTone Records, a record label dedicated to metalcore, hardcore, and similar genres. Nelson owns Merch Connection, a merchandising and ticketing company serving the alternative/hardcore scene.

This combined, complementary expertise across the music industry will allow Upper Hand to buck the limited and limiting conventional routes to success and support artists forging their own paths. The focus of all four managers is long-term stability for their bands on and off the road. Like the artists they work with, the four members of Upper Hand are driven by integrity, adaptability, and a commitment to doing what’s right for each client. Their focus is simple: helping artists build meaningful, sustainable careers while navigating the evolving landscape of the music industry.

Pulgarin comments:

“There’s a consistency throughout the artists we work with. That consistency is rooted in a shared set of values and work ethic. They care deeply about what they do, work hard, and are focused on building something that lasts. Those are the same principles that define Upper Hand and the people behind it.”

Nelson adds:

“Managers who aren’t in the same company hold their cards close. When you’re in business with the person, it’s easier to share openly. The biggest value of us talking all the time and exchanging expertise is the opportunities this will bring to all the bands on our roster.”

Upper Hand Management was built on the foundation that artists are served better when experienced managers work together rather than apart. By combining forces, the company is able to provide stronger support and opportunity for its roster for years to come.