Aaron Ray

Aaron Ray is a Partner in The Collective. He has worked at the highest levels in many different sectors of the entertainment industry. His experience includes the representation of film, television and music talent, Executive Producing, multi-media licensing, international media development, financing and sales, Producing, creation and exploitation of film franchises and intellectual property management. Aaron has successfully implemented all of his experience and knowledge into the digital space and is also leading The Collective‘s New Media efforts.

Aaron came to The Collective in 2005 to create and maximize systems that would generate true assets within the company. Per The Collective’s vision, Aaron is also involved in strategies and platforms that leverage clients’ creative influence while maintaining ownership of their own content. Understanding and identifying the relationship between the consumer and the artist is a key to this success. Ultimately, all of The Collective’s clients will find their independence and options for success grow under this strategy.

In addition to traditional client management, Ray oversees some of the largest and most powerful digital assets in the world including those of clients Linkin Park, Enrique Iglesias, Avenged Sevenfold, Eddie Izzard, Slash, Big Boi, Plain White T’s and Staind. Not limited to existing communities or technologies, he is constantly developing new agendas in other areas of media consumption. Aaron continues his leadership and supervision as Chief Operating Officer of the world’s largest Horror destination, www.BloodyDisgusting.com – which was purchased as part of an ongoing acquisition strategy and is growing rapidly.

Ray oversaw the launch of several “Number Ones” this year from best selling iPhone apps, singles, albums, tours, community management and aggregation systems on Facebook, YouTube and MySpace, international sales, branding deals and TV shows. Packaging together creative elements and structuring complex financial deals are among Aaron’s many strengths, as evidenced by the deal to re-launch the world’s largest story library, Time Inc. Studios.

Ray has Produced movies with Academy Award winning talent such as Harvey Keitel and Michael Douglas. Some of the other projects Aaron is currently involved with include the feature adaptation of Breaking The Bank (Producer), based off the popular article from Sports Illustrated Magazine. Ray is also Producing the Broadway Musical version of the classic Bret Easton Ellis novel (and film) American Psycho, slated for 2012. In addition, Aaron also advises as the Chief Strategy Officer for RKO Pictures.

Prior to joining The Collective, Aaron was the Founder and CEO of Nine Yards Entertainment, a production and management company that focused primarily on film and television development and managed the careers of notable actors and various award-winning writers and directors. Before launching Nine Yards Entertainment in 2001, Aaron served as Senior VP at The Firm. While at The Firm, Aaron managed clients ranging from multi platinum music clients, film, television and sports stars, while packaging and producing several projects including top-grossing franchise hits such as Big Momma’s House and Next Friday. Additionally, Aaron played a fundamental role with Michael Green in the identification, purchasing, repositioning and sale of the Pony apparel brand. Before joining The Firm, Aaron was Director of Development for Lynda Obst Productions, at FOX Studios. Aaron started his career at Gallin-Morey Associates.