A Surprising Move
Billie Eilish and her brother, musical collaborator, and co-producer Finneas have made a decision that caught many off guard: They have parted ways with managers Danny Rukasin and Brandon Goodman of Best Friends Music Management after a decade under their guidance. Instead, they will now join forces with Jason Owen’s Sandbox Entertainment, a management company
Ever since Billie Eilish began her meteoric rise, her core team has included Best Friends Music Management, along with Darkroom and Interscope Records on the label side, longtime publicist Alexandra Baker handling media, and, at the center of it all, Billie’s and Finneas’ parents, who have played key roles since the beginning. The brother-sister duo’s collaboration with Danny Rukasin and Brandon Goodman dates back to a time before most people had even heard of Eilish, making the shift especially noteworthy. Although rumors hinted at the possibility as early as last year, it still comes as a jolt given how closely the siblings worked with that management team throughout their entire journey to stardom.
During the decade they spent under Best Friends, Eilish and Finneas achieved unprecedented success that transcended musical genres and earned them tremendous accolades. Billie has won nine Grammy Awards out of 32 nominations, including a history-making sweep at the age of 18. She also has two Academy Awards for best original song; one of which she shares with Finneas. Finneas himself has enjoyed significant recognition, notably clinching the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year in ‘2020. Beyond producing his sister’s tracks, he pursues a solo career that has garnered him a dedicated following of his own.
A Notable Roster
Beyond Billie Eilish and Finneas, Best Friends Music Management represents other rising talent in the industry. One standout name is Role Model, an Interscope singer-songwriter who has been gaining momentum in recent years. Additionally, British vocalist Mimi Webb has found a home at Best Friends, steadily building a fan base through her music. While the team is losing two of its most high-profile clients, Best Friends continues to shepherd an interesting array of emerging artists in contemporary pop.
The news of Eilish and Finneas moving to Sandbox Entertainment spread quickly, catching the attention of both fans and industry insiders alike. The Hollywood Reporter and Hits first broke the story, which Variety then confirmed through Eilish’s representative. Many observers are taking note of what this managerial shift implies for the siblings’ future creative direction, given that Sandbox already has a track record of successful collaborations with country-pop stars. Some wonder if the fresh arrangement could inspire unexpected musical turns for Eilish and Finneas.
Although the public has yet to learn the precise reasons behind this managerial pivot, it appears both parties believe this is the best path forward. With Billie Eilish being a proven audience captivator global-wise and Finneas, on the other hand, seeing no stop in his career arc as a highly demanded producer and artist, fans are expecting much more with the new partnership of them with Sandbox Entertainment. They have every reason to believe that this next move stands for something large and new, and that this journey is the most interesting as it brings open doors to every new opportunity in the music world.
Building Momentum
According to the RIAA, Billie Eilish has amassed an impressive 42 gold and platinum certifications for albums, singles, and EPs in the United States alone since releasing her breakthrough record in 2019, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? That remarkable run of success traces back to November 2015, when her brother Finneas posted their collaborative track “Ocean Eyes” on SoundCloud. At the time, Eilish was merely 13 years old, yet that single upload helped them catch the attention of a small but growing audience that would soon blossom into a worldwide following. From this starting point, they built a team that would guide them through a slow and steady ascent, setting the stage for the much bigger achievements still ahead.
In year 2017, Eilish came up with her first EP, Don’t Smile at Me, a fascinating work that predicted her unique way of blending vocals and the sharpness of the music. After this, she created her next project. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? The debut album was released at the beginning of ‘2019 and it turned out to be an industry masterpiece unveiling Eilish’s soft and silken voice in conjunction with Finneas’ experimental and genre-cross production. Eilish instantly made the leap from being an emerging talent to being a full-blown pop star. During the same year, her many hit singles earned her the title of Variety’s Hitmaker of the Year as a result of the public who was not only in awe of the young artist but also flocked to buy her groundbreaking first album.
Continued Evolution
Once When We All Fall Asleep had taken the music world by storm, Eilish confirmed her increasing popularity with a record-breaking victory at the Grammy Awards in the four main categories – album of the year, record of the year, song of the year and best new artist. This feat officially cemented her place one of the most notable younger pop stars, especially considering her young age and the strong visual style that she had. Different from other pop stars who only relied on the abundance of streams and a distinct creative vision blending intimate songwriting with graphic visuals, she made use of the vital force to not only change the direction of pop music but also of modern-day music in general. The impact came in a generational pattern as her fans continued to grow with each new release, online performance, and media appearance.
After this Grammy win, Eilish put all of her efforts into enhancing that success with her trusted creative partner, Finneas. Thus, in 2021, she came out with Happier Than Ever, a concept, in spite of the name, revealing an artist who can shift from a hushed tone to alt-pop-infused energy. Next, in 2022, the duo dropped Hit Me Hard and Soft, an album that held such groundbreaking songs as “Birds of a Feather,” which became a hit almost immediately. Both projects achieved multi platinum milestones, cementing Eilish’s standing as a chart force. By continually challenging what mainstream pop can sound like, she has maintained her cutting-edge reputation in an ever-changing music industry.
Oscar Triumphs
Yet it’s not just the music charts where Billie Eilish and Finneas have made their mark. The siblings have also conquered cinema through two Oscar-winning tracks. The first, “No Time to Die,” served as the theme for the James Bond film of the same name, blending moody ambiance with Eilish’s subdued yet powerful vocals. More recently, they crafted “What Was I Made For?” for a key scene in the film Barbie. Each composition showcased the duo’s knack for capturing raw emotion in a cinematic context.
These achievements are examples of Billie’s high position in the new era of the music industry. Ever since her debut as the new singing sensation from SoundCloud up to the present where she has gained international fame moving effortlessly between pop albums and Hollywood soundtracks, she has been constantly raising the bar. Her songs that are all gold and platinum are a living proof that she has managed to stay relevant in this capricious business community. Moreover, if Finneas stays next to her, Billie appears to be in a good position for further developing her creative ideas especially that she is open to resisting the categorization of her music as a particular genre and also revolutionizing public opinion of what a major pop star can achieve in a relatively short period of time.
Although Owen is primarily acknowledged as a leading force in the country music scene—managing top-tier names such as Musgraves, Ballerini, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Kate Hudson, and others—his early professional journey actually began in the film industry. He was first associated with New Line Cinema, Fine Line, and Spelling Entertainment. Later on, his career took a significant turn when he was chosen to head the publicity department at Universal Music’s Mercury Nashville label.
Eye-Opening Lessons
Over time, Owen realized how pivotal his position at Mercury Nashville could be in shaping his future ambitions. He observed firsthand the issues that arose when artists didn’t have reliable management, a topic he candidly addressed with Variety in 2019. Reflecting on that period, he mentioned, “I used to sit in that chair at Universal and would have to deal with the worst managers. And I was, like, ‘I can do better than that with my eyes closed.’ And that’s what started me thinking [about management].” These eye-opening experiences strongly influenced his decision to move from a publicity role to a managerial one, setting him on an entirely new trajectory.
Because of his dissatisfaction with handling subpar management strategies, Owen decided to create a different approach for the artists under his watch. Driven by that sense of confidence and determination, he shifted his focus onto a management framework that elevated the careers of various performers. That transformation, which began after his stint at Universal, proved to be a defining moment in his professional life. It also laid the groundwork for what would eventually develop into his successful enterprise, Sandbox, which soon became known for its emphasis on artist-focused methods and creative innovation.
Strong Growth at Sandbox
Since those initial days, Owen has refused to second-guess his career pivot. Under his leadership, Sandbox continued to strengthen its foothold in the music world, and in January 2023, the company took another remarkable step forward by appointing seasoned Nashville figure Jake Basden as its new president. This addition reinforced Sandbox’s reputation for collecting renowned industry expertise and offered further stability to its overall mission. Throughout this period of expansion, the company garnered praise for its carefully crafted strategies and its commitment to meeting the diverse needs of its artists.
Even more noteworthy is the direction Sandbox appears to be heading now. With both Billie Eilish and Finneas included in the growing client list, the company is clearly aiming well beyond the boundaries of country music. This development demonstrates Owen’s keen awareness that broadening Sandbox’s reach allows it to fully leverage the collective talents of multiple genres, rather than remaining anchored in just one sphere. While Owen continues to cultivate a legacy defined by extraordinary management skills and strategic thinking, the next chapter for Sandbox promises to introduce an even more expansive array of ventures that transcend conventional country limitations.
