Music manager Jason Hobdy, who worked with artists including Alicia Keys and H.E.R., has died. He was 40.
Hobdy’s client Maeta announced his death in an emotional tribute shared to Instagram, revealing he had died on a flight while the duo were on their way back from her tour in Japan on August 31.
“Lost probably the closest person in my life yesterday on the way back from our last show in Japan,” the 24-year-old singer wrote to her 302,000 followers alongside a series of photos and videos of herself with Hobdy over the years.
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Per Variety, Yvette Noel-Schure also confirmed Hobdy’s death, saying he died shortly after beginning to feel sick on his and Maeta’s flight home from Japan.
“Jason has been the most loyal person to me for the past [six] years, since we met. He knew every detail of my life,” Maeta’s message continued.
“Started as my manager when I was 18 but quickly became my big brother. Stuck by my side through my darkest times, kept every secret I’ve ever told him, protected me like his little sister.”
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Her message continued: “We’d go at it like crazy but that’s because he knew me so well and sometimes I hated it! And he was always late lol HAD to throw that in there!!! It was a thing if you know you know!!!”
Maeta said Hobdy could “seriously read [her] mind” and because of that, they were able to have “so many silent conversations just with our faces”.
“One look and we’d bust out laughing about some dumb s–t,” she wrote. “I will miss you so so so much. I don’t know how I’ll do another show without you. Thank you for your dedication to my career and my life for all these years.”
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Maeta’s message concluded: “I love you forever and ever and ever. You are so insanely loved by so many people. I promise to make you proud. Until we meet again 🤍”.
Other artists on Hobdy’s roster before his death included Elijah Blake and Tone Stith, with Hobdy having started in the world of artist management when he was 16 as an intern, slowly working his way up.
He is survived by a plethora of close friends, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews.
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