Kevin “Chief’ Zaruk is a Canadian entrepreneur, record executive, and investor best known for co-founding Big Loud. He is a founding partner of The Core Entertainment, along with investor Simon Tikhman. The Core is an entertainment company in partnership with Live Nation that focuses on acquiring and cultivating talent in music, sports, film, television and technology.
Career:
In 2011, Zaruk teamed up with Nickleback producer Joey Moi, songwriter Craig Wiseman and manager Seth England to found Big Loud Mountain Publishing and Management. Advocating a top to bottom approach in building a successful act, Zaruk was integral to the rise of Florida Georgia Line-the first act signed by Big Loud Mountain. In 2015, the partners expanded the company to include a record label division, Big Loud Records. Big Loud Records’ roster includes Morgan Wallen, Jake Owen, Chris Lane, HARDY, Madison Kozak, Mason Ramsey, MacKenzie Porter, ERNEST, Larry Fleet and Sean Stemaly. In 2017, the partners merged all three companies-along with venture capital fund, Big Loud Capital- to create cutting-edge music innovator, Big Loud. That same year, Big Loud joined forces with the genre-bending management group, Maverick. In 2020, Zaruk and serial entrepreneur, Simon Tikhman, founded The Core Entertainment. The Core is a 360-degree entertainment company specializing in investment and management in music, sports, film, television and technology. Zaruk is also a strategic investor in BEV, an innovated canned wine company.