Producer Entertainment Group (PEG), also affiliated with Producer Entertainment Group Records (PEGR), is an American talent management firm and production company based in Burbank, California. The group manages LGBTQ+ talent across the globe, including past competitors from the Drag Race franchise.
History
2011–2019: Early beginnings and lawsuit
The talent management company was founded in 2011 by both David Charpentier and Jacob Slane, and is managed by them along with Ryan Aceto.[citation needed]
In 2016, Producer Entertainment Group launched the first official world tour named RuPaul's Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons, which featured a lineup of contestants from the reality series. The tour ran through 2016, visiting over 60 cities around the world.[1]
On April 4, 2017, drag queen Adore Delano filed a lawsuit against the management company, alleging that they had embezzled millions of dollars that were owed to them from appearance fees, record sales, and concerts. Delano alleging had earned $2.5 million over the past three years and was only paid $300,000.[2] The company denied the allegations made from the singer and retaliated with a countersuit against Delano. The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge who awarded no money to either party.[3]
Between 2018 and 2019, PEG partnered with talent agencies Clear Talent Group and The Benedetti Group (fka Executive PR and Talent) and was labeled a "super firm" by The Hollywood Reporter.[4] In 2019 PEG also announced a music distribution deal with Warner Music Group’s Alternative Distribution Alliance.[5] During this time, PEG Records also released the first Billboard #1 charting album from a drag artist.[6]
2020–present: New business ventures
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic entertainment shutdown in 2020, the entertainment company partnered with GLAAD and Amazon to announce "Digital Drag Fest", an online LGBT and drag festival.[7] They have also partnered up with the Grammy Museum for the online festival.[8] PEG also partnered with talent agency ICM Partners to jointly represent clients including Katya Zamolodchikova and Trixie Mattel.[9]
In March 2021, OUTtv Media Group announced a joint venture with Producer Entertainment Group to launch "OUTtv USA" on Apple TV, this marks the streaming service's first LGBTQ streaming channel.[10][11]
In September 2021, Producer Entertainment Group debuted a vodka line in collaboration with the Mexican distillery Casa Maestri.[12] The line, titled SERV Vodka, consists of six flavors each inspired by a drag queen on the PEG roster: pineapple (Manila Luzon); pink lemonade (Trixie Mattel); mixed berries (Trinity the Tuck); blood orange (Sharon Needles); green apple (Monét X Change); and original (Alaska Thunderfuck).[13]
In October 2022, the talent management company announced a collaboration with Warner Chappell Music, launching "PEG Music Publishing".[14]
In March 2023, when the Tennessee drag ban bill came into effect, PEG partnered with several companies and organizations to create a telethon campaign named, Drag Isn't Dangerous.[15] Many artists from their roster are taking part in the event, such as Ginger Minj and Jinkx Monsoon.[16]