Step Up is a hip, creative, and experienced company with connections and expertise in all aspects of the music and marketing industry. From artist management and booking, to street marketing, event production, product placement, and music licensing; Step Up offers a vibrant, focused engagement with all genres of music, with a particular focus on the urban landscape.

Clients look to Step Up to bring a hip, fresh look and feel to their brand, artist, or project. With a commitment to stepping it up every day, Step Up’s mission is to bring musical evolution and revolution to the people.

Step Up is a pioneer in the cross promotion of music, film, gaming, and new media events. Over the past 12 years we have developed an extensive network of external partners and contacts with top-level artists, agencies, brands, promoters, venues, managers, labels and celebrities. WE think BIG and THRIVE off being creative and coming up with NEW ideas.

Jesse Roman

CEO / Founder
Step Up was started in 1996 in Boulder Co, where three partners started throwing wildly successful weekly DJ parties. Since then Jesse Roman has carried on the legacy of the company.

Roman graduated from Emerson College in 2000 where he was the coordinator for the Electronic Program Revolutions that aired 5 nights a week on 88.9 FM. After graduating Roman went on to manage a handful of bands, including the six piece power group, Bootyjuice. After buying a bus and setting up a national tour for the band, Roman found it hard to make a living working only with jazz/funk bands and looked to expand.

In 2002, Roman took a position at The Invasion Group, a management company that has been around independently for over 25 years. Two years later, UFO (United for Opportunity) was formed under the Invasion umbrella. While remaining at Invasion as a base, Roman worked for a few different agencies including Mir Media headed by Asya Shein. It was here that he developed a close working relationship with ?uestlove and the Roots crew.

After nearly a year of being with Mir Media, Roman took another position at Julius Talent, working under Josh Boumel and Mike Blumstein. Since Julius shut its doors shortly after Roman left, Boumel has gone on to co own Guerilla Union and The Rock the Bells International Festival Series and Blumstein currently runs Chase Entertainment where he co-manages pop, hip hop legend, T Pain.

Roman moved back to New York City where Step Up was created into a full fledged agency, specializing in managing artists, booking talent, setting up tours, marketing, branding, licensing, event production and promotions.  On a creative level, Roman aka JRO is also an experienced and talented DJ, spinning at many high profile events and party’s around the country. He has developed a handful of Reality Cooking Shows being pitched as well as a Screen Play in the works. Roman currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, CA but travels frequently back to NYC, where many of Step Up’s artist’s are based.

Jesse Roman aka JRO