Ever wondered how the music in your favorite movies perfectly complements the scenes, leaving you misty-eyed or covered in goosebumps? The answer lies with the gifted composers and music supervisors who craft these powerful scores and the agents who represent them, like Jonathan Clark at Kraft-Engel Management. With a keen ear for talent, he has one of the coolest jobs you’ve probably never heard of and has built a career matching these creative minds with the perfect projects. I sat down with Jonathan recently to talk music, and we covered everything from Jurassic Park to Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Like so many before him, Jonathan’s career in music got its start on the Sunset Strip, where he was playing guitar in a funk rock band that he describes as “sort of like if the Chili Peppers and Zeppelin had a weird baby.” While the dream of rock stardom remained elusive, his passion for music never faded. “If I couldn’t be an artist, I figured, how closely could I work with them? I would cold call, knock on doors, and stumble into record labels that I loved. If anyone let me pour coffee or tea for them, I stuck it on my resume as an internship.” That determination fueled his relentless hustle, and Jonathan landed jobs in the A&R department at Rick Rubin’s American Records and in management at Core Entertainment.
Years of networking and an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time ultimately led Jonathan to Kraft-Engel Management. Founded in 2005, Kraft-Engel has carved a niche as one of the world’s leading agencies representing the creative powerhouses behind the scenes: composers, songwriters, and music supervisors who breathe life into film, TV, and theatrical productions. For Jonathan, it was a perfect fit. “I didn’t even know composers needed agents when I walked in here (at Kraft-Engel). It was something very unique and strange at the same time, and I fell in love with it very quickly. It was everything I wanted. I was working in music, and with artists that I revered, like Danny Elfman and Trevor Rabin,” says Clark. With dedication and a strong work ethic, Jonathan climbed the ranks at Kraft-Engel Management, starting as a receptionist and eventually becoming an agent.
“Kraft-Engel Management is a talent agency, but we blend it with artist management, which you can do really effectively at the boutique level,” says Clark. “We handle the agenting—getting work, negotiating, and the black-and-white clerical stuff. But we also focus on the managerial aspect—building an artist’s career, their legacy, and guiding them day-to-day.” Kraft-Engel is one of only a handful of boutiques that provide representation for songwriters, composers, and music supervisors, and Clark’s pride is palpable. “We do something very specific and very niche within the film and theater worlds. We try to give an all-encompassing 30,000-foot view of the years of experience that we all have. Our bosses have been doing this for even longer, and there’s a wealth of knowledge that we’re all benefactors of, and our clients benefit from that.”
In addition to working with established artists, Jonathan is always on the lookout for fresh talent. When it comes to discovering new clients for his roster, he prioritizes staying ahead of the curve. “I always have my ear to the ground for who’s hot right now, who’s hungry, who’s bubbling up onto the surface—the one that just needs some polish and a little kick in the pants,” says Jonathan. “You never know who’s going to be the next generational talent.”
However, Clark emphasizes that talent is just one piece of the puzzle. “It’s a people business before it’s a music business, and I judge myself based on the quality of the humans I surround myself with,” he says. “I’d rather work with people that I really love than do it for the paycheck. I really would rather have the young gun that’s amazing and maybe doesn’t have a name out there yet, but the music’s good and just needs a little polish. They’ll sell themselves better than I will.”
We spoke at length about his love for music, and when I asked about his favorite soundtrack, there was no hesitation. “Jurassic Park. It was John Williams. It was this eye-opening moment for me because I’d been feeling things [about music] that I didn’t know how to speak about. There was this thread of emotion—complex but beautiful, sad and triumphant. It was all these fun adjectives that I was discovering through music. That was the score that made me realize film music was something more than just wallpaper.”
Jonathan’s reverence for Williams extends far beyond that one score, though. He recognizes Williams’ unparalleled ability to create scores that perfectly capture the essence of a film, from the adventurous spirit of the Indiana Jones series to the epic grandeur of the Star Wars saga. “Why did I feel that way?” he muses. “It was really because of John Williams. I think most people of my generation grew up with the Star Wars films, and that score is up there, too. It’s like John has been the beacon of the emotional dynamics of my life for the last 30 years, you know. Anything John Williams does is sonic brilliance. It’s unbelievable.”
Beyond soundtracks and scores, Jonathan’s personal taste in music is a fascinating mix, both broad and deep. Jonathan’s eyes light up when he speaks about the first piece of music he ever bought (a red cassette tape of KISS—Detroit Rock City) and when he tells me how hearing Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze at 12 made him want to be a guitarist. The list of artists he loves and listens to reads like a who’s who of music legends: BB King, The Beatles, Muddy Waters, A Tribe Called Quest, Elvis, Green Day. However, Stevie Ray Vaughan holds an extra special place in his heart. “Stevie Ray Vaughan is a god I’ll never be able to emulate, but what an unattainable reach! I love that I can’t quite ever get there, but that’s the brilliance of what he brought to my life.” Even with all those classics on the roster, he remains eager to discover new music. “I’m always excited to get my teeth kicked in by music I’m surprised by, you know?” says Clark.
Jonathan’s profound love for music and dedication to nurturing his clients’ careers are undeniable. The next time a score moves you, raise a metaphorical glass to Jonathan—the secret sauce behind the soundtracks that strike all the right emotional chords.
Connect with Jon on Instagram: @jon.d.clark
Photo credit: Sarah Kovacs
