Ash Pournouri

{{Short description|Iranian-Swedish record manager, producer, songwriter, and executive}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ash Pournouri | image = Ash Pournori cropped.jpg | caption = Pournouri in 2023 | native_name = | native_name_lang = fa | birth_name = Arash Andreas Pournouri | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|08|8}} | birth_place = [[Iran]] | origin = [[Stockholm]], Sweden | occupation = {{flatlist| * record producer * music executive * songwriter * angel investor * talent manager * businessperson }} | label = [[PRMD Music]] }}

'''Arash Andreas Pournouri''' (born 28 August 1981) {{Abbr|bka|better known as}} '''Ash Pournouri''' is an [[Swedish Iranians|Iranian-Swedish]] [[record producer]], [[music executive]], and [[Businessperson|businessman]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehrotra |first=Kriti |date=2024-12-31 |title=Arash "Ash" Pournouri: Where is Avicii's Ex-Manager Now? |url=https://thecinemaholic.com/arash-ash-pournouri/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=The Cinemaholic |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Career == While he is best known as the former manager for [[Avicii]], their artist-manager relationship ended in December 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/XwQb0n|title=Aviciis manager bemöter Tommy Körbergs kritik|website=Aftonbladet|accessdate=11 January 2020}}</ref> Pournouri is also known for co-writing the lyrics to [[Cazzette|Cazzette's]] song, “Beam Me Up”.<ref>{{Citation |title=Cazzette - Beam Me Up |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/645825-Cazzette-Beam-Me-Up |language=en |access-date=2022-11-22}}</ref> He owns the music label [[PRMD Music]] and the booking agency At Night Management.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2016-12-25 |title=Avicii & Longtime Manager Ash Pournouri Part Ways {{!}} Billboard |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/7633087/avicii-ash-pournouri-split |access-date=2022-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225003125/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/7633087/avicii-ash-pournouri-split |archive-date=2016-12-25 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dagensps.se/artiklar/2014/02/17/70387427/index.xml#sthash.MVuUonah.dpuf|title=DagensPS.se – Avicii-geniets tabbe: "Ville bara att de skulle konka"|accessdate=20 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710060740/http://www.dagensps.se/artiklar/2014/02/17/70387427/index.xml#sthash.MVuUonah.dpuf|archive-date=10 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> He appeared in the documentary film ''[[Avicii: True Stories]]''.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.breakit.se/artikel/15700|title=Symposium-grundaren talar ut om tiden innan "Aviciis" bortgång|website=Breakit|accessdate=11 January 2020}}</ref>

In 2014, Pournouri was awarded as MVP (Most Valuable Person) at the Denniz Pop Awards founded by [[Denniz Pop]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Archived copyASH {{!}} Denniz Pop Awards|url=http://www.dennizpopawards.com/previous-winners/ash/|work=www.dennizpopawards.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426100651/http://www.dennizpopawards.com/previous-winners/ash/|archivedate=26 April 2019|accessdate=11 January 2020}}</ref>

Pournouri along with Spotify founder [[Daniel Ek]] are the creators of the tech convention Symposium.<ref name="auto1" /> He has also owned and ran several restaurant and bars in [[Norway]] and arranged club nights in [[Stockholm]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lazarevic |first=Petar |date=2015-10-17 |title=The man behind Avicii: Meet Ash Pournouri |url=https://weraveyou.com/2015/10/man-behind-avicii-meet-ash-pournouri/ |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=We Rave You |language=en-US}}</ref> On 9 July 2015, he was the presenter for [[Sommar i P1]] on [[Sveriges Radio]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |last=Radio |first=Sveriges |title=Arash "Ash" Pournouri - Sommar & Vinter i P1 |url=https://sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/571824 |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=sverigesradio.se |date=9 July 2015 |language=sv}}</ref> In 2017, Pournouri founded Self Made International: a company that hosted a contest for "aspiring and unsigned artists to build a following by uploading performance videos onto the platform that are then voted on by the public...". The winner of the contest would land a "50-50 record deal on [PRMD Music]... and $25,000 in prize money".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Smirke |first=Richard |date=March 7, 2017 |title=Avicii's Former Manager Ash Pournouri Launches Fan-Driven Digital Talent Search Platform |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/avicii-former-manager-ash-pournouri-talent-search-self-made-7717134/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250612211629/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/avicii-former-manager-ash-pournouri-talent-search-self-made-7717134/ |archive-date=June 12, 2025 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |language=en |no-pp=y}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Arash Andreas POURNOURI personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/r2xLScBVKegZxIn1fCodW_yu_7g/appointments |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> He is one of the founders of Brilliant Minds.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/dinapengar/hjarnorna-bakom-hemliga-elitfesten-pa-grand-hotel/|title=Hjärnorna bakom Brilliant Minds|website=Expressen|date=9 June 2019 |accessdate=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002064340/https://www.expressen.se/dinapengar/hjarnorna-bakom-hemliga-elitfesten-pa-grand-hotel/|archive-date=2 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, he along with Brilliant Minds arranged a conference at [[Grand Hôtel (Stockholm)|Grand Hotel]] in Stockholm where [[Barack Obama]] attended.<ref name="auto" /> In 2019, Pournouri became part owner of the video platform Triller.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dagensps.se/business/profiler/aviciis-ex-manager-investerar-i-tik-tok-utmanare/|title=Aviciis ex-manager backar Tik Tok-utmanare|date=20 December 2019|accessdate=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221152323/https://www.dagensps.se/business/profiler/aviciis-ex-manager-investerar-i-tik-tok-utmanare/|archive-date=21 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Non-music industry ventures === Pournouri co-founded a health company called "Shewy" which provides subscribers vitamin and mineral enriched [[chewing gum]] packs.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=2025-03-24 |first=Breaking Media |language=sv |last=AB |title=Techprofilens nya satsning – vill få dig att prenumerera på tuggummi (med vitaminer i) |url=https://www.breakit.se/artikel/27190/ash-pournoris-nya-drag-ska-salja-tuggummiprenumerationer |website=www.breakit.se}}</ref> and a food company called "Oatlaws" which provides pudding containing "pea protein, cocoa and oats."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Colliander |first=Av Johan |date=2021-05-26 |title=Nytt veganmärke lanseras – med Joel Kinnaman |url=https://www.food-supply.se/article/view/793529/nytt_veganmarke_lanseras_med_joel_kinnaman?ref=rss |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Food Supply SE}}</ref> In February 2021, the company received [[pre-seed]] investors such as [[Kelly Gale]] and Jonas Fagerström.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borowska |first=Izabella |date=2021-02-02 |title=Profilens nya satsning sålde slut direkt - tunga namn investerar |url=https://www.ehandel.se/profilens-nya-satsning-salde-slut-direkt-tunga-namn-investerar |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Ehandel.se |language=sv-SE}}</ref>

Pournouri is a judge on [[Idol 2024 (Sweden)|Idol 2024]] which is broadcast on [[TV4 (Swedish TV channel)|TV4]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/q1K1Oz|title=Ash Pournouri ny medlem i "Idol"-juryn: "Taggad"|date=29 March 2024|website=Aftonbladet|accessdate=20 September 2024}}</ref>

== Personal life == Pournouri graduated with a [[Master of Laws]] degree from [[Stockholm University]] in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-08 |title=2024 Ash Pournouri |url=https://brilliantminds.co/moderator/2024-ash-pournouri/# |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Brilliant Minds |language=en-EN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Luo |first=Benny |date=2015-03-24 |title=Man Behind Avicii's Tremendous Success Reveals How He Deals With Haters |url=https://nextshark.com/man-behind-aviciis-tremendous-success-reveals-how-to-deal-with-haters |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=NextShark |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehrotra |first=Kriti |date=2024-12-31 |title=Arash "Ash" Pournouri: Where is Avicii's Ex-Manager Now? |url=https://thecinemaholic.com/arash-ash-pournouri/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=The Cinemaholic |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References== <references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pournouri, Arash}} [[Category:1981 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Iranian composers]] [[Category:Iranian emigrants to Sweden]] [[Category:Iranian music people]] [[Category:Iranian record producers]] [[Category:Swedish music managers]] [[Category:Swedish businesspeople]] [[Category:Iranian businesspeople]] [[Category:Songwriters by nationality]] [[Category:Stockholm University alumni]]