Here Comes the Son -- and Now Bronfman’s Employees Know It

It’s no secret that Edgar Bronfman Jr., the relatively new chairman of Warner Music Group, occasionally dabbles in songwriting, usually under a pseudonym.

Now the rank and file at powerhouse Warner Bros. Records know the boss has a musically inclined son.

Many label employees were planning to be at the Mayan Theater last week to see arty rock band Muse, an emerging star on the Warner Bros. roster.

Then they received this e-mail from an assistant to Warner Bros. Chairman Tom Whalley: “To anyone attending tonight’s show at the Mayan Theater, please be advised that Edgar Bronfman Jr.’s son is in the opening band ‘The Exit’.... It would be great if you were there to show your support.”

Word is no one kept track of how many Warner folks caught the Exit, whose guitarist and singer is Bronfman’s 21-year-old son, Ben Brewer.

Representatives for the label and Bronfman declined to comment. People close to the executive said he wasn’t aware of the e-mail blast.

It isn’t unusual for people in the industry to invite one another to check out new or underground bands that may have connections to friends or family. But until recently, many in the business were unaware of Bronfman’s connection to the Exit. His son purposely uses his mother’s last name.

The Exit has earned plenty of favorable buzz, often drawing comparisons to the Clash and the Police. Talent scouts from Sony Music Entertainment and Bertelsmann-affiliated Wind-Up Records have expressed interest in the trio, who are signed to independent Some Records.

“There was major label interest from day one,” said Craig Yoskowitz, the band’s manager and a Some partner. “Ben’s gotten old enough to just not care” about the fact that he has a famous father. “It is what it is.”