Jennifer Fontaine
JENNIFER FONTAINE
Founder & Managing Director
Jennifer began her career at Sony Music in 1992, initially in a temporary role before quickly securing a full-time position as National Publicity & Promotions Coordinator. Her dedication and talent saw her rise through the ranks, and after three years in the Executive Office, she was promoted to National Publicity & Artist Relations Manager for Columbia following an internal restructure at Sony.
In 1999, Jennifer took on the role of National Publicity & Artist Development Director at Warner Music, where she spent eight successful years. She then launched her own business, Private Idaho, a media management consultancy supporting international artists seeking an Australian presence, as well as major Australian acts. With offices in Los Angeles and now Sydney, Private Idaho has represented artists at the peak of their careers, including Delta Goodrem, Michael Buble, Chris Isaak & Damien Leith. Today, the company manages the careers of Human Nature, The Veronicas, Guy Sebastian, Phil Burton, the Tierney Brothers and rising star Royston Noell, in addition to representing entertainment & influencer clients in specialised deal negotiations.
As a boutique agency, Private Idaho provides a comprehensive approach to artist management, handling public affairs, media liaison, content strategy, touring, release campaigns, book deals, podcasts, short form TV series, product launches and long-term sustainable career development. The company also collaborates with various philanthropic foundations, supporting community initiatives through fundraising and awareness campaigns.
All of Private Idaho’s clients have enjoyed significant career milestones, including a major presence at the 2019 ARIA Awards. That year, Human Nature was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, Guy Sebastian hosted the event to critical acclaim and won two major awards (Video of the Year & Song of the Year for Choir), and Jules Sebastian hosted the red carpet arrivals. In the same year, Human Nature was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day Honours, while Guy Sebastian was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Jennifer’s passion for music and popular culture has been a driving force in her career. “Music is everything to me,” she shares. “It carries me through every part of my day—morning, noon, and night. I love its power and the way it shapes our lives and culture.” With the unwavering support of her family, including her son Maxwell, along with friends and colleagues, she finds balance in her demanding career. A strong commitment to fitness also helps her maintain the mental and physical stamina required in such a high-energy industry.
Reflecting on her journey, Jennifer says, “I feel incredibly lucky to do what I love and work with such world-class talent. Private Idaho is more than a business—it’s my passion.”
