Claude Zdanow’s entrepreneurial spirit ignited early. At just 15, he launched RockIT Studios in his parents’ basement, producing for major clients like Warner Brothers and Maybelline. This foundation in music production and brand collaboration laid the groundwork for Zdanow’s future successes across multiple industries.
In a recent interview on The TechMediaWire Podcast, Zdanow reflected on this journey and shared insights into the mission of his latest endeavor, ONAR Holdings (OTCQB: ONAR). “I have a bit of a non-traditional background,” he explained. “I started as a musician signed to a band on an imprint of Warner Bros. I parlayed that into starting a music company, then pivoted into advertising and marketing.”
Zdanow’s transition was marked by the founding of Stadiumred Studios in 2007, transforming Ornette Coleman’s storied Harmolodic studio in Harlem into a Grammy-winning recording facility. Stadiumred helped launch the careers of artists like The Chainsmokers, ultimately leading to the company being associated with 30 Grammy nominations and 22 wins, including with the likes of Eminem, Drake, and many more.
As CEO of Stadiumred Group, Zdanow transformed the company from a Grammy-winning recording studio into a unified marketing collective offering creative, digital, experiential, and influencer services. He led the strategic integration of multiple agencies, building a platform that served global brands and attracted top clients including 7-Eleven, Brown-Forman, Disney’s FX Networks, Steven Soderbergh’s Singani 63, Peter Thomas Roth, Pernod Ricard, and Rolls-Royce. Under his leadership, Stadiumred was recognized as one of Adweek’s Fastest Growing Agencies and earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list.
Leading ONAR Holdings and Supporting the Middle Market
After exiting his prior advertising firm in 2021, Zdanow was recruited to lead ONAR Holdings (OTCQB: ONAR), a marketing technology company and agency network. ONAR focuses on delivering AI-driven strategies that help middle-market companies grow revenue, often companies too small to attract Fortune 500-level attention, but large enough to need advanced solutions. ONAR specializes in companies generating revenue in the range of $50 million to $1 billion.
“We help people sell stuff,” Zdanow told TechMediaWire. “We own and operate businesses that help middle-market companies generate revenue online.” In that vein, ONAR’s businesses include:
Together, these units serve clients across America, with a global team projected to expand through 2025.
Strategic Acquisitions and AI at the Core
Zdanow outlined ONAR’s aggressive acquisition strategy, with several deals expected by the end of 2025. In February, ONAR announced a letter of intent to acquire a marketing technology firm that will merge into Storia, doubling that unit’s revenue and boosting EBITDA through scale and automation.
Artificial intelligence is central to ONAR’s operations. “There are some interesting things we do with tech and AI to really enable what we’re offering,” said Zdanow. ONAR’s AI systems have cut creative production time substantially and improved campaign performance, giving middle-market clients enterprise-grade results.
Vision for the Future
Zdanow’s goal is to build a category-defining holding company focused on marketing outcomes rather than just branding. “We’re not chasing the Fortune 100s,” he said. “There’s real opportunity among innovative mid-sized businesses, and our solutions tie directly to revenue.”
ONAR plans to uplist to Nasdaq and expand both geographically and technologically. As Zdanow told TechMediaWire, ONAR is doing it “better, faster, and smarter”—and the market is noticing.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ONAR.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ONAR are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ONAR
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