Talent agency

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A talent agency is a company that represents actors, authors, musicians, models, athletes, writers, dancers, and other professionals in various industries. Talent agencies specialize, either by creating departments within the agency or developing entire agencies that primarily or wholly represent one specialty. For example, there are modeling agencies, commercial talent agencies, literary agencies, voice-over agencies, broadcast journalist agencies, sports agencies, music agencies and many more.

Contents

History

Since the decline in viewership in theaters from the 1950s to 1960s, a monumental shift occurred in how studios produced films and reduced the cost of exclusive and expensive actors. After the shift, actors and actresses were working for the studios but were not owned by one major studio entity, so they were able to work with other studios. This shift has meant that agents were now seen as a necessity instead of an option. Agents became third parties who negotiated between studios and clients, making the need for the agents' services an imperative for each party.

In the 1980s, new agencies were established to compete with the "Big five". In 1991, Bauer-Benedek merged with Leading Artists Agency to form what became United Talent Agency. These agencies were Traid Artists and InterTalent. Traid Artist would eventually be sold to William Morris Agency in 1992, and InterTalent would diminish when its partners dispersed between UTA and ICM in the same year. [1]

As of 2022, the top three Hollywood talent agencies are William Morris Endeavor (WME), Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and United Talent Agency (UTA). [2] Except for ICM Partners, each agency has its own affiliated production company, which may hire the agency's clients. [3] In 1989, the three major agencies were William Morris, ICM, and CAA. [4] During the 2000s, the majors were known as the "big five." [5] or "top five". [6] In 2009, Endeavor Talent Agency and William Morris merged. Later, CAA and ICM merged in 2022. [7] [8]

Types of talent agencies

Broadcast journalistic agencies

Some talent agencies specialize in the representation of television news broadcast journalists and television news magazine hosts. The journalists and hosts represented by these agents primarily work at television stations in local markets or at networks. There are many job titles for broadcast news journalists, such as anchors, reporters, weathercasters, sportscasters, correspondents and hosts.

Literary agencies

Modeling agencies

Music agencies

In the music world, booking agents are different from talent managers. Booking agents are the people who actually book concerts for the artists they represent. These agents make all of the arrangements with the promoters of the shows. The booking agent presents the promoter or producer of the concert with a performance agreement, which stipulates the artist's requirements. Items may include lighting, sound, meals, hotel accommodations, and transportation. For concert buyers, they work to find the artist who will fit their needs and available budget.

Many of the major booking agencies refuse to represent clients who are not already signed to a major record label and have national distribution of their music. Because of this, artists on independent record labels often seek representation with an independent booking agency.

Sports agencies

Related Research Articles

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Michael Steven Ovitz is an American businessman. He was a talent agent who co-founded Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 1975 and served as its chairman until 1995. Ovitz later served as president of The Walt Disney Company for only 16 months, from October 1995 to January 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ICM Partners</span> American talent and literary agency

ICM Partners was a talent and literary agency with offices in Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, D.C., and London. The company represented clients in the fields of motion pictures, television, music, publishing, live performance, branded entertainment and new media. Its corporate headquarters were in Constellation Place in Century City, Los Angeles. In 2022, ICM became part of Creative Artists Agency.

A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds work for actors, authors, broadcast journalists, film directors, musicians, models, professional athletes, screenwriters, writers, dancers, and other professionals in various entertainment or sports businesses. In addition, an agent defends, supports and promotes the interest of their clients.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Talent Agency</span> American talent agency

United Talent Agency (UTA) is a global talent agency based in Beverly Hills, California. Established in 1991, it represents artists and other professionals across the entertainment industry. As of 2021, the company has more than 1,400 global employees. UTA has divisions focused on film, television, music, sports, digital, books, video games, branding and licensing, speaking, marketing, fine arts, news, and broadcasting, among others. The agency also operates the non-profit UTA Foundation.

The Endeavor Talent Agency was a Beverly Hills–based talent agency founded by Ari Emanuel, Rick Rosen, Tom Strickler, and David Greenblatt. It was launched in March 1995 and went on to represent a wide variety of acclaimed film and television stars. In April 2009, Emanuel and Endeavor executive Patrick Whitesell orchestrated a merger with the William Morris Agency, resulting in William Morris Endeavor. William Morris Endeavor was renamed Endeavor in October 2017.

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Martin "Marty" Baum was an American talent agent known for his work at the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), including the first head of the agency's motion picture department. During his career, which spanned from the 1940s until 2010, his client list at CAA and other agencies included Bette Davis, Jack Lemmon, Bobby Darin, Bo Derek, Richard Attenborough, Red Buttons, Maggie Smith and Rock Hudson. Baum was also the President of ABC Pictures, the film division of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), from 1968 until 1971.

Klutch Sports Group is an American sports agency based in Los Angeles, California, founded by sports agent and chief executive officer Rich Paul. Klutch Sports Group represents nearly 200 players in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and WNBA. It has offices in Atlanta, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York. In mid-2024, Klutch Sports Group began expanding into Europe following the takeover of a major German soccer agency.

Daniel Aaron Aloni or Dan Aloni is an American talent agent and Managing Partner at William Morris Endeavor (WME). He was previously a partner at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and United Talent Agency (UTA), where he was Co-Head of Motion Picture Literary department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Zimmer</span> American entertainment executive (born 1958)

Jeremy Zimmer is an American entertainment industry executive who co-founded and is the chief executive officer of United Talent Agency (UTA).

Rick Nicita is an American entertainment executive, talent agent, and motion picture/TV producer. Nicita is a former co-chairman and managing partner of Creative Artists Agency.

Marvin Josephson was an American talent agent and founder of International Creative Management, later renamed ICM Partners.

References

  1. ↑ McDonald, Paul(2008). The Star System: The Production of Hollywood Stardom in the Post-Studio Era, p. 168–171. Blackwell Publishing, Inc., MA. ISBN   978-1-4051-3388-3.
  2. ↑ Welk, Brian (June 28, 2022). "CAA Completes ICM Acquisition in $750 Million Deal". TheWrap . Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  3. ↑ Koblin, John (April 12, 2019). "Hollywood Upended as Unions Tell Writers to Fire Agents". The New York Times . p. B1. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  4. ↑ Davis, L. J. (July 9, 1989). "Hollywood's Most Secret Agent". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Though suits are still the standard at the Big Five agencies (C.A.A., William Morris, I.C.M., U.T.A. and Endeavor)," Laporte, Nicole., Let's Dress It Down, Ari." New York Observer , 25, 2005.
  6. ↑ "Skirmishes among [Hollywood]'s top five agencies are escalating." Horn, John. "Summer battle royale for agents." Los Angeles Times , July 3, 2008.
  7. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr.; Andreeva, Nellie (September 27, 2021). "CAA Acquiring ICM Partners; Will Be Biggest Agency Link-Up Since WMA-Endeavor". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  8. ↑ Welk, Brian (June 28, 2022). "CAA Completes ICM Acquisition in $750 Million Deal". TheWrap . Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
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