Showbiz Sandbox 276: Agency Wars Have A Long History in Hollywood
April 13, 2015
Even in the best of times being a Hollywood talent agent has never been an easy job. The dog eat dog nature of the agency business has never been more apparent than during the last few weeks when 11 agents suddenly defected from Creative Artists Agency, one of the industry’s leading agencies, to become partners at a rival firm, United Talent Agency. Following in the footsteps of their agents were A-list clients such as Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianiakis, Ed Helms, Melissa McCarthy and Chris Pratt.
This isn’t the first time big shot agents have deserted their agencies for greener pastures and taken their clients with them, nor will it be the last. In fact, CAA was founded in 1975 when Michael Ovitz along with Ron Meyer and several other agents, abruptly departed the William Morris Agency to form their own firm. The now legendary Ari Emanuel did the same thing 20 years later to start Endeavor.
Meanwhile, changes are also afoot in how television networks want advertisers to pay for commercial time. Two major conglomerates, Time Warner and Viacom, are moving away from Nielsen ratings and offering to let advertisers pay for the “impact” their ads have through metrics such as increased brand recognition, increased loyalty program registrations and consumer engagement on social media.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including Jay-Z makes a streaming media play with Tidal, filmmaker David Lynch backs out of “Twin Peaks” reboot, and NBC selects “The Wiz” as its next live televised musical.
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Will ‘Furious 7’ Become Universal’s First Billion-Dollar Baby?
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/will-furious-7-become-universals-786448
DreamWorks Animation Stock Rises as ‘Home’ Opening Exceeds Expectations
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-animation-stock-rises-home-785262
Time Warner, Viacom Back Away From Nielsen Guarantees For Ads
https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/time-warner-viacom-nielsen-tv-advertising-upfront-1201471240/
‘The Wiz’ Set as NBC’s Next Live Musical
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/wiz-set-as-nbcs-next-785343
Alabama Officials Find Harper Lee in Control of Decision to Publish Second Novel
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/alabama-officials-find-harper-lee-in-control-of-decision-to-publish-second-novel/?_r=0
Digital Audience Ratings: ‘Corden’ Hits Huge Debut;
https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/digital-audience-ratings-corden-hits-huge-debut-10-years-of-greys-makes-top-10-1201462670/
Jay Z, Kanye, Rihanna Throw Support Behind Streaming Service Tidal
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/jay-z-kanye-rihanna-throw-support-behind-streaming-service-tidal-20150330
ABC’s ‘World News Tonight’ Snaps NBC’s ‘Nightly News’ 288-Week Winning Streak
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/abcs-world-news-tonight-snaps-786837
Bob Schieffer Retiring From CBS News
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bob-schieffer-retiring-cbs-news-787427
Scientology Exposé ‘Going Clear’ Is HBO’s Biggest Doc Premiere in Almost a Decade
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/scientology-expos-going-clear-is-785556
Play Reimagining ‘Three’s Company’ Wins Case
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/theater/play-reimagining-threes-company-wins-case.html
Richard Dreyfuss Sues Disney Over ‘What About Bob?’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/richard-dreyfuss-sues-disney-what-787671
Jillian Michaels Makes $10 Million Legal Claim Over Lionsgate’s YouTube Channel
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/jillian-michaels-makes-10-million-788109
David Lynch Says He’s Leaving ‘Twin Peaks’ Reboot: “Not Enough Money”
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/twin-peaks-reboot-david-lynch-786456
‘Twin Peaks’ Return in Doubt as Director Lynch Backs Out
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/06/business/twin-peaks-return-in-doubt-as-director-lynch-backs-out.html
‘New Girl’ Renewed for Fifth Season at Fox
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/new-girl-renewed-fifth-season-785513
“Mamma Mia!” to Close on Broadway This Fall; Movie Sequel in the Works?
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-News-MAMMA-MIA-to-Close-on-Broadway-This-Fall-Movie-Sequel-in-the-Works-20150409
“Honeymoon In Vegas” to Close on Broadway
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-HONEYMOON-IN-VEGAS-to-Close-on-Broadway-20150331
Agency Shakeup: Mass Defection to UTA Is a Major Blow to CAA’s Dominance
https://variety.com/2015/film/news/caa-to-pursue-legal-action-against-uta-after-mass-exodus-1201463693/
A Phone Call, “Betrayal” and How the “Midnight Raid” at CAA Happened
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/a-phone-call-betrayal-how-787120
CAA Sues UTA and Two Agents for a “Lawless Midnight Raid” (Exclusive)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/caa-sues-uta-two-agents-785838
Stan Freberg, Acclaimed Satirist, Dies at 88
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/stan-freberg-dead-acclaimed-satirist-787007
Richard Dysart, the Patriarchal Senior Partner of ‘L.A. Law,’ Dies at 86
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/richard-dysart-dead-la-law-787524
Günter Grass, Nobel-Winning German Novelist, Dies Aged 87
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/13/gunter-grass-german-nobel-laureate-dies-aged-87
Manoel de Oliveira, Portugal director, Dead at 106
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d5c54e0adb5048748c2a8c1dec515f0a/manoel-de-oliveira-portugal-director-dead-106
Julie Wilson, Sultry Cabaret Legend and Actress, Dies at 90
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/07/arts/music/julie-wilson-sultry-cabaret-legend-and-actress-dies-at-90.html
Julie Wilson singing Sondheim’s “I’m Still Here.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd3UtltqLgA
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