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☆ Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson Lead ‘D.C.-Palooza’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Callie Holtermann | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The early arrivals at a party thrown by the Hollywood powerhouse Creative Artists Agency on Friday night seemed to be weighing same question: Just how much could they expect to let loose during this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner weekend? Their game of chicken did not go on long. By 8 p.m., guests at the talent agency’s event, held at La Grande Boucherie in Washington, were applying temporary tattoos to one another’s necks and trying to prevent their drinks from sloshing onto a baby grand piano. The weekend’s main event, known as “nerd prom,” is a Saturday night banquet at the Washington Hilton Hotel. There, Colin Jost of “Saturday Night Live” plans to gently roast President Biden, who is expected to take the dais and attempt some zingers of his own.

Persons: ”, Colin Jost, “, Biden Organizations: Hollywood, Creative Artists Agency, Washington Hilton Locations: La Grande, Washington

☆ NBC News ousts Ronna McDaniel after network’s anchors launch unprecedented on-air rebellion
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Oliver Darcy | Jon Passantino | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Creative Artists Agency, the talent agency that brokered McDaniel’s deal with NBC, also parted ways with her, the person said. McDaniel, who recently stepped down from the RNC under pressure from former President Donald Trump, was involved in attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. NBC’s announcement Friday that it had hired McDaniel was quickly met with alarm by the network’s journalists. Welker disclosed that the interview had been scheduled to take place prior to NBC announcing McDaniel would become a paid contributor for the network, stating that she had no involvement in her hiring. MSNBC president Rashida Jones also did not object to the decision, people familiar with the matter said.

Persons: Ronna McDaniel, Cesar Conde, ”, ” Conde, McDaniel, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Kristen Welker, Welker, Chuck Todd, “, ” Todd, Mika Brzezinski, Joe Scarborough, Joe, ” Brzezinski, Joe ’, ” Nicolle Wallace, peddle, ” Wallace, Rachel Maddow, —, ” Maddow, hasn’t, Rebecca Blumenstein, Carrie Budoff Brown, Rashida Jones, Joy Reid, Maddow Organizations: New, New York CNN, NBC, Republican National Committee, News, ” NBCUniversal, CNN, Creative Artists Agency, MSNBC, Peacock Network, RNC, ”, NBC News, Todd, Republicans, NBCUniversal News Locations: New York, Michigan, Detroit

☆ NBC News will drop Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor after on-air outcry
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( John L. Dorman | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

NBC News is dropping Ronna McDaniel as a contributor, per a memo. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementNBC News will drop former Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor after on-air criticism of the hiring from some of the network's top talent. She was also dropped by Creative Artists Agency, the talent agency that helped secure the initial deal between McDaniel and NBC, the outlet reported.

Persons: Ronna McDaniel, Trump's, —, Cesar Conde, McDaniel, McDaniel —, Chuck Todd, cohosts Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Rachel Maddow Organizations: NBC, Service, Republican National Committee, Business, CNN, Creative Artists Agency, RNC, NBC News, MSNBC, Politico

The Ronna McDaniel era at NBC News has come to an abrupt and chaotic end. Ms. McDaniel’s appointment, announced with fanfare on Friday, was immediately criticized by reporters at the network and viewers on social media. The backlash at NBC has already created other problems for Ms. McDaniel. Ms. McDaniel was negotiating on Tuesday with lawyers to engage with NBC on her behalf. Leaders in the NBC newsroom, convinced that election year audiences deserved to hear a perspective from conservatives like Ms. McDaniel, believed the hubbub would fizzle out.

Persons: McDaniel, McDaniel’s, NBC’s, Donald J, Trump Organizations: NBC News, Republican National Committee, NBC, MSNBC, Republican Party, Creative Artists Agency, Hollywood

☆ High spirits in Hollywood: What’s behind the boom of celebrity liquor brands?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Why does actor Aaron Paul co-own a mezcal brand? Rob Kim/Getty Images for NYCWFFIt’s an “opportunity, to be honest,” Cranston told CNN. Celebrities are attractive to the spirits space because of their clout and connections, so the industry has “the door open. Four years later they sold the tequila brand to liquor giant Diageo for $1 billion, and the industry gold rush was on. The side of a Casamigos delivery truck promoting George Clooney and Rande Gerber's tequila brand in a 2015 photo.

Persons: Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston, —, Niro, Issa Rae, Dwayne “, ” Johnson, Matthew, Camila McConaughey, Eva Longoria, Casa Del, Kendall Jenner, Shirley Temple, Warren Beatty, Rob Kim, ” Cranston, George Clooney, Rande Gerber, George Rose, Ryan Reynolds, Conor McGregor, Jose Cuervo, Michael Yanover, Yanover, Jeff Spicer, ” Lisa Hawkins, , Drizly, Dwayne Johnson, Mike Segar, ” Andrew Chrisomalis, Tequila, Ed Mundy, ” Mundy, Sean “ Diddy ” Combs, Combs, Jennifer Lopez’s Delola, Lopez, she’s, Delola, Paul, Cranston, Dos, ” Applebee’s, ” Aaron Paul, CAA’s Yanover, “, There’s, Kylie Jenner, Kendall, It’s, I’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN, Hombres, Hollywood, Dos Hombres, Food Network New York, Food Network New York City Wine, Food Festival, CNN, Diageo, Aviation, UFC, Creative Artists Agency, ”, Reuters, Jefferies, Diddy, New York, New York City Wine, Applebee’s Locations: New York, Casa Del Sol, Food Network New York City, Hollywood, New York City, Iowa, Applebee’s

☆ Donna Summer’s Estate Sues Ye for Sampling ‘I Feel Love’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Marc Tracy | More About Marc Tracy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Ye and Ty Dolla Sign asked last month for permission to sample Donna Summer’s 1977 song “I Feel Love,” the disco singer’s estate firmly told them no. Yet when their joint LP, “Vultures 1,” was released weeks ago, a song with strong similarities to Summer’s famous tune was there on the track list. A copyright infringement lawsuit detailing that timeline was filed against Ye, the rapper once known as Kanye West, and Ty Dolla Sign on Tuesday by Summer’s husband and executor, Bruce Sudano. Summer, known as the “Queen of Disco,” had three consecutive double albums reach No. He has apologized in a Hebrew-language social media post.

Persons: Ye, Ty Dolla, Donna Summer’s, ”, Ty, Summer’s, Bruce Sudano, “, ” Ye Organizations: Creative Artists Agency, Adidas Locations: Los Angeles

☆ 16 VCs that are funding the future of entertainment by backing generative AI and other disruptive tech
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

AdvertisementAfter a period of "wild west" investing in AI, Blank believes activity will favor AI companies that respect artists' consent and compensation. It recently co-led a $1 million seed round in Conduiit, which centralizes entertainment companies' production finance operations. Endeavor Venture InvestmentsEndeavor Venture Investments is the venture arm of entertainment and sports behemoth Endeavor. SWaN & LegendThe Virginia-based VC firm has a broad consumer portfolio that includes a number of entertainment investments. With Hollywood in contraction, SWaN has largely hit pause on new entertainment investments to get its portfolio companies on a strong footing.

Persons: Michael Blank, Blank, Jon Miller, Miller, Slack, Garnet Heraman, BDMI, Urs Cete, Michael, TMRW, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Elysian Park Ventures Jay Adya, Grant Lamos, Tom Brady, Gotham Chopra, Michael Strahan, Jay Adya, Morgan, Kushaan Ahuja, Drew Glover, Glover, Alex Harris, they've, Noah Doyle, Payback India, Jed Katz, Rich Greenfield, Rich, Ilya Pozin, Jamie Seltzer, LightShed, Steve Cohen's, it's, Sri Chandrasekar, Tripp Shriner, Ishan Sinha, That's, Wondery, Ian Doody, Raine, Gordon Rubenstein, Joe Ravitch, Jeff Sine, ‐, Fred Schaufeld, SWaN, that's, Oscar, Jose, Schaufeld, Sam Wick, Alex J, Investcorp, Paul Yoo, Edgar Bronfman Jr, Daniel Leff, Waverley, Leff Organizations: Service, Creative Artists, Connect Ventures, Business, Hollywood, Veteran, TPG, Integrated Media Co, Advancit, CAA, Bertelsmann, Waverley, Octopus Ventures, Accel, Facebook, Venture, Aperture Venture, Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, Fremantle, Connect, CAA Connect Ventures, New Enterprises Associates, TMRW Sports, Disney, Universal, Elysian Park Ventures, Elysian, Sports, Endeavor Venture, Endeavor Venture Investments, behemoth Endeavor, Dapper Labs, Fiat Ventures, Fiat Ventures Fiat Ventures, Fiat, Payback, Rent, LightShed, Rich Greenfield Influential, LightShed Ventures, Pluto, Apple, Octopus Ventures Octopus Ventures, Investments, Corp, Etsy, Re, Point72 Ventures New York Mets, Range Media Partners, Point72 Ventures, Sri, Powerhouse, Athletic, The New York Times Co, Evolution Media, Creative Artists Agency, Astro, Rave Digital Media, Accel Entertainment, Jose Andrés Media, Berliner, UTA Talent, UTA, UTA Ventures, Ventures, VR, Amazon, PFL Locations: blockchain, —, Conduiit, fintech, London, Australia, Papercup, Los Angeles, Virginia, UTA.VC

Big-name free agents appear in no hurry to strike deals at the winter meetings, biding time until Shohei Ohtani potentially breaks the record for richest contract set 4 1/2 years ago by Mike Trout. “It's probably a little slower from a conversation standpoint at a winter meetings than it normally would,” New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Monday. Behind Ohtani in the hitters free-agent pecking order are Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman, both represented by the sport's biggest agent, Scott Boras. Among starting pitchers, the market includes Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, also represented by Boras. “He’s going to make other pitchers better.”___AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker contributed to this report.

Persons: ., Shohei, Mike Trout, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, “ It's, ”, David Stearns, hasn't, ” Ohtani, Nez, Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Scott Boras, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Farhan Zaidi, “, Ross Atkins, Atkins, San Diego, Juan Soto, Jarred Kelenic, Marco Gonzales, Evan White, Cole Phillips, Jackson Kowar, Gonzales, White, Eugenio Suárez, Carlos Vargas, Seby Zavala, Scott Servais, “ That’s, Jackson Chourio, “ There’s, I’m, ” Chourio, Milwaukee, Wade Miley, Pat Murphy, “ He’s, Teresa M, Walker, ___ Organizations: ” New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels, Creative Artists Agency, Gaylord, Convention, Boras, San Francisco Giants, CBA, Blue Jays, San, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta, Seattle, ” Mariners, Brewers Locations: Tenn, Nez Balelo, ” Toronto, Nashville, Seattle, Arizona, Milwaukee

☆ Susan Sarandon Dropped by Talent Agency After Remarks on Gaza War
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Marc Tracy | More About Marc Tracy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon was dropped by United Talent Agency after comments she made at a recent pro-Palestinian rally drew criticism online. An agency spokesman, Richard Siklos, confirmed Tuesday that Sarandon was no longer represented by the agency but declined to elaborate. Sarandon was dropped after making remarks at a rally in New York City last week. Sarandon said at the rally that being critical of Israel should not be considered antisemitic. “There’s a terrible thing that’s happened where antisemitism has been confused with speaking up against Israel,” Sarandon said.

Persons: Susan Sarandon, Richard Siklos, Sarandon, ”, “, ” Sarandon, —, — Sarandon, “ Bull, “ Bull Durham ”, Thelma, Louise ”, Maha Dakhil, Israel, Aaron Sorkin, Maha, she’s Organizations: United Talent Agency, Palestinian, The New York, New York City, The Post, United Nations, “ Bull Durham, DC Comics, Hollywood, Creative Artists Agency Locations: New York, Gaza, Israel, New York City

Killing an all-but-completed movie would alienate the people Zaslav — or at least Hollywood — needed most: the people who made the movies. Under fire, Zaslav defended the decision in an earnings call with analysts, saying he shelved “Batgirl” to protect the DC brand. More quietly, Zaslav also sought cover in the authority of Bryan Lourd, the powerful co-chairman of Creative Artists Agency and a leading arbiter of Hollywood mores. As Zaslav told it to several associates, Lourd had supported the decision, observing that it wasn’t in the interest of C.A.A. “We have made unpopular decisions because they were necessary.”Hollywood was in trouble before David Zaslav came to town.

Persons: Zaslav, Wiedenfels, Batgirl ”, Michael Keaton, ”, Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah, Walter Hamada, Courtenay Valenti, Bryan Lourd, Lourd, Leslie Grace, “ Bryan Lourd, ’ ”, David Zaslav, “ Organizations: DC Comics, Hollywood, DC, Warner Brothers, Creative Artists Agency, Discovery, McKinsey, W.B.D Locations: Scotland, New York, Hollywood, W.B.D

☆ Talent Agency CAA and Michael Klein Launch Sports and Media Investment Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Cara Lombardo | Joe Flint | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Michael Klein is an omnipresent deal maker who launched M. Klein & Co. in 2012. Photo: Andrew Harrer/BLOOMBERG NEWSHollywood talent agency Creative Artists Agency and longtime deal maker Michael Klein are launching a new investment bank focused on sports, media and entertainment deals. CAA’s merchant bank, known as Evolution Media Capital, and advisory firm M. Klein & Co. are joining to form CAA Evolution, the companies told The Wall Street Journal. The combined firm aims to work on large media companies’ deals, sell sports teams and advise on capital raises including initial public offerings, little of which Evolution does currently.

Persons: Michael Klein, Andrew Harrer Organizations: Klein, Co, BLOOMBERG NEWS Hollywood, Creative Artists Agency, Evolution Media Capital, CAA, Wall Street

☆ Silver Lake working to take entertainment giant Endeavor private
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Trading information and logo for Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., May 10, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 25 (Reuters) - Private equity firm Silver Lake said on Wednesday it was working on a proposal to take talent and media company Endeavor Group Holdings (EDR.N) private, after Endeavor announced it had begun a review to explore alternatives that better value the company. "Silver Lake is currently working toward making a proposal to take Endeavor private," it said. Endeavor Group, which has diversified holdings in talent-management, live sports and festivals, is valued at around $8.4 billion. The private equity firm acquired a minority stake in the William Morris Endeavor talent agency in 2012, and Silver Lake Co-CEO Egon Durban and managing partner Stephen Evans serve on Endeavor's board of directors.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Silver Lake, Francois, Henri Pinault, Ari Emanuel, Emanuel, William Morris, Egon Durban, Stephen Evans, Jaspreet Singh, Dawn Chmielewski, Devika Syamnath, Shailesh Kuber, Rod Nickel, Tom Hogue, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Silver, Endeavor, Creative Artists Agency, Endeavor Group, Boston Red Sox, Fenway Sports Group, PGA, Reuters, William, William Morris Endeavor, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Bengaluru, Dawn, Los Angeles

☆ Ari Emanuel's Endeavor says it will explore strategic alternatives, sending stock higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Mike Calia | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Endeavor Group Holdings , the talent agency and sports company run by Ari Emanuel, said Wednesday it would start exploring strategic alternatives for the company, which could mean a potential sale. The move comes weeks after French billionaire Francois-Henry Pinault agreed to buy a majority stake in Endeavor rival Creative Artists Agency. Endeavor's market value, likewise, was $7.79 billion as of Wednesday's market close, having declined 21% so far this year. Notably, Endeavor said it wouldn't consider ditching its interest in TKO Group Holdings , the newly formed combat sports company that includes Vince McMahon's WWE and Dana White's UFC. Endeavor owns 51% of TKO, which began trading on the New York Stock Exchange last month.

Persons: Ari Emanuel, Mark Bradford, George Lucas, Gucci, Emanuel, Francois, Henry Pinault, Vince McMahon's, Dana White's, – CNBC's Alex Sherman Organizations: Endeavor Group Holdings, Endeavor, Creative Artists Agency, Holdings, Vince McMahon's WWE, Dana White's UFC, New York Stock Exchange Locations: LACMA, Los Angeles , California

Meanwhile, Meta has struggled with applying its content policies fairly across its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, according to The Wall Street Journal. Experts say companies often find themselves out of their depth in talking about the knotty topic and that sometimes there’s little benefit to rushing out a statement. Some companies, especially those without operations in the Middle East, have chosen not to speak. In related news: How diplomats from the U.S., Qatar and elsewhere helped free two Americans taken hostage by Hamas. The two were far apart earlier this month on issues including streaming payouts and the use of artificial intelligence.

Persons: Dave Chappelle sparred, driller, Hess Organizations: U.S, Social, Israel, Meta, Facebook, Wall Street, ” Employers, Corporate, Web, Creative Artists Agency, Hamas, Exxon Mobil’s, Natural Resources, Republicans, SAG, . Tax, Big Tech Four, Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Nasdaq Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.S, Qatar, Ukraine, Chevron’s, Guyana, Texas, New Mexico

☆ Writers Guild Faces Backlash for Not Condemning Hamas Attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Nicole Sperling | More About Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Just weeks after the Writers Guild of America displayed solidarity by ending a monthslong strike and voting overwhelmingly in favor of a new contract with the major entertainment companies, the union is being roiled by a fight over its lack of a public statement condemning the Hamas attack on Israel. On Oct. 15, eight days after the attack, a group of screenwriters signed an open letter to the Writers Guild asking why it had not issued a statement condemning the attack. The letter now has more than 300 signers, including Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Sherman-Palladino (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) and Gideon Raff (“Homeland”). Later Friday, Meredith Stiehm, the president of the Writers Guild of America West, sent an email to members who had inquired about the lack of a response. “For these reasons, we have decided not to comment publicly.”Calls to the union on Monday were not returned.

Persons: Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Sherman, Palladino, Maisel, Gideon Raff, ”, Meredith Stiehm, “, ” Jonathan Greenblatt, Maha Dakhil, Israel, Dakhil, Bryan Lourd, Natalie Portman, Tom Cruise, Reese Witherspoon Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Writers Guild, The New York Times, Defamation League, Hollywood, Creative Artists Agency, The Times Locations: Israel

In her suit, Ormond says she was a star on the rise when she met Weinstein in 1994. She accuses CAA, Disney and Miramax, saying that they knew Weinstein presented a danger to women but did nothing to stop him or to help her. Political Cartoons View All 1199 ImagesThe lawsuit marks the first time Ormond has publicly accused Weinstein of sexual assault. The Associated Press generally doesn't name the alleged victims of sexual assault, but is in this case because Ormond has spoken publicly about it, including in an interview with Variety. Weinstein, 71, was convicted of rape and sexual assault in New York in 2020 and is in prison in the state.

Persons: — Julia Ormond, Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford, Harvey Weinstein, Ormond, Weinstein, Imran Ansari, Julia Ormond, “ Sabrina ”, ”, Sean Connery, Richard Gere, ___ Dalton Organizations: Walt Disney Co, Miramax, Creative Artists Agency, CAA, Disney, Associated Press, Variety, Pitt, Ford Locations: Manhattan, British, New York, Los Angeles

☆ Julia Ormond sues Harvey Weinstein for battery along with Disney, CAA and Miramax as enablers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Actress Julia Ormond is suing disgraced former film producer Harvey Weinstein for battery and sexual assault she says occurred in 1995, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by CNN. Ormond is also suing the once Weinstein-owned Miramax as well the Walt Disney Company, which purchased Miramax in 1993, for negligence and Hollywood talent agency CAA (Creative Artists Agency), who represented the actress, for negligence and breach of fiduciary trust. (A majority stake of CAA was recently purchased by the Artémis investment firm.) In the complaint, first reported by Variety, Ormond alleges that in December 1995, she and Weinstein were supposed to have a business dinner to discuss a project. Weinstein, 71, was at the center of allegations that fueled the global #MeToo movement in 2017.

Persons: Julia Ormond, Harvey Weinstein, Ormond, Weinstein, Weinstein “, ” “ Harvey Weinstein, ”, Ormond’s, ” Ormond, Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, “, Sabrina ”, Grandin, Ormond Douglas H, Wigdor, Effie Blassberger, Rosenberg Kirshner, Linder, he’d Organizations: CNN, Miramax, Walt Disney Company, Hollywood, CAA, Creative Artists Agency, Variety, Mr, Disney, ” CNN, Warner Brothers Discovery, AMC, Wigdor LLP, Linder LLP Locations: “, Clayman, Los Angeles, New York

☆ The 2023 superyacht summer recap: Jeff Bezos is now king of the high seas
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

For billionaires and their celebrity friends, warm weather means it's yacht season. Four years later, Bezos is no longer Amazon's CEO, and he's spent the last few months earning a new title: king of the high seas. As 2023's yacht season comes to a close, it's clear that Bezos' brand new $500 million superyacht won the summer. AdvertisementAdvertisementYacht season's runner-up: billionaire Barry Diller's EosThe Eos, owned by Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg, is a yacht-season staple. The Eos docked in Venice to end its summer season, where von Furstenberg hosted the annual DVF Awards — and began furnishing one of her dry-land residences.

Persons: Jeff Bezos, David Geffen's, Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, he's, superyacht, David Zaslav, Bezos, Koru, Lauren Sanchez —, —, that's, Sanchez, Bill Gates, Whitney Wolfe Herd, Ari Emanuel, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, Usher, Barry Diller's Eos, Barry Diller, Diane von Furstenberg, Horacio Villalobos, Eos, Diller, von Furstenberg, Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Edward Enninful, Valentino, Valentino Giancarlo Giammetti, Kris Jenner, Candice Bergen, Emma Thompson, Jason Blum, Diane Sawyer, Bryan Lourd, Giorgio Armani's, Sydney Sweeney, Kerry Washington, Geffen, it's Organizations: Service, Warner Bros, Discovery, Hollywood, Bezos, British Vogue, Creative Artists Agency, Geffen Locations: Wall, Silicon, Gibraltar, Spain, Cannes, Positano, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Mallorca, Greece, Amalfi, Venice, Venice's, Capri, Portland , Maine

☆ Sarah Burton Exits Alexander McQueen
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Elizabeth Paton | More About Elizabeth Paton | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Ms. Burton, then its head of women’s wear, had been working with Mr. McQueen since 1996, when she started at his label as an intern after graduating from Central Saint Martins, the design school in London. Within a year of her succeeding Mr. McQueen as the brand’s creative director, Ms. Burton created the Princess of Wales’s ivory lace wedding gown, which became more famous than any dress designed by Mr. McQueen. Ms. Burton, who rose to lead a fashion house in an industry still largely dominated by men, helped Alexander McQueen evolve from a label beloved by fashion superfans into a modern luxury powerhouse. Kering, which bought a 51 percent stake in Alexander McQueen in 2001, is also reconfiguring its organization and its assets. The conglomerate has appointed Maureen Chiquet, a former chief executive at Chanel, to its board of directors and has named Francesca Bellettini, the chief executive of Saint Laurent, as the deputy chief executive of Kering’s portfolio of brands.

Persons: Burton, McQueen, Ms, . McQueen, Prince Harry’s, Meghan Markle, Queen Elizabeth II, Alexander McQueen, “, Sarah, ” François, Henri Pinault, Burton’s, Gabriela Hearst’s, Jeremy Scott’s, Alessandro Michele’s, Maureen Chiquet, Francesca Bellettini, Saint, Pinault Organizations: Central Saint Martins, Gucci, New York, Creative Artists Agency Locations: London, Chloé, Moschino, China, Saint Laurent, Hollywood, Valentino

Putting a price on celebrityIn buying a majority stake in the powerhouse Hollywood talent agency Creative Artists Agency, François-Henri Pinault showed that high-ticket M.&A. is a game that more than one French luxury billionaire can play. Acquiring CAA — which represents stars including Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie and Pinault’s wife, Salma Hayek Pinault — underscores Pinault’s ambitions, and reinforces the growing importance of celebrity in the luxury sector. Like his archrival, Bernard Arnault of LVMH, Pinault used a series of acquisitions to assemble the luxury empire now known as Kering, starting with Gucci and later adding Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen and more. The agency will be run separately from Kering; Bryan Lourd, the superagent who represents Scarlett Johansson and Brad Pitt, will become C.E.O.

Persons: Henri Pinault, Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Pinault’s, Salma Hayek Pinault, Bernard Arnault, Pinault, Saint, Bottega, Alexander McQueen, —, Bryan Lourd, Scarlett Johansson, Brad Pitt Organizations: Hollywood, Creative Artists Agency, CAA, Gucci, Puma Locations: Bottega Veneta, Kering

☆ Pinault’s Hollywood foray is untimely distraction
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Pierre Briancon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Charles Platiau Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The story of European business trying to mingle with Hollywood has often led to unhappy endings. The Pinault family, which controls $61 billion luxury group Kering (PRTP.PA), thinks it can buck the trend. Pinault may have overpaid for CAA, especially in the middle of a major strike of Hollywood writers and actors. The transaction, through holding company Artemis, adds Hollywood's premiere talent agency to Pinault’s family empire which spans fashion, wine and contemporary art. CAA was valued at $1.1 billion when TPG acquired a majority stake in 2014, four years after having originally invested in the talent agency.

Persons: Francois, Henri Pinault, Kering, Charles Platiau, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, François, Ari Emanuel’s, Artemis ’, Gucci, Alessandro Michele, Pinault, Jean, Kering’s, Valentino, Brad Pitt, Salma Hayek, Lisa Jucca, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Hollywood, Universal Studios, Creative Artists Agency, CAA, Gucci, TPG, Endeavor, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, bask

[1/2] Cars are shown lined up at the valet parking area outside the Creative Artists Agency building in Los Angeles, California, September 24, 2012. REUTERS/Jonathan Alcorn Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - French luxury goods billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault has reached an agreement for a majority stake in Creative Artists Agency (CAA), adding Hollywood's premiere talent agency to his family empire which spans fashion, wine and contemporary art, parties involved said on Tuesday. The presence of stars like Beyonce, Zendaya and Rihanna have become key to drawing the spotlight to fashion shows, and Kering's larger rival LVMH(LVMH.PA) recruited Pharrell Williams to head menswear designs for Louis Vuitton. TPG first invested in CAA in 2010 and, in 2014, increased its stake to 53% in a deal valuing the agency at $1.1 billion. Global investment firm Temasek will remain a minority investor in the agency while CMC Capital will remain a "strategic partner", according to a statement.

Persons: Jonathan Alcorn, Francois, Henri Pinault, Pinault, Gucci, Beyonce, Zendaya, Rihanna, Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton, Pinault's, Salma Hayek, Valentino, perfumer, Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, Richard Lovett, Lourd, Sudip Kar, Mimosa Spencer, Dawn Chmielewski, Jonathan Oatis, Tomasz Janowski, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Creative Artists Agency, REUTERS, Rights, CAA, Artemis, TPG, Global, CMC Capital, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Temasek, Paris

In a deal that shows the ever-growing convergence of fashion and fame, François-Henri Pinault, the French billionaire and chief executive of the luxury goods company Kering, said on Thursday that his family office had bought a majority stake in one of Hollywood’s biggest talent agencies, Creative Artists Agency. Mr. Pinault’s family office, Artémis, already has investments that include the auction house Christie’s and a stake in Puma, and like them, CAA will be managed separately from Kering, which owns such brands as Gucci, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga. The announcement comes as talent — actors, singers, filmmakers — has become a uniquely powerful tool in selling products. There is now a growing race among fashion brands to lock in relationships with the next big name. “There’s no separation between fashion and entertainment any more,” said Robert Burke, the eponymous founder of a luxury consultancy, calling the deal a “natural, if unprecedented, evolution.”

Persons: Henri Pinault, Pinault’s, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, —, “, ”, Robert Burke Organizations: Creative Artists Agency, Mr, Puma, CAA, Gucci Locations: Kering

☆ Michael Oher: 'The Blind Side' star's long effort to correct the record
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Eric Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —In his 2011 memoir, Michael Oher wrote that he had a special skill for forgetting his difficult past. Sean Tuohy told the Daily Memphian that his family was devastated. In 2003, he began to stay more often with the Tuohy family, whose daughter Collins also attended Briarcrest. Another contract from April 2007 exists that was “purportedly signed by Michael Oher” in which Oher gives away his name, likeness, voice, etc. “It’s hard because you have to defend yourself, but whatever he wants, we’ll do,” Sean Tuohy said, according to the Daily Memphian.

Persons: CNN —, Michael Oher, “, ”, Oher, White, Sean, Leigh Anne Tuohy, Steve Farese, Sean Tuohy, Michael, Don Yaeger, “ ‘, I’d, Ole Miss Michael Oher, Ole, Matthew Sharpe, ” Oher, Michael Lewis, Lewis, Mike, Collins, Tuohy, David Bergman, Sandra Bullock, Oscar, Lily Collins, Tim McGraw, Jae, Quinton Aaron, Warner, Larry French, “ Michael, Michael Oher’s, Oher “, Michael Oher ”, ” Tuohy, “ We’re, he’d, ‘, You’ve, It’s, Sean Tuohy Jr, ’ ”, Tiffany Roy, Kobi, Kierstin, Jim Rome, that’s, ’ Organizations: CNN, ”, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Briarcrest Christian School, University of Mississippi, Baltimore Ravens, AP, Academy, Warner Bros, Baltimore, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, NFL, Foundation, Creative Artists Agency, Daily, Barstool Radio, ’ ” CNN Locations: Memphis, Tennessee, Oxford , Mississippi, Baltimore

☆ Michael Oher, depicted in ‘The Blind Side,’ alleges he was never adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, but signed into a conservatorship
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Jennifer Henderson Eric Levenson | Jennifer Henderson | Eric Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

A lawyer for Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, Steve Farese, said they have no comment but will be issuing a statement Tuesday. During the summer after his junior year, Oher started staying with Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy occasionally. Instead, the papers appointed Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy his conservators. Another contract from April 2007 exists that was “purportedly signed by Michael Oher” in which Oher gives away his name, likeness, voice, etc. Sandra Bullock won best actress for her performance of Leigh Anne Tuohy in the 2010 82nd annual Academy Awards.

Persons: CNN —, Michael Oher, ”, Sean, Leigh Anne Tuohy’s conservatorship, Oher, Leigh Anne Tuohy, Steve Farese, Sean Tuohy, “, Michael, ” Sean Tuohy, Oher’s, Michael J, ” Oher, Michael ”, Tuohy, Dad ”, “ Michael, Michael Oher’s, Oher “, Michael Oher ”, Conservators, Michael Lewis, ” Tuohy, Lewis, “ We’re, he’d, ‘, You’ve, It’s, Sandra Bullock Organizations: CNN, NFL, Juvenile, Creative Artists Agency, ESPN, University of Mississippi, Ole Miss, Baltimore Ravens, AP, Baltimore, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers Locations: Tennessee, Memphis, alma mater, Baltimore

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