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New agency business launched by former Paradigm, WME, CAA and Madison House agents
By Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 23 September 2020
Another new talent agency has emerged in the US as the sector reshuffles itself in the wake of the COVID-19 shutdown. Five former Paradigm agents previously announced new company TBA, and now some of their former colleagues have teamed up with agents who previously worked at WME, CAA and Madison House to launch the Mint Talent Group.
All talent and booking agencies around the world have faced significant challenges as a result of COVID-19 with many companies having to make staff redundant, depending on what government support is available in each country.
Given artists often ally to individual agents as much as the agencies they work for, it was inevitable that lay offs at the established agencies would like result in new agency businesses being launched, both by those who were among the redundancies and others looking for new opportunities once the post-COVID recovery begins.
Mint Talent Group has been founded by former Paradigm agents Patrick McAuliff and Phil Egenthal, and CJ Strock, formerly of WME. In addition to the founders, the company’s team of agents will also include Michael Morris and Ryan Owens (also ex-Paradigm), Peter Wiederlight (also ex-WME), Logan Handelsman (formerly CAA), and Mary Allen and Cassie Siegel (formerly of Madison House).
The new company states: “Utilising countless decades of combined agency experience, Mint launches with an exciting model focused on empowering artists and providing crucial services that continue evolving with the times. In addition to core booking representation, Mint will guide clients through a reimagination of ‘the agency marketing department’ via a proprietary 47-point marketing plan designed to embrace new technologies”.
Commenting on the launch, and confirming that the new agency will work in the sports space as well as music, Strock states: “I am THRILLED that we have built a new business based on positive core human values for all parties involved in the Mint family. I am very proud of my partners, employees, and top to bottom across the music client roster and sports properties. Let’s go!”
While McAuliff adds: “The goal of Mint is to bring together great agents with amazing rosters so that both can thrive at a home that values the associate, agent and artist like family. The wealth of experience the Mint team brings to the group gives us the clout of a corporate without the limitations or boundaries”.
Initial clients of the new agency will include Allman Brothers Band, Blackberry Smoke, Brian McKnight, CloZee, Erasure, George Porter Jr, Mavis Staples, Rising Appalachia, Stick Figure, Trevor Hall, Steel Pulse, Stephen Marley and Taj Mahal.
