US music group Primary Wave has merged its talent management division with Intellectual Artists Management – which looks after well-known Hollywood and TV clients.
The newly-formed company, Primary Wave Entertainment, promises to ‘provide full access and opportunities for their roster across multiple platforms from music and film to TV and literary’.
That might well mean music projects for acting clients such as Golden Globe winner Gina Rodriquez (Jane the Virgin), David Arquette, Gabrielle Union, AJ Cook, Nia Long, William Fichtner, Donald Faison, Manu Bennett, Cole Hauser, and Peter Facinelli.
Or it could mean acting opportunities for Primary Wave’s music roster, such as CeeLo Green (pictured) – who is also the firm’s COO – plus Melissa Etheridge, Cypress Hill, Eric Benét, Natalie Imbruglia, The Go-Go’s, Trevor Jackson, Ginuwine, Goodie Mob, Cris Cab, Big Gipp and producer/DJ Audien,
Other clients now taken on by Primary Wave include behind-the-scenes figures such as Oscar winning writer/directors Jim Rash (Descendants), Mike Radford (Il Postino) and Bobby Moresco (Crash).
The new company will be run by co-CEOs and industry leaders Larry Mestel, CEO/Founder of Primary Wave Music, David Guillod, CEO/Founder of Intellectual, and Mark Burg, CEO/Founder of Evolution, who will serve as Vice Chairman.
Primary Wave Entertainment will combine its staff under one roof with New York and LA offices and will also refer to their two existing rosters as one.
“The merger of Larry’s team and my team will perfectly position us to become a global entertainment, media, branding and licensing powerhouse. I look forward to our new relationship and our continued aggressive growth in the future,” states David Guillod.
All of the new company’s clients will be able to access to Primary Wave’s in-house branding company, digital marketing division, and Sync team. Primary Wave and Intellectual also have combined direct brand alliances with Klipsch, VOX, Sprint, NIVEA, Tommy Hilfiger, Times Square Alliance, among many others.
“I’m proud to be entering into this partnership with David and his amazing team at Intellectual,” explains Larry Mestel, CEO of Primary Wave. “This is truly, an exciting business step for both companies and will give our roster of artists the opportunity to expand their brands across many platforms within the entertainment industry.”
The announcement follows Primary Wave’s recent acquisition of the film/TV talent management and production company Evolution Entertainment Partners run by Mark Burg, which has produced over 40 films including Can’t Buy Me Love, The Sandlot, John Q and the SAW franchise as well as executive producing the TV series Two And A Half Men and 100 episodes of Anger Management. That acquisition will also now fall under Primary Wave Entertainment.
In addition to Mestel, and Guillod, the senior management team will consist of Jeff Morrone & Patrick Hughes, Head of Film & TV Talent; Justin Shukat, President of Primary Wave Music; Adam Lowenberg, CMO; Ramon Villa, CFO/COO; Jeff Straughn, Head of Brand Marketing; Matt Gavin; Robert Dippold, Head of Digital Marketing; Steven Greener, Partner; Andrew Jameson, Head of TV Development for PW; Marty Silverstone, Head of Synchronization Licensing; Anne Watkins, Head of Press; Tiffany Kuzon, Senior Talent Management; Margot Menzel; Ben Press; Mike Gillespie; Brad Pence; Eric Skinner; Katherine Nedberg; Rebecca Ewing; Tony Sabistina, Director of Television Development; Brad Kaplan, Senior Literary Talent; music managers Hosh Gureli; Deb Klein; Seth Faber; Toya Hankins; Tom Maffei; David Simone; Winston Simone; Jake Livingston; Lakeisha Orange; Chris Maltese; Laurel Sterns; Benjamin Peterson; Aimee Berger; Zev Perilman.Music Business Worldwide
