ICM Partners
{{Short description|Talent and literacy agency}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = International Creative Management Partners
| type = Private
| logo = ICM Partners logo.svg
| foundation = {{start date and age|1975}} in Century City, Los Angeles, California, US
| founder = Marvin Josephson
| location = Constellation Place
Century City, Los Angeles, California, US
| fate = Acquired by Creative Artists Agency
| defunct = 2022
| area_served = Represented clients in the fields of film, television, music, publishing, live performance, branded content, and new media
| industry = Talent and literary agency
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.icmpartners.com}}
}}
File:Constellation Place over Westfield.jpg, the headquarters of the agency, overlooking Westfield Century City.]]
ICM Partners was a talent and literary agency with offices in Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, D.C., and London.{{cite web | url=http://www.icmtalent.com/concerts/ConcertDefault.aspx | title=ICM International Creative Management - Concerts | access-date=October 15, 2014}} 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.Nash, James. "[http://www.allbusiness.com/specialty-businesses/non-profit-businesses/560815-1.html Lights, camera, Katrina: rebuilding of Louisiana will affect production in L.A.]" Los Angeles Business Journal at AllBusiness. Retrieved on February 5, 2012. "[...] ICM Partners, the Los Angeles-based talent and literary agency."Vincent, Roger. "[https://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-energy-cells-20120203,0,5698205.story Energy cells help power Century City skyscraper]." Los Angeles Times. February 5, 2012. Retrieved on February 5, 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/icm-keyvan-peymani-george-ruiz-332664/|title=ICM Partners Forms Digital Strategy Division, Hires Group Head|first1=Daniel|last1=Miller|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 4, 2012}} In 2022, ICM became part of Creative Artists Agency.{{cite news|title=Creative Artists Agency acquires ICM in deal that could transform Hollywood representation: With companies like Apple, Amazon and Netflix muscling in on Hollywood, it's been harder for smaller agencies to compete|first=Lauren|last=Hirsch|date=June 28, 2022|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/28/business/caa-icm-partners-acquisition.html}}
History
= Formation and growth =
International Creative Management was formed in 1975 through the merger of Marvin Josephson's International Famous Agency and Freddie Fields' Creative Management Associates (CMA).{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/31/arts/television/marvin-josephson-dead.html|title=Marvin Josephson, Who Scored Big Deals for Stars, Dies at 95|first=Neil|last=Genzlinger|newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 31, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/marvin-josephson-dead-icm-founder-1235150093/|title=Marvin Josephson, Founder of ICM, Dies at 95|first1=Mike|last1=Barnes|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 19, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/marvin-josephson-dead-icm-founder-1235271503/|title=Marvin Josephson, Founder of ICM Partners, Dies at 95|first1=J. Kim|last1=Murphy|date=May 19, 2022|work=Variety}}{{cite book|title=Is That a Gun In Your Pocket? Women's Experience of Power in Hollywood|last=Abramowitz|first=Rachel|year=2000|publisher=Random House|edition=hardcover|location=New York}}{{rp|51}} ICM's first president was Freddie Fields,[https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-12-12-freddie-fields-obit_N.htm USA Today: "Legendary producer/agent Freddie Fields dies" by John Rogers] December 12, 2007 although he did not last long in the role.{{cite news|title=Freddie Fields Will Leave Talent Agency to Do Films|date=June 18, 1975|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/18/archives/freddie-fields-will-leave-talent-agency-to-do-films.html}} Other important figures in the merger were Sam Cohn{{cite magazine|first=Mark|last=Singer|title=Profiles: Dealmaker|pages=40–84|magazine=The New Yorker|date=January 11, 1982|url=https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1982-01-11/flipbook/040/|format=fee required|accessdate=May 9, 2009}} and Guy McElwaine of CMA.
In 1985, ICM acquired London-based talent agency Duncan Heath Associates, which in 1991 merged with ICM London, with Heath became chairman of the merged company.
{{cite news|url=http://specials.ft.com/creativebusiness/jan292002/FT3Z198C0XC.html|work=Financial Times|access-date= 16 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020414104843/http://specials.ft.com/creativebusiness/jan292002/FT3Z198C0XC.html|archive-date=14 April 2002|title=AGENT PROVOCATEUR|first=Sathnam|last=Sanghera|date=January 28, 2002}}
"In 1992, Josephson passed control of ICM onto Jeff Berg, Sam Cohn, and Jim Wiatt, though Josephson maintained a leadership role and continued to represent personal clients."
In 2005, the company raised a financing round of $75 million from Rizvi Traverse.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/icm-buyout-jeff-berg-328677|title=ICM Finalizes Management Buyout; Partnership Excludes Former Chairman Jeff Berg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2017-12-24|language=en}}
In 2006, ICM acquired the literary agency Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jul-29-fi-silbermann29-story.html|title=From Boutique Agency to ICM Brass|last=Hoffman|first=Claire|date=2006-07-29|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-12-24|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}
= ICM Partners =
In 2012, the agency completed a management buyout and formed a partnership with the new name, ICM Partners.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/icm-buyout-jeff-berg-328677/|title=ICM Finalizes Management Buyout; Partnership Excludes Former Chairman Jeff Berg|first1=Daniel|last1=Miller|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 23, 2012}}
In March 2018, ICM acquired the Just For Laughs comedy festival, as part of a partnership with Howie Mandel.{{cite web|title=Just For Laughs sold to Howie Mandel and American company|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/just-for-laughs-sale-icm-partners-howie-mandel-2018-1.4585651|website=CBC News|access-date=21 March 2018|date=21 March 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/howie-mandel-joins-icm-partners-to-buy-just-for-laughs|title='Montreal is the mecca': Howie Mandel joins JFL bid, will keep HQ here|date=2018-03-21|work=Montreal Gazette|access-date=2018-03-21|language=en-US}} A 51% majority was later sold to Bell Media and Groupe CH to maintain a primarily-Canadian ownership.{{Cite news|date=2018-06-08|title=Bell Media, Groupe CH among group that has acquired Just For Laughs|language=en-US|work=Montreal Gazette|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/bell-media-groupe-ch-among-group-that-has-acquired-just-for-laughs|access-date=2018-06-08}} In June that year, ICM formed a partnership with esports-focused talent agency Evolved.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/icm-partners-evolved-1202845991/|title=ICM Partners Teams Up With Esports Talent Agency Evolved|last=Fogel|first=Stefanie|date=2018-06-14|work=Variety|access-date=2018-06-15|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/icm-partners-esports-evolved-joint-venture-1202410240/|title=ICM Partners Inks Partnership With Esports Talent Agency Evolved|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=2018-06-14|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-06-15|language=en-US}}
In December 2019, ICM Partners sold a one-third equity stake in the company to Crestview Partners, with the expressed goal to grow the company within the representation business with an emphasis on International growth.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/icm-partners-crestview-partners-sell-stake-1203439607/|title=ICM Partners Sells One-Third Stake to Crestview Partners for $150 Million|first1=Cynthia|last1=Littleton|date=December 16, 2019}}
In March 2020, ICM partnered with Primary Talent International, a London-based music touring agency with over 700 touring clients.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/9331743/icm-partners-acquires-uk-primary-talent-international|title=ICM Partners Acquires U.K. Music Agency Primary Talent International|magazine=Billboard}} In August, they bought a significant minority interest in Albatros, a literary agency based in Stockholm and moved partner Pete Stone to Sweden to run ICM Europe.{{Cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|date=August 12, 2020|title=ICM Partners Acquires Stake In Swedish Lit Agency Albatros; Pete Stone Will Relocate To Stockholm To Spearhead Joint Efforts|url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/icm-partners-acquires-stake-swedish-lit-agency-albatros-pete-stone-relocate-1203010922/|website=Deadline}} In October, the agency purchased Stellar Group, the largest football/soccer agency in the world and rebranded it ICM Stellar Sports.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-10-08/icm-partners-stellar-group-acquisition|title=ICM Partners buys Stellar Group, with 800 athlete clients|date=October 8, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times}} (Stellar Group CEO Jonathan Barnett was listed by Forbes as the No. 1 sports agent in the world by Forbes magazine in 2019.){{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbelzer/2019/10/21/most-powerful-sports-agents/|title=The World's Most Powerful Sports Agents 2019: Soccer's Jonathan Barnett Takes Over At No. 1|first=Jason|last=Belzer|website=Forbes}}
In July 2021, ICM Partners and ICM Stellar Sports purchased one of the leading NFL representation agencies, Select Sports Group, a Texas based company headed up by Jeff Nalley and Erik Burkhardt.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com:443/Daily/Issues/2021/07/27/Labor%20and%20Agents/ICM%20Stellar.aspx|title=ICM Stellar Sports sees Select acquisition as first major growth step|website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com}}
= Acquisition by CAA =
In September 2021, it was announced that ICM would be acquired by Creative Artists Agency (CAA).{{cite news|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|last2=Andreeva|first2=Nellie|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/caa-acquiring-icm-partners-1234844517/|title=CAA Acquiring ICM Partners; Will Be Biggest Agency Link-Up Since WMA-Endeavor|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=September 27, 2021|access-date=September 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927232001/https://deadline.com/2021/09/caa-acquiring-icm-partners-1234844517/|archive-date=September 27, 2021|url-status=live}} The deal closed in June 2022 at a value of $750 million. Following the acquisition, 105 positions from ICM were set to be eliminated, with about 425 staffers and agents joining CAA.{{cite news|last=Welk|first=Brian|url=https://www.thewrap.com/caa-icm-acquisition-deal-closes/|title=CAA Completes ICM Acquisition in $750 Million Deal|work=TheWrap|date=June 28, 2022|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628212214/https://www.thewrap.com/caa-icm-acquisition-deal-closes/|archive-date=June 28, 2022|url-status=live}}
Departments
=Television and movies=
ICM Partners' television and motion picture departments represented film actors, actresses, directors and writers. The departments also featured a division dedicated to production professionals such as cinematographers, editors, second unit directors, composers, production designers, costume designers and visual effects supervisors. The television department also represented on-air and creative talent.{{cite web|last=Adalian |first=Josef |url=http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/05/a_worldly_view_of_things.php |title=A Worldly View of Things : In Depth : TVWeek - Television Industry news, TV ratings, analysis, celebrity event photos |publisher=TVWeek |access-date=2010-08-24}}{{Cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|date=September 10, 2012|title=Bob Broder Leaving ICM Partners To Run Chuck Lorre's Company|url=https://deadline.com/2012/09/bob-broder-leaving-icm-partners-to-run-chuck-lorres-company-333090/|website=Deadline}}
=Publishing=
ICM Partners represented writers and editors including Patricia Cornwell,{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/angelina-jolie-teams-with-fox-2000-1118002704/ |title=Angelina Jolie teams with Fox 2000 - Entertainment News, Film News, Media |publisher=Variety |date=2009-04-21 |access-date=2010-08-24}} Thomas Friedman,{{cite web|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1993/morrison-bio.html |title=Toni Morrison - Biography |publisher=Nobelprize.org |access-date=2010-08-24}} Anna Quindlen, E.L. Doctorow, Walter Isaacson, Carl Hiaasen, Tom Bissell,{{Cite web|title=ICM Agent Heather Schroder Assures Authors: 'Things Are Bad, But the Sky is Not Falling'|website=The New York Observer |url=http://www.observer.com/2008/media/icm-agent-heather-schroder-assures-authors-things-are-bad-sky-not-falling|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205134005/http://www.observer.com/2008/media/icm-agent-heather-schroder-assures-authors-things-are-bad-sky-not-falling|archive-date=December 5, 2008}} Anthony Swofford, Chris Cleave, Candace Bushnell, John Feinstein,{{cite web|url=http://www.randomhouse.com/author/results.pperl?authorid=8500 |title=John Feinstein - Authors |publisher=Random House |access-date=2010-08-24}} Ann Patchett, Carol Higgins Clark and Steve Martin. In addition, the agency represents the estates of Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss), Arthur Miller,{{cite web |url=http://www.vqronline.org/articles/2000/summer/meyers-portrait-arthur-miller/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004190721/http://www.vqronline.org/articles/2000/summer/meyers-portrait-arthur-miller/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 4, 2006 |title=VQR » A Portrait of Arthur Miller |publisher=Vqronline.org |access-date=2010-08-24 }} E.B. White, and Tennessee Williams, among others.{{cite news|title=Mitch Douglas, Longtime ICM Literary Agent, Dies at 78: Mitch Douglas, a literary agent who spent three decades at ICM and represented the likes of Tennessee Williams, Graham Greene, Arthur Miller, Lanford Wilson and Howard Koch, has died. He was 78|first=MIKE|last=BARNES|date=Nov 19, 2020|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/mitch-douglas-longtime-icm-literary-agent-dies-at-78-4095222/}}
=Music, comedy, and lectures=
ICM Partners' concert and live appearances department represented artists in music and comedy as well as lecturers.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} ICM Partners acquired New York City speakers agency Royce Carlton, Inc. in 2017.{{cite news|title=ICM Partners Acquires Speakers Agency Royce Carlton: The bureau's roster includes Mitch Albom, Fareed Zakaria, Anne-Marie Slaughter and former ambassador Samantha Power | first=REBECCA|last=SUN|date=October 24, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/icm-partners-acquires-speakers-agency-royce-carlton-1051313/}} From the acquisition until late 2019, the lecture division still went by the Royce Carlton name. On October 16, 2019, the division rebranded to ICM Speakers and relocated to the Washington, D.C., office. ICM Speakers' division services included the management and representation of professional public speakers. A few notable clients included author Mitch Albom, author Jon Meacham, TV host Karamo Brown,{{cite news|title=ICM Partners Elevates Six Agents To Partners|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=January 27, 2020|work=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/icm-partners-promoted-six-agents-to-partners-1202842591/}} and activist Nadia Murad.{{cite news|title=WOMEN AND POWER: To Binky Urban, 'Power' Is a Male Word|date=Oct 16, 2018|work=The Cut|first=Lisa|last=Chase|url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/10/women-and-power-binky-urban.html}}
=Branded entertainment=
ICM Partners' global branded entertainment division's services ranged from celebrity endorsements, product placement, and music tour sponsorship{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/genre/e3i55fbb4c9063b301d8eacd9f1c6467aee |title=R&B/Hip-Hop, Jazz, Pop Briefs: Beyonce, Freddie Hubbard, Will Downing |publisher=Billboard.biz |access-date=2010-08-24 |archive-date=2009-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505150846/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/genre/e3i55fbb4c9063b301d8eacd9f1c6467aee |url-status=dead }} to brand integration, such as the creation and packaging of original branded films and television shows.{{Cite web|url=https://adage.com/article/special-report-entertainment-alist/carol-goll-entertainment-a-list-5/227662|title=Entertainment A-List No. 5: Carol Goll|date=May 23, 2011|website=Ad Age}} The agency's celebrity endorsements department serviced all ICM Partners' film and television talent for on-camera, print and voiceover commercial work as well as for paid media campaigns.{{cite web|last=Garfield |first=Bob |url=http://adage.com/garfield/post?article_id=120814 |title=Taking Cadillac from Stodgy to Sexy: Kate Walsh - Advertising Age - Ad Review |publisher=Adage.com |date=2005-09-27 |access-date=2010-08-24}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Greater Los Angeles|Companies}}
- {{Official website|http://www.icmtalent.com}}
Category:1975 establishments in California
Category:Companies based in Los Angeles
Category:Entertainment companies based in California
Category:Entertainment companies established in 1975
Category:Privately held companies of the United States