Sam Gores: Last News

Paradigm has elevated 14 agents to partners, establishing the largest new leadership group in the talent agency’s more than 35-year history. The new partners, who represent all sectors of one of the entertainment industry’s most significant independent agencies, will join managing partner Andrew Ruf as equity partners of the company.

William Earl Paradigm Talent Agency has named 14 new partners as the firm seeks to rebuild its stature in Hollywood. Paradigm went through transformative struggles during the pandemic period that led to the company selling off its lucrative music and touring division to Casey Wasserman’s enterprise. In addition to cleaving off its music arm, the firm lost numerous agents and clients to layoffs and defections. Monday’s promotions make it clear that the new-model Paradigm will focus on film, TV, publishing and theater, representing actors, writers, directors and producers as well as packaging TV series and movie properties. Last September the company also launched Paradigm Media Entertainment, a division to represent local and national news anchors, meteorologists, sportscasters, producers and other news and host talent. Paradigm kickstarted its way into the TV news biz with the acquisition of three speciality agencies: Napoli Management Group, Two Twelve Management and 3 Kings Entertainment.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Paradigm is turning to local TV and lifestyle stars to help rebuild the agency that has been reshaped by the changing entertainment economy and the wallop of the pandemic. Paradigm Entertainment has acquired three talent agencies from private equity firm Blue Equity to form Paradigm Media Entertainment, which will now be home to Napoli Management Group, 3 Kings Entertainment and Two Twelve Management and Marketing. Napoli Management and 3 Kings both have wide rosters of local TV anchors, reporters, weathercasters and other talent working in markets large and small around the country. Two Twelve focuses on representing chefs and other culinary, hospitality and lifestyle stars.

Paradigm Entertainment, the parent company of the Paradigm Talent Agency, said Wednesday that it has acquired BEST, a group of three management and marketing companies focused in the worlds of broadcast news, culinary and on-air media personalities. The new acquisitions will be housed in the newly created arm Paradigm Media Entertainment, which will include the talent agency. The lines of business will now work together to service clients’ entertainment, publishing, brand partnership, and news-media services needs.

Paradigm will be relocating its L.A. offices from 8942 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills to the Green Building of West Hollywood’s Pacific Design Center, at 8687 Melrose Avenue, a representative for the agency has confirmed. Paradigm, which had been based at Wilshire since 2018, will begin occupying its new L.A. office space this month.

By Mike Fleming Jr

By Gene Maddaus

By Mike Fleming Jr

Talk of sale activity around Paradigm is heating up again.

By Dominic Patten