Independent music and live entertainment agency Paladin Artists has appointed Rick Levy as its Chief Executive Officer.
The Los Angeles- and New York-headquartered company has also confirmed it is in advanced discussions to acquire Entourage Talent Associates, the New York boutique founded by Wayne Forte.
Both announcements were made on Monday (May 4).
Levy was a founding partner of ICM Partners, where he served as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. According to the announcement, he was central to ICM‘s 2012 management-led buyout from private equity.
ICM was subsequently acquired by Creative Artists Agency in a reported $750 million deal that closed in 2022. Levy later lead the 2023 buyback of London-based Primary Talent International from CAA, where he remains a partner.
Previously, he also served as Interim CEO of Just For Laughs/Juste Pour Rire.
“What attracted me to Paladin was not the size of the company, but the size of the opportunity,” said Levy. “Our edge is our ability to be nimble in the face of rapid changes in the ecosystem in which we operate.”
Levy added: “With an exceptional foundation, respected roster, and artist-centric culture already in place, I’m excited to lead the next phase of strategic growth to build the leading independent booking and live entertainment company in the business.”
“Our edge is our ability to be nimble in the face of rapid changes in the ecosystem in which we operate.”
Rick Levy
Paladin was founded in 2021 by agents Andy Somers and Steve Martin, who were later joined by Bruce Solar.
In a joint statement, Somers and Martin said: “Rick’s experience building and scaling agency businesses make him ideally suited to help us guide Paladin through its next chapter.”
Solar added: “This is about expanding our capabilities to build for the future, strengthening our leadership team and creating an environment where ambitious agents and our clients can grow and thrive.”
The pending acquisition of Entourage would formalize a relationship that dates back to Paladin‘s launch.
Forte is President of NITO (the National Independent Talent Organization), the US trade body for independent agents and managers, and has been a member of Paladin‘s Board since its inception in 2021.
Across his career, Forte has represented and developed artists, including David Bowie, The Cure, The Clash, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Joe Satriani, Joan Armatrading and Steve Hackett, among many others.
Commenting on the appointment, Forte said: “Paladin and Entourage have built a strong informal working relationship over the years, grounded in a shared commitment to artist-first representation.”
Forte added: “When we formally bring our two businesses together, we will be positioned to expand resources for our clients while preserving the independence and personal service that define both organizations. I am confident it will be the first of many impactful combinations for Paladin,” he said.Music Business Worldwide
