ICM Partners

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). ICM's first president was Freddie Fields, although he did not last long in the role. Other important figures in the merger were Sam Cohn 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.

In 1992, Josephson relinquished direct control of ICM to a triumvirate composed of Jeff Berg, Sam Cohn, and Jim Wiatt. Despite this transfer of leadership, Josephson retained a significant role within the agency, maintaining an active leadership position and continuing to manage his personal client roster.

In 2005, the company raised a financing round of $75 million from Rizvi Traverse.

In 2006, ICM acquired the literary agency Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann.

ICM Partners

In 2012, the agency completed a management buyout and formed a partnership with the new name, ICM Partners.

In March 2018, ICM acquired the Just For Laughs comedy festival, as part of a partnership with the Canadian entertainer Howie Mandel. A 51% majority was later sold to Bell Media and Groupe CH to maintain a primarily-Canadian ownership. In June that year, ICM formed a partnership with esports-focused talent agency Evolved.

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.

In March 2020, ICM partnered with Primary Talent International, a London-based music touring agency with over 700 touring clients. 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. In October, the agency purchased Stellar Group, the largest football/soccer agency in the world and rebranded it ICM Stellar Sports. (Stellar Group CEO Jonathan Barnett was listed as the No. 1 sports agent in the world by Forbes magazine in 2019.)

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 by Jeff Nalley and Erik Burkhardt.

Acquisition by Creative Artists Agency

In September 2021, it was announced that ICM would be acquired by Creative Artists Agency (CAA). 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.

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.**

Publishing

ICM Partners represented writers and editors including Patricia Cornwell, Thomas Friedman, Anna Quindlen, E.L. Doctorow, Walter Isaacson, Carl Hiaasen, Tom Bissell, Anthony Swofford, Chris Cleave, Candace Bushnell, John Feinstein, Ann Patchett, Carol Higgins Clark, and Steve Martin. In addition, the agency represents the estates of Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss), Arthur Miller, E.B. White, and Tennessee Williams, among others.

Music, comedy, and lectures

ICM Partners' concert and live appearances department represented artists in music and comedy as well as lecturers. ICM Partners acquired New York City speakers agency Royce Carlton, Inc. in 2017. 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, and activist Nadia Murad.

Branded entertainment

ICM Partners' global branded entertainment division's services ranged from celebrity endorsements, product placement, and music tour sponsorship to brand integration, such as the creation and packaging of original branded films and television shows. 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.

References

References

1. "ICM International Creative Management - Concerts".
2. Nash, James.. "Lights, camera, Katrina: rebuilding of Louisiana will affect production in L.A.". [[Los Angeles Business Journal]].
3. 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.
4. (June 4, 2012). "ICM Partners Forms Digital Strategy Division, Hires Group Head".
5. Hirsch, Lauren. (June 28, 2022). "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". [[The New York Times]].
6. Genzlinger, Neil. (May 31, 2022). "Marvin Josephson, Who Scored Big Deals for Stars, Dies at 95". The New York Times.
7. (May 19, 2022). "Marvin Josephson, Founder of ICM, Dies at 95".
8. (May 19, 2022). "Marvin Josephson, Founder of ICM Partners, Dies at 95". [[Variety (magazine).
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10. Rogers, John. (December 12, 2007). "Legendary producer/agent Freddie Fields dies". USA Today.
11. (June 18, 1975). "Freddie Fields Will Leave Talent Agency to Do Films". [[The New York Times]].
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13. Sanghera, Sathnam. (January 28, 2002). "AGENT PROVOCATEUR". [[Financial Times]].
14. "ICM Finalizes Management Buyout; Partnership Excludes Former Chairman Jeff Berg". The Hollywood Reporter.
15. Hoffman, Claire. (2006-07-29). "From Boutique Agency to ICM Brass". Los Angeles Times.
16. (May 23, 2012). "ICM Finalizes Management Buyout; Partnership Excludes Former Chairman Jeff Berg".
17. (21 March 2018). "Just For Laughs sold to Howie Mandel and American company".
18. (2018-03-21). "'Montreal is the mecca': Howie Mandel joins JFL bid, will keep HQ here". Montreal Gazette.
19. (2018-06-08). "Bell Media, Groupe CH among group that has acquired Just For Laughs". Montreal Gazette.
20. Fogel, Stefanie. (2018-06-14). "ICM Partners Teams Up With Esports Talent Agency Evolved". Variety.
21. Hipes, Patrick. (2018-06-14). "ICM Partners Inks Partnership With Esports Talent Agency Evolved". Deadline.
22. (December 16, 2019). "ICM Partners Sells One-Third Stake to Crestview Partners for $150 Million".
23. "ICM Partners Acquires U.K. Music Agency Primary Talent International".
24. (August 12, 2020). "ICM Partners Acquires Stake In Swedish Lit Agency Albatros; Pete Stone Will Relocate To Stockholm To Spearhead Joint Efforts".
25. (October 8, 2020). "ICM Partners buys Stellar Group, with 800 athlete clients".
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27. "ICM Stellar Sports sees Select acquisition as first major growth step".
28. (September 27, 2021). "CAA Acquiring ICM Partners; Will Be Biggest Agency Link-Up Since WMA-Endeavor".
29. Welk, Brian. (June 28, 2022). "CAA Completes ICM Acquisition in $750 Million Deal". [[TheWrap]].
30. (September 10, 2012). "Bob Broder Leaving ICM Partners To Run Chuck Lorre's Company".
31. (2009-04-21). "Angelina Jolie teams with Fox 2000 - Entertainment News, Film News, Media". Variety.
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33. "ICM Agent Heather Schroder Assures Authors: 'Things Are Bad, But the Sky is Not Falling'".
34. "John Feinstein - Authors". Random House.
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36. BARNES, MIKE. (Nov 19, 2020). "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". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
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