Kelly Rowland, Paulina Rubio In Talks To Join ‘X … 
Cannes: Latest Theft Affects China Film Group VP 
UPDATE: Yahoo Board OKs $1.1B Deal To Acquire Tumblr … 
‘Epic’ Toon Begins $14.5M Overseas Rollout 
Cannes: Sony Classics Wins Stateside Rights To Asghar … 
‘Fast & Furious 6′ Breaks Records In … 
Specialty Box Office: ‘Frances Ha’ Triumphs As … 
‘Saturday Night Live’ Season Finale Posts … 
‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ $164.5M Global: Lower … 
Cannes: Backup Media, Memento Bring Heat To Fest Helmer Jim … 
Cannes: Sundance Selects Acquires Dardenne Brothers’ … 
Cannes: Wrekin Hill Acquires U.S. On Gabriele … 
Bill Hader’s ‘SNL’ Stefon Farewell: Video 
Cannes: The Weinstein Co. Books ‘Suite … 
BBC Confirms ‘Doctor Who’ Season 8 
Finally, Cannes Dealing! Radius-TWC Nabs Director’s … 
Hammond On Cannes: Wet Fest’s Official Competition … 
‘Vampire Academy’ Adds ‘Modern … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Shark Tank’ Finale Up, … 
Cannes: Worldview Options Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn … 
UPFRONTS 2013: The Overachievers 
UPDATE: I can confirm that 23-year-old Eric Kuhn is joining UTA’s digital media department where I’m told he will specialize in social media strategies for the agency’s talent and corporate clients. 
This is one of the agency world’s early moves to bring in an agent focusing specifically on social media and outlets such as Twitter, Foursquare, and Facebook. Kuhn was CNN’s Audience Interaction Producer, where he oversaw social media for CNN’s U.S. programming and worked on the network’s television/web integration.
Kuhn oversaw CNN’s more than 250 Twitter accounts, and I’m told he was responsible for helping predict election results by looking at voter sentiment on Twitter (and now we know who to blame for all that on-air pablum by the newscasters and pundits during election night). Prior to CNN he helped manage social media for both the NBA and the CBS Evening News. I’m told Kuhn will be relocating from DC to LA at the beginning of the year.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
Loading ...
Sounds like another big money move for UTA! Wait a sec–
This is a slam dunk! I can’t wait to see how this will change Hollywood, forever!
Lame. UTA trying to get in the press any way they can.
I love UTA for innovating in this space, but seriously? A Social Media agent? Social media doesn’t require middle men & Silicon Valley doesn’t like dealing with agents. Clients do not want to hear about micro deals with 3rd party Twitter clients — they want real paychecks.
As Public Enemy once said, don’t believe the hype.
The guy was a glorified p.a. hired because of his family connections to former CNN President, Jon Klein. Caveat emptor UTA.
Yep- what silly person made this decision- the guy should have an internship
23?? Dude just got bar mitzvahed like two weeks ago!
hopefully he will come up with a strategy that creates revenue as
opposed to sizzle so he earns commission.
I see its potential as endorsement and sponsorship strategy
Why did they hire someone so freaking old? Don’t tell me there aren’t any qualified 12 year-olds out there looking for work!
Awesome, J. Lo has her own Twitter point! Full service baby!!
I’ve worked with Eric and I couldn’t think of a brighter and more savvy social media do-er, well done Eric !
I’m still really not sure what this kid does. I’ve been in several professional situations in LA where it became apparent he was promoted due to his connections and not his work ethic. Not saying that’s his fault for being connected, but come on man, show some initiative besides brown-nosing
I think this is a smart move by UTA. You either change with the times or fall behind. Having a social media person to advise clients strikes me as wise, but what do I know, I’m over 35 so I’m considered old/dead.
Connections get you in the door but apparently this “kid” knows how to deliver the goods. Good for him!
George Ruiz is already doing this at ICM as Head of New Media…
Yeah, but he’s at ICM, so it doesnt count.
Why does everyone hate ICM so much? I’m not sticking up for them, I’m genuinely curious.
This guy could be a genius for all I know though, UTA has desperately attempted and failed at this market one too many times. Perhaps they should work a bit harder bettering their current internal relations and frequent client loss before haphazardly hiring employees for ambiguous divisions they are clearly in the dark about. Just saying.
This poor kid has no idea how fast he’ll be chewed up and spit out. Obviously, didn’t have to go through any “training” program.
Training programs are for wussies.
It’s a stupid idea. This kid from DC is a ploy for politicians slipping him into the entertainment industry with accounts such as face book, twitter etc….he is used as a pawn to reach out to the younger crowd to influence votes for 20012…..this kid is a spy, and UTA is stupid for hiring him! They are a talent agency, not internet agency! Destroy the concept, he’s from DC, something is not kosher….it’s politics not entertainment, and the young kids will be manipulated by him working for the white house to manipulate votes….HELLO people, think, think, think hard, and think harder if you must!! The idea is ridiculous!
You are spreading paranoid propaganda based on a very limited amount of fact.
You are accusing someone of spreading paranoid propaganda based on a very limited amount of fact.
Christ, social media isn’t rocket science. it’s modified cat herding. The myth that only a 23-year-old man-child can possibly make head or tail of this stuff serves nobody but hotshot 23-year-olds who, were it not for their self-promotion skills, would be taking orders at Pink’s. And properly so.
it’s really the ultimate agent/publicist hybrid position. But it also helps to have someone on point doing this at a large agency for consistency. Cool idea.
His first big signing: Sarah Palin.
23? Is he even old enough to remember Friendster?
It seems a little odd that he’s had so many jobs at age 23…not a great sign. I also love how UTA pitches press on UTA online, 60 frames etc… and they all eventually go away. This guy is not going to last.
Ah, yes, I was trying to remember that other failed online department/experiment that they launched, thanks for mentioning 60 Frames. Did anything ever come out of that other than a couple of L.A. Times puff pieces?
What came out of 60Frames?
Hmmm…
-They lost $3.5 in venture funding & pissed off VC’s due to a lack of communication during shut down.
- They produced mediocre content due to lack of taste.
- They had to vacate their fancy Beverly Hills office (always smart to spend your start-up capital on fancy digs)
Big deal. They tried something and it didn’t work. No different than any other company or agency. Endeavor poured a few million dollars (of their own money) into ENDLESS MOBILE, signed up Seth Macfarlane, Paris Hilton and other clients, only to have that entire business disappear. WMA invested millions of their shareholders (WMA agents get stock) money into start-up companies, and every one of them failed (ask the former WMA agents who saw their share value plummet due to WMA’s investments). CAA has incubated a number of companies, and aside from Funny or Die, they all seem on the fast track to nowhere. Would you rather have your agency trying to get ahead of the changes in the film/tv business and create new models and opportunities, or sit around hoping that studios begin recognizing writers quotes again?
Eric’s a smart guy, good head on his shoulders, and knows the social media space really well. He got the job on his own merit.
The position sounds innovative, but is he potty trained? I wouldn’t give someone with so little life experience my business. This is not sound thinking by supposed professionals what’s next, high school students?
Cyn, and TomF, from above:
Is it completely out of the realm of possibility that a 23 year-old may actually be intelligent enough to do a job that doesn’t involve “taking orders at Pink’s”?
Everybody’s different. Some 16 year-olds can responsibly drive a car. Others shouldn’t. (But are still legally allowed to.) Some 23 year-olds have good ideas, and deserve this responsibility. Others don’t, and would not merit that job position.
I think this very ‘ageist’ reaction is one of insecurity from those of older age. It’s long been my theory that the concept of ‘paying your dues’ and all it entails for a young person is simply a mechanism for those already in power to retain their position and maintain the status quo for themselves.
Now, I don’t know this Eric, or whether he truly merits this position, but people need to stop generalizing about age. I don’t automatically assume 50 year-olds are inept. Stop thinking that 23 year-olds are.
look guys, if there’s ever been a time to fleece the agencies for some bullshit position, this is it!
Agent’s assistants are already ticking time bombs of disgruntlement and sleep deprivation without watching someone younger than them make agent without paying the usual dues. Is there a reason why this work can’t be done by some intern paid just enough to live in a closet studio apartment in Van Nuys and eat nothing but mac and cheese?