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EXCLUSIVE: The rumors have been around for months and months, 
and I know some phone calls were exchanged after the end of the writers strike a year ago. But the reality is that these deals aren't done overnight: like everything in Hollywood that involves ego and money, they're complicated because they combine different agency cultures as well as partners and personnel. (Who else remembers back to 1992 when William Morris acquired Triad? The two agencies had been talking for 17 months; and, even when those chats became very serious, the deal points took five months. And let's not forget the back story behind the ICM-Broder merger.) But lately talks have heated up between upstart Endeavor and venerable William Morris to the point where I'm being told the odds are "70/30" that the two agencies will do a merger deal. Endeavor's Ari Emanuel has been on the prowl: he even had a meal recently with ICM's investor Rizvi Traverse but that didn't go anywhere. I think Endeavor-WMA is a great fit: William Morris has a powerhouse music division but a motion picture talent department needing more marquee names and a flagging television department except for unscripted fare. Endeavor, on the other hand, is signing marquee names and packaging primetime series galore and would love that music money. One agency is strong where the other is weak. 
But the problem is what it's always been: the alpha male owners of major agencies always want to be in charge. I hear Ari Emanuel may run the combined agency as long as Jim Wiatt gets a fancy title and an uber-lucrative contract. Besides, if Wiatt doesn't make this move now, then WMA will turn into a music agency and he could get sidelined. Whether this deal comes to fruition will be fun to watch...
IT'S FOR REAL: Endeavor And William Morris Talking About Teaming Up
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bring on the chaos!
If anything merger could prove to be entertaining in itself with the inevitable personality clashes.
Although it might be nice to see something run smoothly in Hollywood for a change.
That sure makes things interesting. In hard economic times, consolodation often happens.
I wonder what name would stick? WMA or Endeavor…
This will never happen in a million years, guaranteed.
The upstart, Endeavor culture clashing with the William Morris, “we’ve done it this way for 100 years” mentality? For this merger, I’ll go with ‘no way in hell’
The actual final negotiations and the merging of the two companies should be filmed as a reality show. That I would watch.
The fact is that Endeavor is running on an empty tank–has been short on cash for a while now, due to overflow of egos without any smart management or focus. They are truly desperate…not clear why WMA wold save the sinking ship.
OMG!! Get out….!!!
I’d have to see it to believe it. No way.
They don’t have a talent department because Gaby Morgerman is still on board. How can someone that lame still have her job.
if you think that me and ari are going to WMA you are so out of your mind. drama may sell out but i am a star and wma has no stars HELLO CAA.
whose hurting more endeavor or wma?? confusing why would strickler and co go back to where they left. the culture at endeavor is a step above the stale WMA I don’t care what new buiding they move into. 4 week old milk. you can put it in a new container it is still 4 weeks old milk i ain’t drinking it and nor should endeavor…
This makes sense…considering the state of the economy as well.
I’d be far more inclined to consider management if I were a WMA agent at this point.
Wiatt’s due for the yacht circuit like Ovitz. Wurst-shafter [isic] will the oddest man out.
I’d pay to see the first meeting between WMA’s NY office and Brian Lipson. pfffft!
WMA owns land and real estate. Endeavor just owes.
Agree with Johny
No friggin’ way, man.
I heard Endeavor cut its lit. client list a few weeks ago. Perhaps in preparation?
If I am a lit or talent agent at WMA, I would be concerned.
This is a good idea.
It could even work if it can actually happen.
However in Hollywood the no-brainers are the toughest thing to make happen.
Ask Peter Jackson…
WMA is the worst run company around. George Bush could do a better job that Jim, Dave and Irv.
I could see this making sense financially – U are indeed correct Nikki about each’s strengths and weaknesses. But the egos involved. How many mergers go down in flames because of the job titles, handing out of power and money percentages? And what does the thing get called?
I heard ari won’t be having any of madoff’s, I mean, irv weintraubs antics….hell be the first to go
This is the best option for on-the-rise Endeavor to rival CAA. I’d be surprised if egos didn’t get in the way though.
Great. I can now consolidate 2 places into one that ignore me. Much easier that way.
Music aside, WMA doesn’t do anything better than Endeavor, but owns property. Endeavor’s clients are on FIRE. Merger makes sense. And Ed Limato often eats lunch on Camden. Everyone wins.
believe me – this will never happen.
They have been talking about it for years.
Nikki – how did you not title this item “There Will Be Blood”???
The question is who on both sides will survive… wma ny seems to be in the best position, since there is really no endeavor ny- but la- whoa
so now the question is, with mergers there are always redundancies… how many junior agents with no clients will make it through? my bet is not many…
Desperate -
I hear ya, man! Or chick…
It’s going to be a blood bath at WMA if this happen. Not a single TV or MP agent can compete in terms of client list. It’s very telling that Dave W. was not listed as being affected.
But, water seeks its own level.
My boss Ari is also on the Live Nation board, and Peter Grosslight’s music division would dovetail that nicely with Irving’s addition. “There will be blood” would definitely be a nice title.
I wonder how the real estate would get worked out. They just sold the HQ for $140 million in Sept. Do they own the new building or is it a lease???
Lloy’ds comment is very very smart- the live nation board element is fascainating- wma will be presenting concerts soon- peter grosslight will probably buy jam from his buddy arnie as well
They’ve been talking about this for years. I’ll believe it when I see it.
The WIlliam Morris Endeavor.
I like it!
Hopefully this will be the demise of Wiatt, Wirtschafter, Morgerman, Fogelman and Kaplan…the midgets of mediocrity. Have you noticed how many of their “initiatives” have proven bullshit? Agency 2.0, Starbucks, the Mailroom fund and I’m sure this bs with YouTube, which is just a deal for real estate on the site…
if endeavor is smart, they wont.. wma is an awful group of not-so-bright people. everyone is right about gaby m. nasty, rude, dumb,
Endeavor dominates WMA in TV, talent and Film. No wonder WMA just increased its music board. Old school mentality will never work with the smart team of endeavor. They are the fastest growing talent agency ever.
This would be suicide for Endeavor. They shouldn’t get entrenched in the mess that is WMA.
This is a 100% real. Endeavor is hurting for cash and will not survive without this sort of merge. WMA could really use an infusion of hipness and star power. It’s a good move on both sides and would create a powerhouse of an agency. It’s all about dealing with Endeavor’s 9000 partners and doing the excutive shuffle. This would create a new playing field in the agency business, I’m surprised there isn’t more talk of it. I think because these kinds of rumors are constant no one’s taking it seriously.
As someone who worked at WMA back before the Triad merger, before/during the exodus by Toni Howard, Risa Shapiro and Elaine Goldsmith, during the cocaine bust in the executive parking lot, back when agents would hire hookers to give other agents blowjobs in their office (I could go on and on)…I can honestly say that place brews the most horrid, vile, contemptuous people in town.
I was there when Gaby was Mike Simpson’s assistant…her attitude now hasn’t changed one bit. She is a kiss ass and always will be. This is a girl who, just to please the powers that be, allowed Roseanne Barr and Tom Arnold to hire a tattoo artist to give her a tattoo in the office, of their design mind you, just to keep them happy.
Treat people horribly and you’ll get it back three-fold…it may take sometime, but you always get your just dessert.
I love it.
may this merger be the start of great things to
come like the demise of WMA’s old, lazy cow
Susan Brooks.