SECRET AGENT PLAN 2: GAME OF TAG

Rumor has it that UTA will very shortly announce its acquisition of The Agency Group, greatly expanding the music roster of an agency largely devoted to film and TV.

TAG was founded in 1981 by highly decorated agent Neil Warnock, who oversees it with CEO Gavin O'Reilly; the firm boasts offices in L.A., London, Miami, Nashville, NYC, Toronto and Malmo. Its very large music roster includes Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Muse, Dolly Parton, The Black Keys, A Great Big World, Nickelback, Stromae, Paramore, Merle Haggard, David Gilmour, Rush (outside North America), Ringo Starr and Foals, among many others.

UTA brought in two music agents from CAA not long ago. Its heretofore modest music roster includes Kanye West and breaking acts like Milky Chance and Rachel Platten. Acquiring TAG helps move it toward its goal of competing on the same plane as CAA, WME and the recently conjoined Paradigm-Windish.

UTA has been the focus of controversy of late with their hiring (some would say poaching) of several key comedy agents from CAA in the infamous "midnight raid" in April.