William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
(formerly William Morris Agency)

Type	Private
Founded	New York, New York, USA (1898)
Headquarters	Beverly Hills, California (USA)
Key people	Ari Emanuel, CEO Patrick Whitesell, co-CEO Irv Weintraub, COO Norman Brokaw, Chairman
Industry	Talent and Literary Agencies
Website	Official Website

WME (William Morris Endeavor) Entertainment is one of the largest and most diversified entertainment agencies with offices in New York City, New York; Beverly Hills, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; London, England; Miami Beach, Florida; and Shanghai, China. WMA represents clients from all artistic disciplines, including motion pictures, television, music, theatre, publishing, commercials, sports, digital media, and video games. William Morris Consulting works with consumer brands to create entertainment-based marketing strategies.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Beginnings 1.2 1945 to 2000 1.3 Since 2000 2 The William Morris mailroom 3 Departments 3.1 Independent Films 3.2 Television 3.3 Music 3.4 Literature 3.5 Consulting 3.6 Athletics 3.7 Live Advertising 3.8 Lectures 4 Notable present and past clients 4.1 Actors 4.2 Filmmakers 4.3 Television 4.4 Hosts 4.5 Musicians 4.6 Sports 4.7 Companies 4.8 Politicians 4.9 Past clients 5 New building 6 References 7 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Beginnings

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009)

In 1898, a young German Jewish immigrant posted a cross-hatch trademark above his door in New York City - four X's, representing a W superimposed on an M - and went into business as "William Morris, Vaudeville Agent." By the time WMA formally incorporated in New York State on January 31, 1918, Morris was joined by son William, Jr., and office-boy-turned-agent-turned-partner Abe Lastfogel as directors of the company.

As silent film grew into widely viewed entertainment, Morris encouraged his clients to experiment in the new medium while the competition stayed with vaudeville. Stars such as Al Jolson, the Marx Brothers, Mae West and Charlie Chaplin helped forge the Agency's dominance in New York and Hollywood. The new medium of radio provided another frontier to explore.

By 1930, Morris had turned over leadership of the agency to his son and Abe Lastfogel. Two years after his retirement, William Morris died from heart failure. In the 1930s the Agency moved from Hollywood and Vine to Canon Drive in Beverly Hills.

[edit] 1945 to 2000

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009)

The William Morris Agency attained further industry dominance with the December 1949 acquisition of the Berg-Allenberg Agency. New clients included Frank Capra, Clark Gable and Judy Garland, joining a roster that already included Sammy Davis, Jr., Milton Berle and Rita Hayworth.

With the arrival of television, WMA recognized a new business paradigm that would eventually make it possible to package stars, producers, writers and show concepts for sale to corporate sponsors, which controlled television's early days. The following decades brought success to scores of WMA clients, including Steve McQueen, Frank Sinatra, Andy Griffith, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Katharine Hepburn, Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Kim Novak, Dick Van Dyke and Bill Cosby.

By 1965, WMA's Music Department had emerged as an industry powerhouse, representing, among others, the Rolling Stones, the Byrds, the Beach Boys and Sonny & Cher. Less than 10 years later, in 1973, the Agency's newly established Nashville office provided another significant boost to the operations of William Morris, extending the Agency's reach into country music and beyond.

In the early 1980s, WMA built the William Morris Plaza located at 150 El Camino Drive, directly across the street from its main building at 151 El Camino. In 1989 WMA acquired the Jim Halsey Company, adding performers such as The Oak Ridge Boys, Waylon Jennings and Tammy Wynette.

In 1992, the Agency acquired Triad Artists, marking the largest acquisition of a talent agency in show business history. Some fifty Triad agents joined WMA's corps of talent and literary agents worldwide.

A year after the Triad acquisition, WMA created a Corporate Advisory/New Media Department which evolved into William Morris Consulting (WMC). WMC now operates in a broad spectrum of industry segments, including telecommunications, technology, lodging, gaming, publishing, retail, and consumer products.

In the early '90s, WMA's Literary Department announced the largest book-to-screen deal ever inked when it sold the television rights for "Scarlett," the sequel to Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind. In 2000, WMA acquired The Writers Shop.

[edit] Since 2000

WMA's Miami Beach office opened in 2003, and WMA's Shanghai office opened in 2004. In 2007 the Agency expanded its London music operation, underscoring WMA's continued commitment to the international marketplace. Along with the addition of new personnel, the London office moved into the iconic Centre Point Tower.

Today the agency has principal offices in Beverly Hills, New York, Nashville, London, Miami Beach and Shanghai. WMA is active in all segments of the entertainment industry, from Motion Pictures, Television, Music and Personal Appearances to Broadway Theatre and Theatrical Touring, Book Publishing, Commercial Endorsements, Sports Marketing and Corporate Consulting, Digital Media and Video Games.

On April 27, 2009 WMA announced its merger with Endeavor Talent Agency.^[1] The merger has been widely seen as a takeover by Ari Emanuel and his partners at Endeavor.^[2] Over the course of the merger, many - nearly 100 in all Following the official announcement of the merger, nearly 100 WMA employees and former board members were let go, with the most widely affected department being Corporate Consulting department. One of those leaving was Jim Wiatt, who came to WMA in 1999 from International Creative Management, where he was Vice-Chairman, in 1999. He had joined WMA as President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, and had risen to Board Chairman.^[3] The co-CEOs of the new William Morris Endeavor company are Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell, from Endeavor, and David Wirtschafter, from WMA. The company has a nine-person board - five from William Morris, and four from Endeavor.

[edit] The William Morris mailroom

The William Morris agent training program, often referred to as the "mailroom", was established in the 1940s and is well-known for its roster of successful alumni. Since the 1970s the program has been replicated at other talent agencies and studios, many of which were headed by former mailroom trainees. Once accepted, trainees rotate through different departments, starting with the mailroom, before becoming a full-time assistant or coordinator. WMA's main competitor, Creative Artists Agency, was founded in 1975 by Michael Ovitz, Ron Meyer, William Haber, Michael Rosenfeld, and Rowland Perkins, all former WMA mailroom trainees.^[4][5]

Current WMA Chairman Norman Brokaw became the first mailboy in the Beverly Hills Mailroom, at age 15.

Notable trainees include:

Michael Ovitz - co-founder of Creative Artists Agency and former president of Walt Disney Company Michael Eisner - former CEO of Walt Disney Company and Paramount Pictures David Geffen - "G" in Dreamworks SKG and founder of Geffen Records and Asylum Records Jeffrey Katzenberg - "K" in Dreamworks SKG and CEO of DreamWorks Animation George Shapiro - executive producer of Seinfeld Anne Carey - producer of The Laramie Project and The Savages Ben Silverman - co-chairman of NBC and executive producer of The Office Peter Shaw - former head of MGM Studios Ron Meyer - co-founder of Creative Artists Agency and president of Universal Studios Abe Lastfogel - former owner of William Morris Agency and organizer of USO Al Brodax - producer of Yellow Submarine and Popeye Bryan Lourd - co-chairman of Creative Artists Agency Bernie Brillstein - executive producer of Saturday Night Live and Ghostbusters

Wally Amos - founder of Famous Amos Barry Diller - former CEO of Paramount Pictures, Fox Broadcasting Company and USA Networks, chairman of InterActiveCorp Helen Gurley Brown - long time editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan Joe Wizan - director of Along Came a Spider and ...And Justice for All Robert Shapiro - former president of theatrical film production at Warner Bros. Jack Rapke - producer of Cast Away and What Lies Beneath Mike Rosenfeld - co-founder of Creative Artists Agency Kevin Huvane - managing partner of Creative Artists Agency Cary Woods - producer of Godzilla and Scream Nick Stevens - co-owner of United Talent Agency Irwin Winkler - producer of Rocky, Raging Bull, They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and Goodfellas

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[edit] Departments

Throughout its history WMA's Motion Picture Department has represented some of the most acclaimed screenwriters, producers, directors and actors. As the Agency entered its second century in the entertainment industry, WMA clients continued to be involved with many critically-acclaimed and commercial hits, including "Transformers", "Juno", "There Will Be Blood", "Milk", "X-Men", "Iron Man", "Kung Fu Panda", "Fantastic Four", "Sex and the City", "Wanted", "No Country for Old Men", "The Mummy", "American Gangster", "Dreamgirls", "Frost/Nixon", "National Treasure", and "Gladiator". WMA's clients are part of some of Fandango.com's most anticipated films of 2009, including "Star Trek", "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", "X-Men: Wolverine", "G.I. Joe", and "New Moon". In 2007 WMA formed a division to focus on developing up and coming actors in the tween marketplace.

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[edit] Independent Films

WMA's independent film division, William Morris Independent (WMi), focuses on identifying, packaging and financing feature films derived from and targeted to the worldwide independent community. WMi has been involved in obtaining financing and distribution for more than 100 films since it was established in 1998, including "Frozen River", "Away From Her", "Half Nelson", "Thank You for Smoking", "The Good Girl", and "Monster's Ball".

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[edit] Television

WMA's Television Department represents the creators, producers, and writers of such scripted shows as "Lost", "South Park", "American Dad", "L Word", "Weeds", "ER", and "The Office". The Agency also made Tyler Perry's significant television deals for "House of Payne" and "Meet the Browns". WMA's Television Department was the first agency to enter the international format business, bringing "Ugly Betty" to the US.

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WMA was at the forefront of the non-scripted television business, helping put together "The Real World". Since then WMA's clients have helped put together some of the most popular non-scripted programming, including "Big Brother", "Fear Factor", "Hell's Kitchen", "Biggest Loser", "American Idol", "Dancing with the Stars", and "Project Runway". In addition the Agency represents on-camera stars Ryan Seacrest, Regis and Kelly, Whoopi Goldberg, Giada de Laurentiis, Chelsea Handler, and Emeril Lagasse.

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[edit] Music

WMA represents clients across many musical genres, including Rock, Pop, Urban, Contemporary, Country, Comedy, Latin, Christian/Gospel, and Adult Contemporary. WMA books the most clients of any agency from Billboard's "2009 Money Makers List". WMA clients earned 115 nominations and had 33 wins at the 2009 Grammy Awards - winning the top categories, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, Best Pop Album, Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song, and Best Rap Song. WMA recently launched William Morris Electronic to focus on the electronic music market. WMA's Music Department doubled the size of its London office in 2007, furthering the Agency's focus on the international marketplace.

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[edit] Literature

WMA’s Book Department is highly regarded for its roster of award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors, including Sue Monk Kidd (Secret Life Of Bees), Kathy Reichs (Bones), Ann Brashares (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), Ethan Canin (America, America), Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner (Freakonomics), and Cecily Von Ziegesar (Gossip Girl). In 2009, top literary agent Eric Simonoff joined WMA from Janklow & Nesbit Associates, bringing with him 3 Pulitzer Prize-winners, 17 New York Times bestselling authors, and 14 New Yorker contributors. The Agency also helps many of its authors’ work make the transition from print to television and film, with such films as “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”, “The Secret Life of Bees”, “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” and the television series, “Bones.”

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[edit] Consulting

WMA was the first agency to establish a corporate consulting division, providing entertainment marketing strategies for some of the best known consumer brands. Some of the corporate clients WMA represents include General Motors, Hasbro, Starbucks, Swarovski,and Bluefly.com. In one of the biggest product integrations ever, in 2007, WMA packaged the General Motors marketing campaign with the "Transformers" film, creating product placement within the film and commercials featuring elements from the movie.

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[edit] Athletics

WMA also represents a number of high-level athletes and sports properties. WMA’s clients include Alex Rodriguez, Serena Williams, Kevin Garnett, Magic Johnson, Pele, and Yi Jianlian. The Agency also represents sports leagues such as the NFL and NHL. WMA signed the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008 to help the team secure branding opportunities, including naming rights sponsorships for the team’s properties.

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[edit] Live Advertising

WMA’s Commercials Division is comprehensive, covering commercials, animation, non-performing personal appearances, direct marketing, home shopping, and tour sponsorships. WMA has helped its clients partner with such notable brands as Visa, AT&T, Trident Gum, Samsung, Gatorade, Gucci, Mercedes, and Absolut Vodka. In addition WMA’s voice-over division is the leading agency for high-profile animation and commercials voice-over work.

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[edit] Lectures

WMA’s Lecture Division represents a selection of lecturers in a variety of areas, including national and global affairs, the media, business and economics, health and science, humor, and sports and motivation.

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[edit] Notable present and past clients

[edit] Actors

Amy Adams Ben Affleck Jessica Alba Julie Andrews Kevin Bacon Christian Bale Eric Bana Antonio Banderas Javier Bardem Josh Brolin Steve Buscemi Kate Bosworth Steve Carell Jackie Chan Bill Cosby Courteney Cox Russell Crowe

Kieran Culkin John Cusack Robert De Niro Matt Damon Michael Douglas Hilary Duff Michael Fassbender America Ferrera Jenna Fischer James Franco Brendan Fraser Jennifer Garner Sarah Michelle Gellar Richard Gere Mel Gibson Whoopi Goldberg Ginnifer Goodwin

Brandon Hardesty Anne Hathaway Dustin Hoffman Anthony Hopkins Terrence Howard Vanessa Hudgens Kate Hudson Hugh Jackman Catherine Zeta-Jones Tommy Lee Jones Diane Keaton Keira Knightley Shia LaBeouf Queen Latifah Suzanna Leigh Ray Liotta John Malkovich

Steve Martin Frances McDormand Viggo Mortensen Eddie Murphy Thandie Newton Ellen Page Keke Palmer Mary-Louise Parker Robert Pattinson Anna Paquin Tyler Perry Dennis Quaid Mark Ruffalo Winona Ryder Adam Sandler Kevin Spacey Sylvester Stallone

Tilda Swinton Emma Thompson John Travolta Chris Tucker Tracey Ullman Mark Wahlberg Denzel Washington Ken Watanabe Rachel Weisz Forest Whitaker Elijah Wood

[edit] Filmmakers

Paul Thomas Anderson Danny Boyle Tim Burton Francis Ford Coppola Wes Craven

David Cronenberg Alfonso Cuaron Guillermo Del Toro Atom Egoyan Clint Eastwood

Todd Field Mel Gibson Gavin Hood Mathieu Kassovitz Spike Lee

Baz Luhrmann Michael Moore Errol Morris Robert Rodriguez Quentin Tarantino

Martin Scorsese Ridley Scott Kevin Smith Gus Van Sant Michael Winterbottom Steven Zaillian

[edit] Television

J. J. Abrams Larry David Glenn Gordon Caron Doug Ellin Ricky Gervais

Bruno Heller Glenn Howerton David E. Kelley Seth MacFarlane Andre Nemec

Stephanie Savage Mark Schwahn Gary Shandling Aaron Sorkin Steven Speilberg

Cole Sprouse[88] Dylan Sprouse[88]

[edit] Hosts

Ryan Seacrest Rachael Ray Regis & Kelly Whoopi Goldberg

Emeril Lagasse Giada de Laurentiis Chelsea Handler Larry King

Al Roker Maria Bartiromo Bobby Flay Alton Brown

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[edit] Musicians

Sean Combs Eminem Fatboy Slim The Killers Willie Nelson Lynyrd Skynyrd Spillseed The Rolling Stones 50 Cent Snoop Dogg Britney Spears Kanye West

Rain Foo Fighters Insane Clown Posse The Cool Kids Pearl Jam The Eagles Taylor Swift Lady GaGa Dannii Minogue Alicia Keys Rihanna Josh Groban

Duffy M.I.A. Prince Brad Paisley Tom Petty Rascal Flatts Lil Wayne Journey Michael Buble Natalie Cole Sergio Mendes Backstreet Boys Beastie Boys

Billy Idol Barry Manilow Incubus The Knux Keyshia Cole Ludacris Nine Inch Nails Lynyrd Skynyrd Pussycat Dolls Spoon Tokio Hotel Tenacious D Trisha Yearwood

The Flaming Lips The Hives Weezer Vince Gill Ciara Estelle Lupe Fiasco Gnarls Barkley Nelly Ne-Yo Miranda Cosgrove Drew Seeley Charmaine

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[edit] Sports

Serena Williams Alex Rodriguez Dwyane Wade

Yi Jianlian Kevin Garnett Magic Johnson

Los Angeles Dodgers San Jose Earthquakes

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[edit] Companies

Hasbro Starbucks General Motors Anheuser-Busch Bluefly

Hilton Hotels HP Swarovski Myspace.com NFL

Chelsea F.C. Rock & Republic Tokyopop NHL

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[edit] Politicians

• Condoleezza Rice
• Nancy Pelosi
• Byron Dorgan
• Jim Webb
• Fred Thompson

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[edit] Past clients

Steve McQueen Frank Sinatra Andy Griffith Marilyn Monroe Ana Cristina Elvis Presley

Katharine Hepburn Jack Lemmon Kim Novak Dick Van Dyke Sammy Davis, Jr.

Rita Hayworth James Cagney Louis Armstrong Sarah Michelle Gellar Halle Berry

Will Rogers The Marx Brothers Mae West Charlie Chaplin The Byrds

Sonny & Cher The Beach Boys Coco Lee

[edit] New building

In 2008, William Morris Agency began construction on its new headquarters building. The new structure includes many features aimed at reducing carbon emission and waste, such as the installation of rain-capture systems and bamboo floors^[105]. According to Real Estate Southern California^[106], the building will be the first US LEED-certified building in Beverly Hills. LEED is the U.S. Green Building Council standard for environmentally sustainable structures. The building is scheduled for completion in 2010.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• William Morris Agency Homepage

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