Paradigm, Windish Partner Up

The Chicago-based Windish Agency becomes the latest boutique shop to come under the Paradigm umbrella since the latter entered the music space with the acquisition of Monterey Peninsula Artists followed by Little Big Man.

More recently, Paradigm formed partnerships with AM Only and London-based CODA. The Windish Agency brings an impressive roster of artists into the Paradigm fold to form a combined roster that includes Aerosmith, Alt-J, Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, David Guetta, Diplo, Disclosure, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, Lorde, Phish, Skrillex, Tiesto, Toby Keith, Zedd and many more.

Windish will continue to run his company while joining Paradigm’s music department’s leadership team of Chip Hooper, Marty Diamond, Paul Morris and the CODA partners.

While Windish was reluctant to specifically define the partnership, he told Pollstar, “I’m definitely not being acquired. Some other people were out there saying I was selling the company and getting out of the booking business, and not booking bands anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth. I’m more pumped than ever to book bands and reach higher and higher places.”

Addressing rumors and a Twitter post, since deleted, from an artist claiming 30 percent of the Windish Agency’s large roster was cut, Windish denied the figure, adding, “I saw that, too. I don’t know where he got that number. We’re always looking at our roster and evaluating whether we are doing everything efficiently. That hasn’t changed.” Windish said he doesn’t foresee laying off any staff at either his Chicago, New York or Los Angeles outposts, and the Windish name will remain on the letterhead.

He also intends to keep his present offices, though he acknowledges Paradigm would like to have everyone under the same roof.

“We’ve just moved into a new office in New York, and in Los Angeles we have a new office under construction we’re going to move into sometime in the fall,” Windish explained. “I would also love to be under the same roof as them, and I’ve told them, ‘As soon as you find a place we can all agree on.’ I’m not trying to be intentionally difficult, I like being agreeable and say, ‘We’ll move there.’ But until then, we’ve got great offices.”

The original Windish Agency office in Chicago is not on the table, however. “My intention is fully for that office to be there forever.” While the first thought might be that this is a great deal for Windish, and he says it is, he also adds that he believes it’s going to be good for Paradigm, too.

“I feel really good about it on both sides,” Windish said. “Windish Agency is doing great and has been doing great. We have a lot of acts that are growing up, and we’ve been having more of them. It’s been steadily growing for some time. …We have a lot to bring to them. But they’re awesome, and they share very similar values.

“Chip, Marty, Paul, Sam Gores, all of them are great guys. They all started out like I did, in a very entrepreneurial way by going outside the system and saying, “we’re going to do this’ and then they did it. When each of them joined, each of them were happy. It’s kind of a natural progression, I think.”

In announcing the partnership, Hooper and Gores were equally effusive, saying, “Whether hiring employees or forming partnerships we have always been unwaveringly committed to working with the most talented and creative people and, most importantly, with people who share similar goals and those with impeccable character. After spending quite a bit of time getting to know Tom and his staff, it became clear this partnership makes perfect sense for everyone.”

Paradigm CEO/Chairman Sam Gores added, “The common thread in building Paradigm Music has been to invest in strong, visionary leaders who are universally respected by their peers and committed to building careers the right way.

“From the moment I met Tom Windish I was impressed with his business acumen, integrity, leadership, taste, and unique way of thinking. Over the years Paradigm has established a pattern of successful partnerships that together have formed a unified culture that I am proud of.”

The thought of bringing the company he started in the second bedroom of his Chicago condo under a corporate umbrella is fine with Windish.

“These are great people and it could lead to some really, really interesting, awesome things. I’m super psyched about it,” Windish said. “I’ve never been so excited in my whole career, and I’ve been doing it a long time now.”