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Paradigm’s Brandon R. Frankel Departs Company To Launch Contra Inc.
After hinting on Twitter earlier this month that big news was coming, Brandon R. Frankel, SVP Brand Partnerships & Creators Initiative at Paradigm Talent Agency, unveiled Dec. 8 that he was exiting the company to head up his own firm, Contra Inc.
Evan Paeth – Brandon R. Frankel
The company will offer a variety of services including brand partnerships, talent representation, brand consulting, event and experiential production, digital advising and implementation, and career architecting. Contra Inc. is based out of Los Angeles but its reach will be global.
Contra clients include digital star Kristen Hancher, street artists Kai and Plastic Jesus, social media stars Matt Cutshall and Kirby Jenner, and on-air legal analyst and TV correspondent Darren Kavinoky. Frankel is also working with actress/activist/model Rose McGowan, who was included as part of Time’s Person of the Year 2017: “The Silence Breakers.”
“I’m so thrilled to be able to take my expansive background across many different areas of the industry to better my clients both on the arts and brand side – 2018 is going to be a crazy and fun year!” Frankel said in a statement to Pollstar.
The Contra CEO and founder plans to focus on expanding and growing the representation of brands and talent outside TV, film and music such as digitally native talent, graphic and street artists, designers and more.
Frankel noted in a press release that the decision to leave Paradigm wasn’t an easy one and that he really enjoyed the new business he started at the company. He will continue collaborating with his former colleagues at Paradigm by sharing several clients with the agency.
“In a world where so many agencies are formulaic, Brandon and Contra Inc. are really creating something new that is not afraid to approach the industry and artists in a new way,” Plastic Jesus said in a statement released to Pollstar. “Since I started creating provocative art I believed there is huge potential for my work, as soon as I started speaking with Brandon it was immediately obvious his approach and experience would be a great partnership. The industry needs a shake up. I believe Brandon and Contra Inc are that shake up.”
“What’s cool about Brandon is that he is not afraid to be different,” McGowan said in a statement released to Pollstar. “He understands that the traditional agency business model is on life support and will soon flatline. The only way to change the world is to be a world changer, and Brandon gets that and is that.”
Contra Inc. plans on announcing new partnerships and ventures in the coming months, along with a full roster of clients, consulting projects, partnerships and staff.
The company’s first joint venture is with Tokyo-based art agency andtokyo, whose clients include Toyota Lexus, Red Bull, Vice Japan, Corona, Reebok, Shisheido, Remy Martin, Creativeman, Cartier Japan, and StarFes14.
Prior to working at Paradigm, Frankel held various positions at Atlantic Records, CAA and The Windish Agency. He has appeared on panels at conferences and events such as Pollstar Live!, SWSX, ADE Mumbai and Mobfest. Frankel is giving one of the keynote speeches at 2017’s XLIVE in Las Vegas on Dec. 11 at 5 p.m.