Features
Breaking: UTA Acquires Circle Talent Agency; Artists Include Marshmello, Kaskade, Illenium, Excision
– Circle Talent Agency
Kevin Gimble and Steve Gordon
United Talent Agency has acquired leading electronic dance music agency Circle Talent Agency, putting Circle Talent partners Steve Gordon and Kevin Gimble as co-heads of electronic music to work closely with UTA global head of music David Zedeck.
“The acquisition of Circle Talent Agency is a tremendous addition for UTA as we continue to build momentum in our music business,” said UTA Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Zimmer. “Electronic music is now a multi-billion dollar business and one of the fastest-growing genres. Having Circle, its talented agents and incredible roster under our umbrella, immediately establishes a major connection for us with the next generation of music fans, and UTA as a leader in the dance space. We are thrilled to have this agency and its great artists joining our company.”
Gordon confirmed the news in email to Pollstar, saying “Yes, we are so pumped!”
Circle’s roster includes electronic artists such as Marshmello, Kaskade, Illenium, Excision, and many others, such as recent Hotstar Ganja White Night.
Circle Talent Agency’s roster of clients will now have access to UTA’s full breadth of practice areas with opportunities across digital content platforms, motion pictures, television, broadcast news, video games, books, fine art, branding, licensing and speaking engagements.
Gordon and Gimble said, “We have watched UTA evolve into a major entertainment company with global reach and we felt now was the perfect time to combine our resources to provide even greater opportunities for our clients. We’re excited to join a growing music team that shares our client-first values.”
David Zedeck, UTA global head of music added, “Steve, Kevin and the team at Circle started a business in a niche genre that has gained cultural relevancy around the world. They have done a tremendous job developing their artists into international touring superstars. I look forward to working with them to expand our global business and offer their clients a broad scope of opportunities across the agency.”
Circle Talent Agency was formed by Gimble in the ’90s, where at one point he was agenting 75 drum and bass artists by himself. He brought in Gordon who was a promoter in Baltimore at the time and who is largely responsible for the first hard-ticket dubstep tours.
Together they’re self-described as a yin-and-yang type duo with Gordon the scrappy bulldog and Gimble the “whisperer,” who may have to cool things down at times, with Gordon saying, “I’ve made the promise to my artists that ‘I will advance you money out of my own pocket.”
UTA in 2015 acquired The Agency Group, one the world’s top independent booking agencies, expanding the division to six offices globally and establishing UTA as a major player in music artist representation.