Paradigm Creates Chip Hooper Scholarship In Honor Of Booking Agent Legend

Chip Hooper
Patrick Jordan – Chip Hooper
in 2015

Paradigm Talent Agency has selected Columbia College Chicago as the recipient of a $50,000 donation to create an endowed scholarship fund for the School of Fine and performing Arts in memory of Chip Hooper, the longtime head of music and revered booking agent who passed away in 2016.

“Chip Hooper was one of the most extraordinary people I’ve ever known, and his dedication to art and artists was unparalleled,” said Paradigm CEO and Chairman Sam Gores. “We are proud to sustain his spirit of nurturing the next generation of creative professionals.”
The gift includes matching funds from individual Paradigm executives, which allows the scholarship to begin awarding as soon as this fall. 
Paradigm selected Columbia for the Chip Hooper Scholarship to support the college’s internationally renowned programs in music business and photography, two of Hooper’s passions.
The college also has strong connections to Paradigm though dozens of internships and careers for Columbia graduates at Paradigm offices throughout the country. Hooper was also a Chicago native as well.
Chip Hooper’s children, Max and Valerie Hooper, said in a joint statement, “We are very excited to see our father’s impact continue to support the pursuit of future generations’ dreams. We hope that this scholarship will help more young people pursue their passions in the music business and fine arts.”
The scholarship is open for immediate application with a deadline of July 1, 2019. To support the Chip Hooper Scholarship, and for more information on the award, please visit the official Chip Hooper Scholarship website here.
Hooper, 53, died March 5, 2016, but not before fulfilling a promise to his son, Max, to attend at least one of the Oakland University senior’s basketball games that season.
Hooper was the head of music at Paradigm Talent Agency, which acquired Monterey Peninsula Artists from co-founder Dan Weiner and Fred Bohlander in 2004, overseeing agents from four offices and as many as 2,000 artists, according to a Paradigm spokesman.
Among his own clients were Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Ray LaMontagne and many others. He was named Pollstar’s Bobby Brooks Agent of the Year eight times, more than any other. The revered agent touched many in the industry, from recently named Paradigm global head of music Marty Diamond to SOB X RBE manager Chioke “Stretch” McCoy of Active Management.
Tags