WME Names New Partners, Ends Pay Reductions

WME has named a host of new partners and is ending the pay reductions that were in place since April, Pollstar has confirmed. The news was first reported by Deadline.

Of note to the live entertainment industry, Andrew Russell was named a partner in the agency’s Comedy division and Ben Totis, Cindy Agi, John Branigan, Jonas Schuman, Matthew Morgan, Mike Snider and Stephanie LaFera were all named partners in Personal Appearance. 

WME has seen a host of leadership shakeups in 2020, particularly in its music division. In November Dan Limerick was promoted to COO of the entire agency. 

Prior to that hip-hop power agent Brent Smith was ousted following complaints of bullying.

Marc Geiger departed his role as head of music in June, meaning Lucy Dickins, Scott Clayton and Kirk Sommer would lead the division moving forward.

Michele Bernstein also announced she was leaving the company in July to launch her own music marketing consultancy firm. 

Pollstar reported in May that as many as one-third of the employees of Endeavor Group Holdings, WME’s parent company, would be affected by furloughs, salary cuts and other cost saving measures as the effects of the industry-wide shutdown were felt. In WME specifically, 20% of staff were affected, including partners, executives, agents and staff at all levels.