Creative Artists Agency history

Grudges can last for years; for example, movie producer Jay Weston sued CAA in 1979 about the rights to a film, and years later, it was revealed that Weston was "totally ostracized" by the agency.

CAA even manages deals with the estates of long-dead clients such as reggae musician Bob Marley, who died in 1981.

Michael Rosenfeld left CAA in 1982, becoming the first of the original founders to depart the agency.

By 1988, the agency pulled in revenues of an estimated $65 million and represented 146 directors, 134 actors, and 288 writers.

Sony finally decided to buy Columbia Pictures Entertainment for $3.4 billion in October 1989; at the time it was the largest takeover of an American firm by a Japanese company.

1990: Ovitz brokers Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.'s acquisition of MCA.

MICHAEL WIMER: Around 1991, a private equity buddy of mine from Stanford bought Premiere magazine, which was edited by Susan Lyne.

By 1992, CAA's approximately 75 agents read scripts, suggested parts, and placed actors, writers, and directors in more than 100 titles a year.

CAA's first endeavor in this area was a late 1994 joint venture with three regional Bells to develop the programming and technology to allow consumers to receive video by telephone.

Kevin Huvane and his quartet of fellow ‘Young Turks’ rapidly rose to take over the running of the agency in 1995.

1997: CAA partners with Joyce Ketay Agency in New York.

CAA established CAA Marketing in 1998 to work with brands and clients for promotion purposes.

1999: CAA invests in Shephardson Stern and Kaminsky, a communications consulting and advertising company.

In 2000, Omnicom Group, one of the big three agency holding companies, seeking to expand its entertainment assets, targeted CAA for possible acquisition; however, no specific plans were made.

In 2003, it opened a New York City office to manage theater clients.

The agency has been accused of blacklisting people who did or said things that the agency did not want publicized; for example, Courtney Love said that she was "eternally banned" beginning 2005 by CAA after making a negative comment about Miramax producer Harvey Weinstein.

Ever since its creation in 2006, CAA Sports has been the most divisive force on Planet CAA. Competitors think it’s a disaster and loss leader; CAA and, perhaps more important, TPG, believe it to be a growth story tour de force.

A report in USA Today suggested that CAA's development of its sports-related clientele was significant in 2007.

Finally, after weeks of anxiety and speculation, a merger was announced, on April 27, 2009, between brash young Endeavor and crusty rusty Old Ironsides—aka William Morris.

In 2010, new technological developments such as the digital distribution of movies put strains on the industry.

In 2012, it worked with Insight Labs for education reform, and contributed to its School Is Not School reform effort.

And so it was on December 18, 2013, WME and Silver Lake announced the acquisition of IMG for $2.4 billion, with Emanuel and Whitesell to serve as co-CEOs of the mega-agency.

In 2015, TPG Capital was reported to own 53% of CAA. CAA is co-owner with an investment bank. It later sold a controlling stake to TPG Capital in October 2014.

In 2015, Sports, for the first time in the agency’s history, was the agency’s top revenue producer, bringing in more than $215 million.

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