Talent agencies: ranked by Los Angeles county agents.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

THE 15 largest talent agencies in Los Angeles County saw sharp growth in 2004, as the number of agents among those surveyed increased to 920, a 13.3 percent jump from the year earlier.

Creative Artists Agency retained the top spot with 200 agents, six added

in the last year. Paradigm, up three positions to No. 5, made a concerted effort to grow over the past year. The agency, which recently moved its offices to Beverly Hills, represents commercial, literary, theatrical and above- and below-the-line talent.

One of its major acquisitions in 2004 was last year's No. 14, Writers & Artists Agency, which helped it increase its local agent count by 37. There are now 67 agents in L.A. County.

Only two talent agencies on our list saw a decline in their agent ranks. Both William Morris, No. 2, and The Gersh Agency, No. 8, lost two agents. As a result, Gersh fell two spots while William Morris held steady.

THE TRENDS

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THE PACESETTER

CREATIVE ARTISTS AGENCY

CREATIVE Artists Agency claimed the title of largest talent agency in Los Angeles County for the third straight year. The agency has increased its size by 12 percent over the past two years to 200 L.A.-based agents.

The marketing business was a major source of growth for CAA in 2004. New clients include Procter & Gamble and Abercrombie & Fitch in addition to longstanding clients Hasbro, Nextel, Coca-Cola and Motorola. The representation of videogames products has also been an area of growth.

The agency signed numerous new stars in the past year, including actors Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Robert Downey Jr., and musicians Nora Jones and Shakira. They were added to a roster that already included Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts.

In response to its continued expansion, CAA plans to move from its Beverly Hills headquarters into a new 180,000-square-foot Century City location in 2006.

CAA was founded in 1975 by a group of former William Morris agents and has come to employ 550 people in its Beverly Hills office. It opened an office in New York last March and also has an office in Nashville.

Rank   Agency (Ranking in 2003)          Employees