Esquire Group Inc.

I’ve been a Keke Palmer fan since Akeelah and the Bee, seeing her take on roles that showcase her talent and versatility has been inspiring. And now, she’s teaming up with the one and only SZA (yes, that SZA!) for a buddy comedy that has “comedy gold” written all over it. Produced by Issa Rae’s team at TriStar Pictures, One of Them Days promises a mix of humor, heart, and a little financial hustle that so many of us can relate to. Palmer and SZA play best friends, Dreux and Alyssa, scrambling to pay rent after a major setback, with some hilarious antics along the way. This marks SZA’s acting debut, and I can’t wait to see her bring her energy to the big screen alongside Keke’s awesome presence. It’s inspiring to watch two incredible Black women take on these roles, especially when it’s clear they’re having fun with it! The movie drops January 24, 2025. Who else is ready to see this duo in action? #entertainment #dynamicduo Esquire Group Inc. Colin Connolly

This week in my Artist Representation (ART) course, I read an article titled, “Brandi Carlile Signs With CAA and Phantom Management (EXCLUSIVE)” from Variety. Brandi Carlile has recently announced significant changes in her professional representation, choosing to sign with CAA to further her career beyond music. She has also shifted her management to Phantom Management, led by her wife, Catherine Carlile. Catherine, who has directed Brandi's philanthropic organization, the Looking Out Foundation, will now serve as a senior manager, with Carolyn Snell joining their team. Brandi’s transition marks a departure from her previous management at Red Light and agency at Wasserman, reflecting her new goals to expand into film, TV, and publishing through CAA's network. Carlile's second book, set for release next year, follows her bestselling memoir, “Broken Horses,” however details about the new book are still under wraps. Additionally, her long-time band members, the Hanseroth Twins, will also be managed by Phantom. Catherine Carlile has a rich background in charitable work, having previously coordinated philanthropic efforts for Paul McCartney before focusing on Brandi’s initiatives. Snell also brings extensive experience from managing tours for various artists, including Janet Jackson and John Mayer, to the Phantom team.  Brandi remains with Low Country Sound/Elektra for her music recordings and Sacks & Co. for publicity. Over the years, she has garnered numerous accolades, including 11 Grammys and two Emmys, while also producing for other artists. Recently, she hosted Joni Mitchell concerts and will lead her upcoming Girls Just Wanna Weekend festival in January 2024, with Shania Twain as a headliner. This strategic move not only showcases Brandi Carlile's diverse creative pursuits but also solidifies CAA’s reputation as a powerhouse in representing top talent across multiple entertainment mediums. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gKg5nt-F James (J.T.) Hutchinson Esquire Group Inc.

This week, for my Artist Representation Training (ART) course, I read an article that exclusively shares how major talent agency UTA is beginning their end-of-year agent cuts. United Talent Agency will be letting go of agents in a variety of fields, including talent, production, unscripted, and endorsements & licensing. These cuts will be based on an end-of-year analysis of performance. UTA’s end-of-year employment cuts are similar to competitor Creative Arts Agency’s (CAA) process. CAA will soon begin their process of letting agents go after evaluations. CAA is now owned by Artémis after he purchased a majority stake of the agency in September of 2023. UTA is expected to let go of around 10 agents, and their clients will be represented by someone else. A spokeswoman from UTA claimed that these agent cuts are not a part of a set of layoffs. Instead, the spokeswoman assured that this practice is normal for the agency business. She also confirmed that UTA has hired 20 additional agents within the last year. Last year, UTA let go of employees in February and October.  Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/euxRN2QU Esquire Group Inc. James (J.T.) Hutchinson

Esquire Group Inc. Colin Connolly Disney has established a new strategic group, the Office of Technology Enablement Team. This team will manage and coordinate Disney’s development and deployment of next-generation technology in a responsible way. As advances in AI and extended reality (XR) evolve at a rapid pace, it’s crucial for Disney to stay at the forefront of technological innovation. By collaborating with other technology teams across Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and the Disney Experiences theme parks division, Disney aims to embrace new technological shifts that support its people, fuel creativity, and drive business success. This team’s goal is to ensure that next-gen tech initiatives deliver impactful outcomes with enhanced agility, velocity, and consistency, allowing Disney to fully explore opportunities while navigating potential risks. As someone who is passionate about both tech and entertainment, I am excited to see how Disney plans to harness AI to enhance the amusement park experience. Imagineers have the potential to change the landscape of theme parks and have already started with an immersive Spider-Man ride in California. The ride allows for you to “shoot webs” out of your hands and be a hero. The opportunities are endless in a world full of magic and immersive technology, with the potential to turn phones into light sabers, strollers into flying carpets, and hotels into castles. Ultimately, being at the front of such a transformative shift in technology and creativity will benefit Disney greatly in building the future leaders of tomorrow.

Happy Election Day! For my Entertainment Business Capstone, I came across an article from Hits Daily Double that explores how HeadCount has successfully leveraged music and pop culture to motivate young people to vote. Not only is HeadCount celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, but also the impressive achievement of registering over 400,000 young voters. HeadCount collaborated with 100+ artists across various genres and generations to set this new record, ranging from Sabrina Carpenter to The Grateful Dead.  The article features an interview with HeadCount’s Executive Director, Lucille Wenegieme, who elaborates on the strategies behind the organization’s success and explains why this year has felt different than any election we’ve previously witnessed. Wenegieme shares that the initial mission to “turn music fans into voters” began with youth voter registration at concerts and music festivals, but has expanded over the years into other entertainment sectors as well. HeadCount's strategy on how to “make civic engagement important enough to make it on someone’s To-Do List” is ultimately what makes the organization so effective. A great example can be seen in HeadCount’s 2022 campaign with Harry Styles, for the use of both live and digital activations in combination with his already dedicated fanbase led to a significant increase in new volunteers for the organization itself.  For young music fans at a concert or festival, registering to vote through HeadCount becomes a memorable part of that experience. A powerful connection is formed between these fans’ excitement for their favorite artists and their “first interaction with democracy”. This article particularly resonated with me given that this is the first year I am eligible to vote, and because it highlights the power of music as a call to action. Happy voting! Check out the article here: https://lnkd.in/eskPu7yp Esquire Group Inc. Colin Connolly

Hello LinkedIn! This week I read an article on Forbes titled “Designing for more inclusive entertainment tech" in which author Jon Kirchner outlines the importance of inclusivity in the development of entertainment technology. The article opens with a daily reminder about the awareness that entertainment companies and tech inventors should have when developing new programs and entertainment devices for their audiences. Kirchner continues to discuss the principles that should be considered when creating entertainment technology. New inventions should be created with diversity in mind. Not just diversity of abilities, but also diversity of culture. People should be allowed to make choices and preferences when it comes to their devices because consumers have different lifestyles and abilities. It is important to note Kienner's point that its good business practice to make products more accessible to marginalized groups because it is beneficial to the overall customer base of the product. We utilize accomodating features throughout our daily lives from public transportation, to kitchen appliances, and more. Technology of the entertainment industry has developed with the use of artificial intelligence, and as inventors create new programs they are equipped with recourses to provide audiences with an accommodating entertainment expirience for every consumer. I really enjoyed reading this article because it presented a diverse perspective to the conversation of emerging entertainment technologies. James (J.T.) Hutchinson Esquire Group Inc. “Designing for more Inclusive Entertainment Tech" By Jon Kirchner