Industry Noize: Paradigm, Coda Tie Up

Paradigm has acquired a 50 percent stake of London-based Coda Music Agency and, with it, a larger global footprint that enables it to compete more fully with rivals William Morris Endeavor and Creative Artists Agency.

The joint venture culminates a long, successful relationship between Paradigm and Coda, and is the latest in a line of independent agency acquisitions for Paradigm since branching out into the music arena. It now sports a client roster that includes Coldplay, The Black Eyed Peas, Dave Matthews Band, Aerosmith, Imagine Dragons, Toby Keith and hundreds more.

Coda Music Agency, founded in 2002, represents more than 500 artists and DJs across genres, including Emili Sande, Jake Bugg, The xx, Bon Iver, Rudimental, Ellie Goulding, Disclosure, and Bastille.

Specific financial details weren’t disclosed, but the deal will function much as does Paradigm’s 2012 acquisition of 50 percent of AM Only, which put Paradigm on the ground floor of the EDM explosion, a source with knowledge of the details told Pollstar.

Coda keeps its name and brand identity in the partnership, with directors Rob Challice, Tom Schroeder, Alex Hardee, Dave Hallybone and James Whiting, along with managing director Claire Horesman, continuing to helm the ship from London.

“We have been working closely and successfully with Coda for many years and share common values and a deep commitment to artist development,” Marty Diamond, head of Paradigm’s East Coast division, said. “This new partnership is the next logical step as we continue to carefully grow our music division with the artist’s interests always at the forefront of our planning.”

Clients will be able to avail themselves of global representation from Paradigm, if they so choose, particularly in North and South America.

“We have had an excellent working relationship with the guys at Paradigm for many years,” Coda Music Agency Director Rob Challice said. “We share similar philosophies and values and are particularly aligned in our views on developing artists’ live careers.

“All the directors here at Coda are agents and will continue to be so. Our passionate, hands-on approach to our work and the way we run our business is not going to change at all.”

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