Hollywood Agents’ Blueprint for Surviving the Pandemic

Jeremy Zimmer entered 2020 in expansion mode. Ever since taking over as chief executive officer of United Talent Agency Inc. in 2012, Zimmer has pushed the company into new businesses, including music, marketing and short-form videos. This year promised to bring new opportunities in sports, TikTok and venture capital.

But the pandemic and resulting lockdowns have since devastated talent agencies, whose musicians, filmmakers and actors are at home social distancing instead of out making money. The two biggest firms, WME and CAA, have gone from expanding to contracting. UTA has had to pull back as well. In March, Zimmer announced a companywide pay reduction, which he hoped would prevent any staff cuts. In May, he furloughed employees. In early September, he restored full pay at the agency while simultaneously announcing a round of layoffs.