Katherine McNamara Signs With Independent Artist Group

McKinley Franklin editor British YouTube creator group Sidemen has signed with UTA for representation in all areas of North America, the company announced Thursday. The London-based Sidemen have accumulated over 44.5 million followers across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Made up of seven best friends, Simon, Vik, JJ (aka KSI), Josh, Tobi, Harry and Ethan, the group is renowned as Europe’s largest online collective.

Oliver Anthony, the singer behind the polarising country hit ‘Rich Men North Of Richmond’, has signed with United Talent Agency.The song was first shared on YouTube last month and made Anthony the first artist in history to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard charts without previously having a chart entry.“We’re honored to represent such an authentic artist, and excited to put together a global strategy to bring Oliver Anthony and his music to the people,” said UTA’s Co-Heads of Nashville, Jeffrey Hasson and Music Agent Curt Motley, on the signing [via Deadline].‘Rich Men North Of Richmond’ divided opinion across social media, drawing differing reactions across political lines.

Ellise Shafer Landon Barker is following in dad Travis’ pop-punk footsteps, signing to the Blink-182 drummer’s Elektra imprint DTA Records and releasing his debut single, “Friends With Your Ex.” “I’ve been wanting to do this since I was a kid, since I was probably 8 or 10 years old,” Barker, now 19, tells Variety. “Just watching my dad perform, I’ve always been inspired and wanted to be up on stage and move people with music of my own.” Travis Barker provided drums and production on the upbeat “Friends With Your Ex,” which clocks in at just under two minutes and chronicles what Barker calls “a messed up little love story.” “I was friends with your ex/ You were with him when we met,” Barker croons over the song’s driving chorus.

United Talent Agency has landed a major new client in Oliver Anthony, the singer-songwriter behind the polarizing breakout country single “Rich Men North of Richmond,” which topped numerous charts after debuting on his YouTube channel in August. The first artist in history to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard charts without previously having a song on the charts, his deal is for exclusive worldwide representation in all areas.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Oliver Anthony has made his first serious step toward getting off the DIY train after instantly vaulting to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 without without a label or agent. UTA announced Thursday that it had signed the Virginia-based upstart for global representation in all areas.

Naman Ramachandran Indian-born singer, songwriter, composer and actor Guru Randhawa has signed with CAA for representation. Randhawa began by releasing independent singles and grew to become a global icon and pop star recognized for his Punjabi and Bollywood hits. In 2012, he made his music debut with the single “Same Girl,” then signed with the leading Indian label T-Series and released “Patola,” which has more than 493 million views on YouTube.

EXCLUSIVE: M88 has signed comedian and podcaster Funny Marco for management, Deadline has learned.

EXCLUSIVE: Taye Diggs, known for his five-season run starring as the beloved Billy Baker, former NFL player turned high school football coach, on CW’s All American, has signed with A Management Company and Global Artists Agency for representation. 

Angelique Jackson Emmy and Tony Award nominee Corey Hawkins has signed with CAA for representation. Hawkins is best known for his recent performances in “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” “In the Heights,” “Topdog/Underdog” on Broadway, as well as his breakout role, portraying Dr. Dre in F.

EXCLUSIVE: Last year, Deadline revealed that The Crown had found a young British actor, Ed McVey to play Prince William in the sixth and final season of the Netflix drama.

EXCLUSIVE: Noah Centineo has signed with WME for representation.

Sophia Scorziello editor Lifestyle content creator Kristy Scott has signed to Range Media Partners for representation, following this year’s release of her clothing line Vayra. Scott’s lifestyle content on TikTok and Instagram showcases her life as a business owner and mother of two boys, while her family’s YouTube channel It’s The Scotts chronicles Scott’s family life in Houston, Texas featuring her husband Desmond Scott.

Selome Hailu CAA has signed Alix Traeger, the popular food and lifestyle content creator, for representation. Traeger began her career working for Tasty, the Buzzfeed brand dedicated to food coverage with an emphasis on video. She began at the company in 2016 as an intern, and eventually rose to a lead producer and host role, working on brand franchises including “I Draw, You Cook,” “Eat Your Screen,” “Can You Follow a Recipe in a Different Language?,” “Behind Tasty” and “Make it Fancy.” Traeger became a breakout name among Tasty talent, and left the brand to become an independent content creator in 2019.

Sophia Scorziello editor “Selling Sunset” and “Selling the OC” real estate star Jason Oppenheim has signed on to Underscore Talent, where he will be represented by Austin Mayster and Megan Brown. “Jason has the golden touch when it comes to real estate and business,” said Mayster and Brown in a statement. “He has built a community of highly-engaged followers who he entertains and informs with his vibrant personality.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor NPR veteran Lakshmi Singh has signed with CAA for representation.; Singh, who has been with NPR for 23 years and has one of the public-broadcasting service’s most familiar voices, anchors midday coverage for NPR Newscasts, some of the most-heard content produced by the news outlet. Her work has drawn recognition from Women of Color in Communications for “contributions to the field, mentorship to other women in communications and broad impact on the promotion of ethnic diversity in journalism”, as well as the Asian American/Asian Research Institute and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.

EXCLUSIVE: Persephonica, the producer behind hit daily news podcast The News Agents, has signed with WME in a bid to win more work across the pond.

Ethan Shanfeld Kehlani has signed with Wasserman Music for worldwide representation. The two-time Grammy nominated R&B singer last released an album in 2022, titled “Blue Water Road” and then embarked on a world tour that featured a series of sold-out two-night stands at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, Los Angeles’ YouTube Theater and London’s O2 Academy Brixton.

EXCLUSIVE: Greg Tarzan Davis has signed with Range Media Partners.

Armando Christian Pérez, Pitbull, has re-joined WME for representation in all areas worldwide.

BreAnna Bell Harley-Davidson Motor Company has signed with CAA for representation, Variety has learned. As part of the deal, CAA will work closely with Harley-Davidson to create entertainment opportunities for its existing IP across film, television, music, and podcasts, adding to the company’s historic brand and deepening its connection with both its devoted fan base, and new consumers, through pop culture.