LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) United Talent Agency has announced its acquisition of Digital Brand Architects (DBA), the indie company representing many digital influencers.
Founded in 2010 by CEO Raina Penchansky and co-owned by The Azoff Company since 2013, DBA consists of more than 50 employees and represents more than 140 influencers, and works with hundreds of leading fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands.
DBA clients collectively reach more than 200 million followers, spanning the travel, family, fashion, food, home and beauty sectors, according to a statement, with a client roster that includes Gabi Gregg (Gabi Fresh), Aimee Song (Song of Style), Camila Coelho, Rach Parcell (Pink Peonies), Amber Lewis (Amber Interiors), Gina Homolka (Skinnytaste), Gaby Dalkin (What’s Gaby Cooking), Naomi Davis (Love Taza), Genevieve Padalecki (Now & Gen), Julia Engel (Gal Meets Glam), and Emily Schuman (Cupcakes and Cashmere).
DBA will continue to operate as a separate, independent company. It will maintain its brand identity and existing business operations, including its offices in New York and Los Angeles – under Penchansky, and the company’s management team including partner and EVP of brand partnerships Reesa Lake, and partner and EVP of talent management, Vanessa Flaherty.
UTA has also acquired DBA’s interest in Digital Brand Products (DBP), which builds and brokers new fashion, beauty and other licensed products around DBA’s clients, and Dear Media, DBA’s premium audio studio and distribution entity. DBP has helped their clients bring their brands to life through product with dozens of brands at retail, including Something Navy at Nordstrom and Gal Meets Glam. Dear Media has launched 20 new influencer-driven podcasts since its launch in mid-2018, with an additional 15 in development.
“Raina and her team have built an extraordinary company, with an inspiring, client-first culture, that has allowed them to be true leaders in the influencer marketplace,” said Brent Weinstein, UTA Partner and Chief Innovation Officer, who will oversee DBA and its associated entities. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work closely with the entire DBA, DBP and Dear Media teams to help ensure that our organizations and clients continue to be leaders and innovators in this fast-growing space.”
“Simply put, DBA and UTA are a great fit,” said Raina Penchansky, CEO of DBA. “Both companies were out front in recognizing the potential of the digital talent marketplace and we have like-minded missions, values and culture. By joining one of the premier companies in the global talent industry, DBA has an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate growth, offer a new wealth of creative opportunities to clients, and dedicate even more resources to expanding our leadership in innovation.”
Irving Azoff said, “When we invested in DBA in 2013 we recognized the future of the company. In the following five-plus years, we have seen tremendous success with the venture as DBA became an industry leader in the space. It’s great to put two friends together and we wish DBA continued success under the UTA banner.”
In 2006, UTA became the first major talent agency to launch a division exclusively dedicated to representing emerging digital artists. Today that division represents more than 100 video stars including Emma Chamberlain, Shane Dawson, Karina Garcia, Shay Mitchell, Rhett & Link and Wengie.
