NASHVILLE, TN (CelebrityAccess MediaWire)- Paradigm has signed a deal to acquire Nashville-based Christian Music Agency, Third Coast Artists Agency.
TCAA has a solid roster with some of the top Christian acts in the industry, including MercyMe, Jeremy Camp, David Crowder* Band, Hawk Nelson, Natalie Grant and Red.
The deal was announced on April 22nd by Sam Gores, Chairman of Paradigm and Mike Snider President of Third Coast Artists Agency (TCAA). The announcement was set to coincide with the Gospel Music Awards ceremony, set to take place in Nashville on April 23rd. A number of TCAA's artists have been nominated for awards including; MercyMe, Natalie Grant, Jeremy Camp, David Crowder Band, Hawk Nelson, Red, Pillar, Meredith Andrews, Bebo Norman, Francesca Battistelli, Fee, Addison Road, Fee, Tenth Avenue North, Grits and Chris Sligh.
Additionally, TCAA represents five of the seven nominated acts in the Best New Artist category including Addison Road, Chris Sligh, Fee, Francesca Battistelli and Tenth Avenue North. Tenth Avenue North and Francesca Battistelli are two of the best-selling new artists of 2009.
Mike Snider and Lisa Jones purchased Vanguard Entertainment in 1999 and rechristened the agency Third Coast Artist Agency. Under their stewardship, the agency has grown from from 3 employees and 12 artists to 10 employees and over 30 artists in just 9 years with a roster that expanded from smaller, college-focused artists to major headliners.
The TCAA deal fits the pattern of Paradigm's successful acquisition of the boutique agencies, Monterey Peninsula Artists and Little Big Man four years ago.
"We modeled this deal on the way the Monterey deal worked." said Paradigm's Brad Turell. "Sam Gores looks for characteristics such as work ethic, integrity and a long term commitment to a clients career and TCAA seemed like a good fit."
Details of the acquisition such as the still need to be hammered out and TCAA will continue to operate out of their current offices in the interim.
"By acquiring Third Coast Artists we continue to affirm our commitment to Nashville, which is such a unique and important music market with some of the most talented artists, musicians and songwriters in the world across all music genres. Like Monterey Peninsula Artists and Little Big Man Booking before them, what impresses me about Mike Snider and his team at Third Coast Artists is the meticulous approach they take in building their clients careers with a work ethic and integrity that distinguishes them among the best in our business." stated Paradigm's Sam Gores.
"I look at this sale as an investment in the future for our roster. Being part of Paradigm gives us the ammunition to provide the full array of services only a major agency can provide, services we have always wanted to provide for our clients and now can." added TCAA's Mike Snider. – CelebrityAccess
