2.9.9.2Vertical

Literary & Author Agencies

Agencies representing authors, screenwriters, and intellectual property rights in publishing and media.

Market snapshot

These figures describe Talent Agencies & Entertainment Representation (2.9.9), the segment that Literary & Author Agencies sits within — not Literary & Author Agencies on its own.

Market size
~$11B
Growth
~6.6%CAGR (2017–22, nominal)
Companies
~4,900
FragmentationConsolidatingEstimate

U.S. Census Bureau 2022 CBP/Economic Census, NAICS 711410 (Agents & Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers).

Business model & economics

Revenue model

Representation commissions plus packaging, events, and owned content

Key economics

Recurring revenue
Moderate

ongoing talent relationships

EBITDA margin
Strong at scaled, diversified agencies
Capex intensity
Low

Characteristics

  • Consolidated around a few diversified super-agencies.
  • Expansion beyond representation into events, media, and sports.
  • Private equity backing the leading platforms.

Geographic concentration

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaColoradoFloridaGeorgiaIndianaKansasMaineMassachusettsMinnesotaNew JerseyNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOklahomaPennsylvaniaSouth DakotaTexasWyomingConnecticutMissouriWest VirginiaIllinoisNew MexicoArkansasDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaHawaiiIowaKentuckyMarylandMichiganMississippiMontanaNew HampshireOhioOregonUtahVirginiaWashingtonWisconsinNebraskaSouth CarolinaIdahoVermontLouisianaRhode IslandCaliforniaNew YorkTennesseeNevada

Talent agencies and entertainment representation cluster in California and New York, with secondary hubs in Tennessee (music) and Nevada (live entertainment).

CaliforniaNew YorkTennesseeNevada

U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 County Business Patterns (establishments by state), NAICS 711410. Concentration shown by location quotient.

M&A deal context

Deal activityModerate

Who’s acquiring

  • Diversified super-agencies
  • PE-backed entertainment platforms
  • Sports & media strategics

What’s driving deals

  • Consolidation and diversification of leading agencies.
  • Expansion into events, media rights, and sports.
  • Private-equity ownership of the major platforms.

Find Literary & Author Agencies acquisition targets

Search Acquisera’s index for companies classified under Literary & Author Agencies (2.9.9.2) and build a targeted deal pipeline.

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