- Wasserman rebranded on March 9, 2026, to THE·TEAM, covering all departments across the entire agency: music, sports, and entertainment.
- The rebrand follows the exit of founder and CEO Casey Wasserman, who agreed to sell his roughly 40% stake in the company after his name surfaced in DOJ-released Epstein files.
- Investment bank Moelis is leading the sale. Potential buyers include major agencies CAA, WME, UTA, private equity firms like KKR’s Arctos and Bruin Capital, and former Endeavor mogul Patrick Whitesell.
- High-profile acts including Chappell Roan, Orville Peck, Laufey, Weyes Blood, and Sylvan Esso departed the agency following the fallout, triggering an industry-wide conversation about accountability in artist representation.
Wasserman, one of the most powerful talent agencies in music and sports, officially rebranded as THE·TEAM on Monday, March 9, 2026.
The name is a nod to the agency’s long-standing “TeamWass” internal email convention. Their new website reads: “For 24 years, this company has been shaped by our work, our people and our unifying belief in the power of Sports, Music and Entertainment. That philosophy remains the foundation of who we are — and where we are going.”
The rebrand was driven by majority owner Providence Equity Partners, which holds more than 60% of the agency. Discussions were already underway in mid-February after founder Casey Wasserman announced he would sell his 40% stake.
The shake-up stems from Wasserman’s name appearing in DOJ-released Epstein files. The files included risqué emails from 2003 between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell, who is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. The exchanges occurred years before her crimes came to light, and nothing in the documents implicates Wasserman in wrongdoing. Still, the damage was done.
Grammy-winner Chappell Roan was among the first and loudest voices to walk. Other artists who departed included Orville Peck, Laufey, John Summit, Sylvan Esso, Beach Bunny, and Dropkick Murphys.
As for what’s next, formal bidding has begun. NDAs are going out and a data room is expected to open by the end of the week. Whether the sale tops $1 billion remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, the agency’s music roster, which still includes Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Tyler the Creator, and Travis Scott, continues to be one of the most dominant in the live music business.
Takeaways
This rebrand is way more than a logo swap, it’s a full-on identity crisis and a phoenix moment happening at the same time.
THE·TEAM is trying to separate itself from a damaged name while holding on to a billion-dollar business, all under a live bidding process. The fact that they’re rebranding while being auctioned off is almost unheard of in the industry.
Chappell Roan’s departure, arguably the agency’s biggest headline artist of the moment, was a seismic signal. In 2026, artists aren’t just passive clients. They’re brand stewards with moral leverage. When Roan walked, it gave dozens of other artists permission to follow.
For agents on the inside, there’s genuine opportunity here. If the right buyer steps in, THE·TEAM could emerge leaner, cleaner, and better positioned, especially if the music and sports divisions are kept together. But if the sale drags or gets messy, expect more agent departures and client poaching from CAA, WME, and UTA.
Can a new name restore trust with artists and agents who were already eyeing the exits, or does the toxicity linger regardless? Who’s the best buyer? Will artists who left return once THE·TEAM is under new ownership?
