SECRET AGENT SLAM (UPDATE)

Word has that the war between William Morris Endeavor and CAA has seriously escalated in the wake of Bruno Mars' decision to defect (he has since changed his mind and will stay at WME). The situation has grown increasingly ballistic following Lady Gaga and Rage Against the Machine flipping to CAA and Maroon 5’s ankling from CAA to WME, with the Mars drama taking the conflict to Defcon 1.

It’s generally known that after Bruno's intention to split became known, WME agent John Marx got to the superstar and seriously dissed the latter’s then-manager, Brandon Creed. It's alleged Marx charged (1) that Creed had gotten a fee from CAA to bring Mars over and not disclosed it to the artist; and (2) that Creed received elephant bucks for the prior sale of his management company and didn’t share the wealth with his clients for that either. Some insiders feel this was the reason Mars and Creed split. It’s thought by others, however, that the two actually parted ways because the artist decided to bring his management operation in house and wanted to pay a flat fee for Creed’s services, an arrangement Creed declined. So, once again, it’s not about the money—it’s about the money, stupid.

According to inside sources at Atlantic Records, Mars is in the studio recording an album for November release; even with his decision to stay at WME, meanwhile, tensions continue to roil. Is a shake-up in the offing?