SPOTIFY CRANKING UP ITS GEIGER COUNTER?

Longtime WME partner/exec Marc Geiger is rumored to be in talks with Daniel Ek for a very high-ranking post at Spotify. Insiders naturally speculate that the potential hiring of Geiger, WME’s head of music (who has been with the agency since 2003, well prior to William Morris’ merger with Endeavor) is part of the Swedish streaming giant’s expansion into the live space.

Like other agents at WME, Geiger has made no secret of his unhappiness with Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell about getting stiffed twice by taking a reduced salary on the promise of things to come.

All of this would seem to confirm that WME is shedding personnel who aren’t responsible for earning big commissions. Has Geiger made himself dispensable by no longer being so hands-on? What does this development portend for the already stressed and seriously over-leveraged WME? Stay tuned.