WME poaches ex-CAA Nashville co-head Scott Clayton

Scott Clayton, most recently co-head of Creative Artist Agency (CAA) in Nashville, Tennessee, has joined rival agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) as partner and co-head of its Nashville office.

Clayton joins fellow co-heads Rob Beckham, Joey Lee, Greg Oswald and Jay Williams in overseeing the daily operations for the Nashville office, and will also lead the Beverly Hills-headquartered agency’s rock division, working with its global music team to identify new rock signings and support its existing clients.

“Scott is unquestionably one of the most respected executives in the live music industry, having identified and worked with many great rock artists,” says WME’s head of music, Marc Geiger. “We are seeing many different genres of music thriving out of Nashville right now, and with Scott’s addition we are in a great position to take advantage of the market opportunities available to us.”

“Overseeing the rock business from this city speaks to its importance and the city’s continued expansion”

Jay Williams adds: “We have long admired Scott as a competitor, and are proud to now call him our colleague. His understanding of where the business is heading and how WME can provide even greater services to its clients make him an ideal fit. We look forward to bringing his leadership and insight to our colleagues and clients.”

Clayton, who over the course of his career has worked with artists including John Mayer, Dead & Company, Kings of Leon, Train and the Zac Brown Band, comments: “Over the course of my career I’ve been proud to watch the music community in Nashville grow into a global force.

“Overseeing the rock business from this city speaks to its importance and the city’s continued expansion. WME has demonstrated a strong commitment to Nashville and the rock genre, and I look forward to working to create new opportunities for all of our clients.”

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