In its fifth annual Dealmakers Impact Report, Variety has recognized Manatt's T. Hale Boggs, chair of Manatt Digital Media, and Aydin Caginalp, a partner in the firm's Entertainment & Media Practice, as two of this year's most influential industry strategists. A special breakfast will be held for the 60 dealmakers on December 13 in Los Angeles.
In its profile of Boggs, Variety notes him as sitting at the intersection of technology and creativity. Boggs repped comics/graphic novel publisher Boom! Studios in acquiring Archaia Entertainment and also other tech clients including mobile messaging marketer Mogreet.
He told Variety that he sees San Francisco and Silicon Valley embracing content businesses, while Hollywood delves into tech initiatives. "Those two orientations are blending together," he said.
Variety recognized Caginalp for his representation of BMG Rights Management as it expands globally. Caginalp recently represented BMG in its acquisition of indie Primary Wave Music, Rosetta music publishing from Sony/ATV, and the U.S. aspects of BMG buying Mute Records and Sanctuary Records publishing and recordings.
Valuations for music publishing assets, after being down in the dumps, have soared in recent years from recognition that this business-to-business sector is "resilient to changes in the music industry," Caginalp told Variety.
View the full report here.