The New Talent Agencies Shaking Up New York City

1. Arise Artists Agency (Bicoastal and expanding)

Though originally launched in Los Angeles, Arise Artists Agency officially planted its flag in New York City with a major East Coast office expansion. Led by CEO Brian Cho, Arise is scaling aggressively by absorbing veteran theater and film agents.

• The Scoop: Arise has merged with a powerhouse team from the long-standing Bret Adams Ltd., including Ken Melamed, Zach Marlin, and Angelina Barberia.
• The Focus: Bicoastal synergy. They are bridging the gap between Hollywood screen acting and Broadway theater, giving their roster immediate access to cross-country casting, streaming networks, and live stage productions.

2. Brady, Brannon & Rich (BBR) Talent Agency (The Commercial Giants Land in Manhattan)

While BBR is a legendary, 40-year staple of the Los Angeles commercial and theatrical world, they have made major waves by establishing a dedicated, physical presence in Manhattan’s World’s Tower Building.

• The Scoop: Known in Hollywood as one of the absolute best agencies for booking high-profile commercials, print campaigns, and digital media, BBR brought that same relentless energy to the East Coast when they brought on longtime NY commercial agents Doug Kesten and Tracy Goldblum.
• The Focus: High-end commercial and brand partnerships. For NYC talent looking to break into major national commercial campaigns, Super Bowl spots, and lucrative digital media projects, BBR’s NYC expansion is a game-changer.

3. Adunni Rose Talent Agency (The Ultimate Multidisciplinary Boutique)

Operating out of Chelsea, Adunni Rose Talent Agency has quickly generated incredible buzz among working New York creatives. Founded by industry veteran Shirley Faison, this agency is built on high-touch, elite career development.

• The Scoop: This full-service agency treats its clients like partners. They have quickly built a robust roster of nearly a hundred actors, dancers, and musicians, carving out a stellar reputation for personal attention.

• The Focus: Everything from traditional theater, film, and TV to voiceover, literary representation, commercial dance, and influencer branding. They are a true one-stop-shop for multi-hyphenate artists who refuse to be put in a single box.

4. The Osbrink Agency (The Youth & Rising Star Juggernaut)

For decades, Cindy Osbrink’s legendary Los Angeles agency has been famous for discovering and developing some of Hollywood’s biggest names (including Dakota and Elle Fanning in their early years). Their strategic push into the New York market gives East Coast talent direct access to that same star-making machine.

• The Scoop: Osbrink brought its highly respected, premier blueprint for scouting and developing fresh faces directly into the NYC casting ecosystem.
• The Focus: Film, TV, voiceover, and print, with a legendary specialization in the youth and emerging talent markets. For young actors or rising stars in NYC looking to bridge the gap into major Hollywood features and streaming series, Osbrink’s presence is massive.

5. Riot Talent Agency (Founded and led by women)

They’re not just an agency — they’re a movement.

• The Scoop: Founded and led by women, Riot Talent Agency represents talent of all kinds — kids, models, actors, artists, and personalities that stand out.
• The Focus: From beauty to character, commercial to fashion, fresh faces to seasoned pros, they know what makes talent shine. With experienced agents and a sharp eye for what books, they connect talent to the right opportunities. Commercials, print, TV/film — they place talent where they belong: on set.

6. Michael Green Artists Agency (The Elite Managers)

Michael Green has been a foundational name in entertainment management (co-founding the legendary music/talent management firm The Firm). His streamlined management and agency structures have pivoted to give NYC-adjacent talent highly individualized attention.

• The Scoop: Moving away from traditional corporate monoliths, this framework brings immense Hollywood and music-industry muscle to a more hands-on, boutique level.
• The Focus: A specialized roster of roots, crossover, and multi-hyphenate artists. It provides elite career blueprinting for performers who span across music, television, and digital media, ensuring they don’t get lost in the shuffle of a massive corporate agency.

7. Arraygency (The Inclusion Champions)

Founded by industry multi-hyphenate Jason Rodriguez, Arraygency represents a much-needed push toward authentic, equitable representation in the New York creative scene.

• The Scoop: Born out of a desire to shift how casting and representation operate in the city, this agency explicitly centers diversity as its core mission rather than an afterthought.
• The Focus: They specialize in representing and championing BIPOC, queer, and trans creative talent, ensuring marginalized artists land high-profile opportunities across film, television, and fashion.

Key Takeaway for Artists

The rise and expansion of these agencies prove that the NYC entertainment market is hungry for agility, diversity, and specialization. Newer or newly expanded offices are often the hungriest to get their clients into casting rooms and pitch meetings. If you are submitting for representation right now, looking beyond the traditional “Big Four” to these dynamic players is a brilliant strategic move.