The TPG-backed entertainment company Initial Group has acquired Silver Tribe Media, the digital media management and production company with clients that include Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios.
Silver Tribe was founded in 2021 by CAA’s Sports Media Group veterans Michael Klein and Jack Rose, who work with clients across digital media, including podcasts, content partnerships, and YouTube channels, among other verticals. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media, Colin Cowherd’s sports media company The Volume and Krystal Ball & Saagar Enjeti’s podcast Breaking Points are among the firm’s clients.
Said Klein and Rose, “Joining Initial allows us new opportunities as we continue the work we’re most passionate about: helping talent and brands build sustainable, long-term businesses. Our high-touch, day-to-day partnerships remain unchanged but are now bolstered by the infrastructure and collaborative opportunities available across the entire Initial platform.”
With the acquisition, Silver Tribe will rebrand as Initial Digital and will join other Initial management company investments Untitled Entertainment and Grandview, which merged last year and now operate together as Untitled. Initial Digital will operate as a separate division to Untitled.
Under the Initial umbrella, Klein will serve as president of Initial Digital with Rose acting as COO and Jen Simons will serve Chief Content Officer, with their teams continuing in their existing roles.
“Silver Tribe has quickly become the foremost partner for talent and brands looking to build modern, durable digital businesses,” said Initial Group CEO Michel Pratte. “Bringing Silver Tribe into Initial reinforces our mission to partner with representatives and clients who value alignment with a future-facing, talent-centered organization, designed to create new opportunities across our family of companies and the broader entertainment community we value and endeavor to support.”
Added Initial Group COO Eric Taitz. “Silver Tribe brings proven monetization tools, world-class relationships, and production infrastructure that strengthen how we support talent and scale digital-first businesses across our platform.”
Venable LLP served as legal counsel to Silver Tribe Media. Latham and Watkins LLP served as legal counsel to Initial Group.