David Freeman
Global Head of the Digital Media Department
Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
David Freeman has served as a visionary and innovator across the constantly evolving Entertainment, Sports, Digital and Media Landscape. Freeman has a proven track record of founding and leading companies while consistently delivering profitable revenue growth in each role he has served. Currently, Freeman is the Global Head of the Digital Media department at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). As the founder of the group in 2010, Freeman has been at the forefront of the digital media marketplace, leading the company and its traditional and digital endemic clients (talent and corporate) across all areas. Over the last 15 years at CAA with the proliferation of the Creator Economy across all Media and Hollywood, Freeman has launched, created and led a number of new verticals within the department that have become best in class across the industry including creator representation, branded entertainment, gaming/eSports, social media monetization and distribution, immersive media/XR, AI, and corporate advisory. Freeman’s unique global perspective as technology has disrupted both the Advertising and Hollywood industries has led to the formation of new business models, global IP sales, the launch of new digital companies and key investments for the company. Prior to joining CAA in 2010, he served as General Manager of MATTER, Edelman Sports and Entertainment Marketing. In 2003, Freeman co-founded MATTER to forge and develop marketing partnerships for brands, entertainment companies, and content creators. The company was acquired by Edelman in 2006 and at its peak, Freeman oversaw a team of 120 executives across Los Angeles, New York and London. Previously, Freeman led a joint venture between OMD Worldwide and Aaron Walton Entertainment, two of the leading media and entertainment companies within the Omnicom network. Additionally, he held positions at CNB Entertainment, an entertainment finance and development company, and NFL Properties in its Corporate Sponsorship Sales & Marketing Division.
Industry Track
Creator-Led Studios Are the New Hollywood: Scaling IP, Revenue, and Purpose-Driven Storytelling with Dhar Mann Studios
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Ballroom AB (Industry Mainstage)
Friday, June 20
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Featuring: David Freeman (Global Head of the Digital Media Department at Creative Artists Agency (CAA)), Dhar Mann (Founder/Chairman at Dhar Mann Studios), Natalie Jarvey (Writer, Like & Subscribe at Ankler Media) and more
Dhar Mann Studios is one of the most powerful examples of this new era. With nearly 200 employees and a 125,000 sq ft studio in Burbank, DMS has become a case study in how a creator-born business can deliver not just viral content, but cultural impact, scale, and revenue, while staying mission-driven. That model now extends beyond Dhar. Through its creator services arm, 5th Quarter Agency, DMS helps other creators monetize their IP, reduce burnout, and generate new revenue streams without increasing overhead.
DMS Founder Dhar Mann, DMS CEO Sean Atkins, and David Freeman, Co-Head of Digital Media at CAA, unpack what this shift means for the future of the industry and share how creators can scale sustainable businesses, unlock new monetization opportunities, and drive the next wave of collaboration between traditional and digital entertainment.
Participants