What Berk Communications does

Berk Communications is an independent public relations firm founded in 1999 by Ron Berkowitz in New York City, operating since early 2025 as a subsidiary of MikeWorldWide (MWW). The firm delivers earned-first strategic communications across six core service capabilities — Media Relations, Influencer and Digital Strategy, Partnerships and Paid Media, Corporate & Reputation Management, Consumer Insights, and Crisis Communications — organized around seven industry verticals: Sports, Food & Beverage, Tourism & Hospitality, Consumer Lifestyle, Music & Entertainment, Purpose Driven, and Corporate communications. Its category-defining work sits at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and culture, with documented campaigns producing 1–7+ billion media impressions per engagement (e.g., Caesars Entertainment 7B+ since 2022, The Cheesecake Factory 45th anniversary 3B, Unrivaled Basketball 2.3B, Fanatics x Make-A-Wish 1.15B, Nizuc Resort & Spa 1B+ YTD) and high-impact reputation outcomes (Washington Commanders rebrand cut negative sentiment from 97% to 10%). The client base reads like a roster of category-leading sports, entertainment, and lifestyle brands — Fanatics, IBM, PUMA, MLS, NFL, NWSL, Unrivaled, Caesars, Beats By Dre, HOORAE Media, Box to Box Films, Comcast Xfinity — and the firm claims the largest sports and entertainment PR practice in the country following its MWW merger.

The business model is classic professional services: custom enterprise retainers and project-based fees, multi-year contracts, no public pricing, and direct client engagement through relationship-based business development, referrals, and case-study-driven pitching. The firm has no proprietary technology platform of its own; technology is described generically as digital platforms, social media, influencer networks, and data analytics, though parent MWW operates PRISMA Labs.ai as a proprietary AI platform that Berk could leverage. Client acquisition is anchored to tentpole sports and entertainment moments (Super Bowl, NBA All-Star, Masters, album launches, film premieres) and amplified through industry awards (Ad Age Small Agency of the Year Gold 2025, PR Net 100 in 2024 and 2025, Best Places to Work in Sports 2025) and leadership recognition (PRWeek 40 Under 40, PRNEWS People of the Year, PRSA-NY 15 Under 35).

Berk operates from its NYC headquarters at 1250 Broadway and an LA office led by EVP Melanie Van Dusen; parent MWW adds offices in Washington D.C., London, and Mexico City, providing 200+ professionals of shared infrastructure. Headcount at Berk is stated in the 11–50 range. The firm launched an inaugural Pro Bono Program in February 2024 (contributing $100,000 of services to underrepresented entrepreneurs) as part of its 25th anniversary, and reports no external institutional or PE investment — ownership remains with founder Berkowitz and the MWW corporate umbrella.

Name

Berk Communications

Legal name

Berk Communications

Website

https://berkcommunications.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Berk Communications is an independent New York-based public relations firm (founded 1999) serving sports, entertainment, food & beverage, and lifestyle brands through earned media, influencer strategy, reputation management, and crisis communications. It operates as a subsidiary of MikeWorldWide and claims the largest US sports and entertainment PR practice.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182), Public Relations Agencies (541820)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG/Sustainability Reputation & Purpose Communications (MPAAAOAN)

Keywords

• Public relations services
• Strategic communications
• Media relations
• Reputation management
• Influencer marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Relations Services: Berk Communications generates revenue through professional service fees for public relations campaigns including media relations, influencer strategy, corporate reputation management, and crisis communications. Revenue is project-based with retained client relationships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Berk Communications is an independent public relations firm delivering earned-first strategic communications services including media relations, influencer and digital strategy, partnerships and paid media, corporate and reputation management, consumer insights, and crisis communications. Services are organized across industry verticals such as sports, food and beverage, tourism and hospitality, consumer lifestyle, music and entertainment, and purpose-driven initiatives for category-leading enterprise brands, challenger brands, and startups.

Product overview

Berk Communications is an award-winning, independent public relations firm and subsidiary of MikeWorldWide, founded in 1999. The agency offers a unified suite of PR and communications services organized around six core capabilities: Media Relations, Influencer and Digital Strategy, Partnerships and Paid Media, Corporate & Reputation Management, Consumer Insights, and Crisis Communications. These services are delivered across seven industry verticals (Sports, Food & Beverage, Tourism & Hospitality, Consumer Lifestyle, Music & Entertainment, Purpose Driven, and Corporate & Reputation Management) to category-leading brands, challenger brands, and startups. The agency positions itself as culturally-driven with an earned-first approach, connecting brands to culture through passion points like sports, music, entertainment, food, beverage, travel, and hospitality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Media Relations

Quantifiable outcome

• Unrivaled Basketball: 2.3+ billion total media impressions from inaugural season launch
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers30 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Box to Box FilmsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 September 2025Berk Communications named Agency of Record for the production studio behind Drive to Survive and Full Swing. Berk leads strategic communications to elevate Box to Box's storytelling impact beyond the screen, including executive visibility for co-founders James Gay-Rees and Paul Martin, and earned media coverage for upcoming productions and talent collaborations.
• HOORAE MediaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Berk Communications serves as First Agency of Record for Issa Rae's 360 media and production company. Berk manages strategic rollout of talent, project, and partnership announcements across divisions including ColorCreative (talent management), Raedio (audio), and HOORAE TV/Film.
• MikeWorldWide (MWW)flagshipOthersBerk Communications is an independent subsidiary of MikeWorldWide following official merger in early 2025. The merger created the largest sports and entertainment PR practice in the country. MikeWorldWide provides global infrastructure with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., London, and Mexico City.
• Make-A-Wish FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFanatics partnership making Fanatics the official granter of sports wishes for Make-A-Wish Foundation. Berk supported announcement and ongoing amplification of wishes granted at major sporting events (Super Bowl, MLB All-Star, NHL All-Star, WWE World, Fanatics Fest NYC).
• FanaticsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFanatics is a major client for Berk Communications. Berk supported Merch Madness event, Make-A-Wish Foundation partnership, Michael Rubin's annual Super Bowl Party, and various wish granting events at major tentpole moments.
• Super Bowl (NFL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerk executes campaigns at Super Bowl including Fanatics wish granting events, celebrity partnerships, and major brand announcements. Major annual tentpole event for sports marketing.
• National Basketball Association (NBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerk works with NBA teams (Charlotte Hornets/Panthers, Portland Fire) and events (NBA All-Star) for client campaigns including athlete partnerships and team rebranding.
• Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerk represents Unrivaled (women's professional basketball league) and Portland Fire (WNBA expansion). Agency has played pivotal role in elevating women's sports during crucial growth period.
• Caesars EntertainmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerk Communications serves as PR partner for Caesars Entertainment, managing comprehensive strategy including celebrity chef partnerships (Wolfgang Puck, Martha Stewart, Lisa Vanderpump, Dominique Ansel), press trips, and brand storytelling to position Caesars as Las Vegas leader.
• IBMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBM is a key client for Berk Communications. Berk handles IBM Masters partnership communications and technology integration storytelling at Augusta National.
• PUMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPUMA is a long-term client. Berk led relaunch of PUMA's basketball division in 2018 and handles ongoing athlete partnerships and brand communications.
• Major League Soccer (MLS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLS is a client for Berk Communications. Agency handles strategic communications for the league and league-wide initiatives.
• National Football League (NFL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerk Communications works with NFL on partnership announcements (Roc Nation) and initiatives including Inspire Change program.
• Comcast XfinitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComcast Xfinity is a client. Berk handles brand communications and marketing campaigns for Xfinity within sports ecosystem.
• Tepper Sports & EntertainmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTepper Sports & Entertainment (owner of Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC) is a major client. Berk managed Concert for Carolina ($24.5M hurricane relief) and various team communications.
• Rao'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerk Communications retained by Rao's (iconic Italian restaurant founded 1896) to handle PR for expansion into Miami market, including local and national media relations, event planning, partnerships, and social media management.
• LidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLids is a sports retail client for Berk Communications. Agency handles brand communications and marketing strategies within sports retail.
• REFORM AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerk Communications worked with REFORM Alliance (criminal justice reform organization co-founded by Meek Mill and Michael Rubin) since 2018. Helped launch #FreeMeek movement and ongoing advocacy communications.
• National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWSL is a client for women's sports elevation campaigns. Berk has played pivotal role in translating momentum into impactful campaigns.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Largest independent global PR firm. Overlaps with Berk on sports, entertainment, food & beverage, and consumer clients, but operates at much greater scale with a broad portfolio including corporate, health, and technology practices.
• FleishmanHillard: Omnicom-owned global PR firm with strong sports, consumer, and corporate practices. Comparable on sports league and brand work but operates at significantly larger scale and offers broader public affairs capabilities.
• Weber Shandwick: Interpublic-owned global PR firm with significant sports and entertainment practice. Comparable to Berk in serving sports leagues and major brands, but with broader global reach and integrated marketing capabilities.
• Ogilvy PR: WPP-owned global creative and PR network with sports & entertainment expertise. Comparable in client mix (sports, consumer brands, entertainment), but offers advertising, PR, and consulting as a unified offering rather than a pure-PR specialty.

Direct peers

• BPCM: Independent PR and communications agency focused on lifestyle, fashion, food & beverage, and entertainment — directly overlapping Berk's F&B, lifestyle, and entertainment verticals with a similar boutique-agency model.
• MikeWorldWide (MWW): Berk's parent company following the 2025 merger. MWW is a leading independent integrated PR agency with 200+ professionals across North America, EMEA, and LATAM, providing the global infrastructure Berk leverages for enterprise campaigns.
• Hiltzik Strategies: Strategic communications and PR firm serving sports, entertainment, and high-profile individuals. Directly comparable — Berk's Senior Account Director Gaby Gonzalez Moran previously worked at Hiltzik, and both firms compete for league, team, and celebrity mandates.
• M Booth: Independent PR and communications agency with deep sports, lifestyle, and consumer expertise. Closely comparable in client mix (sports leagues, consumer brands, lifestyle), agency size, and earned-first storytelling approach.
• 160over90: Endeavor-owned creative agency specializing in sports, lifestyle, and entertainment marketing and PR. Directly comparable to Berk in serving sports leagues, athletes, and entertainment brands with earned-media and brand storytelling services.

Emerging players

• Propel Centered Media: Emerging sports and entertainment PR agency with growing roster of league, team, and athlete clients. Comparable in niche vertical focus and earned-first approach, but smaller scale than Berk with less proven track record of billion-impression campaigns.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/berkcomm
• Facebookfacebook.com/BerkComm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berkcomm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Berk Communications