Selection
Selection International Entertainment is an Italian B2B entertainment production company founded in 1980 that books artists and produces proprietary theatrical shows for global cruise lines, hotels, casinos, and event companies, drawing on a 5,500+ artist portfolio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersMilano, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Selection does
Selection International Entertainment (legal entity SELECTION S.r.l.) is a privately held Italian B2B entertainment production and booking company founded in 1980 by musician Fortunato Unali and headquartered in Genoa, Italy. Today the company is co-led by the founder's children, Paola Unali and Andrea Unali, and operates with 11–50 employees as an independent, family-owned business with no external institutional investors or parent company disclosed.
The company's core business is delivering end-to-end entertainment services to global cruise lines, hotels, casinos, and event companies across three service lines: (1) artist recruitment and booking from a curated portfolio of 5,500+ vetted performers including dancers, musicians, vocalists, DJs, gymnasts, and variety acts; (2) proprietary full-stage show production, with a catalog of branded productions such as Todes, Smeralda Trilogy, Venezia Innamorata, Viktor Kee, Fantazia, Evolution Dance Theater, The Tenors, CCBDT, Action Street, Ultramarine Girls Band, and Virtual or Reality; and (3) corporate entertainment production services spanning creative concept development, art direction, planning, logistics, and legal/administrative support. The company emphasizes an 'All inclusive' integrated delivery model and maintains exclusive, multi-year partnerships with major cruise operators including Costa Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Crystal Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Tallink, Silja Line, and Adora Cruises, plus hospitality and events customers such as SBM Monte Carlo, Nicolaus, Valtur, Bar Americain, and Rolex Masters.
Selection generates revenue through commission-based artist bookings and project-based show production fees under a quote-based, non-publicly disclosed B2B pricing model. In 2024, the company booked 2,270+ artists and delivered 2,850+ show events, reflecting significant operational throughput. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting cruise executives and hospitality procurement, supported by a digital presence (website, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) and a careers/auditions platform that doubles as a recruiting funnel. No public revenue, funding, M&A, or patent data is disclosed; the company operates as a services agency rather than a technology platform, with no AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or software products offered.
Selection firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Selection
- Legal name
- SELECTION S.r.l.
- Website
- https://selectionie.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Selection International Entertainment is an Italian B2B entertainment production company founded in 1980 that books artists and produces proprietary theatrical shows for global cruise lines, hotels, casinos, and event companies, drawing on a 5,500+ artist portfolio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Selection industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Entertainment Services
- NAICS
- Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Artist Booking, Talent Buying & Agency Services (MPAGAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Entertainment Programming & Curation (Lineups, Run-of-Show, Scheduling) (HSACAHAO), Tour & Artist Management Services (HSACAHAN), Entertainment Booking & Speaker/Talent Management (HSACAAAI)
Keywords
Where Selection is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milano
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Selection business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Entertainment Booking Services: Commission-based booking of artists, dancers, musicians, and performers for cruise ships, hotels, casinos, and events. The company coordinates all aspects of entertainment provision including contract negotiation and artist management.
- Show Production and Art Direction: Full-service show production including concept creation, art direction, planning, and strategy for entertainment programs. Covers creative development and staging of shows.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Selection product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Selection is an entertainment booking and production agency that recruits and books artists, dancers, musicians, DJs, and vocalists for cruise ships, hotels, casinos, and events worldwide. It also produces original full-stage shows, providing concept creation, art direction, planning, scenography, lighting, and musical direction as an all-inclusive entertainment service.
Product overview
Selection is a one-stop shop for entertainment offering original full-stage technical productions, artists and musicians bookings, and big stars concerts. The company operates as an entertainment agency rather than a technology platform. Their product portfolio consists of: (1) Artist recruitment and booking services across multiple performer categories (artists, dancers, DJs, musicians, vocalists); (2) Multiple entertainment show productions including Todes Ballet, Viktor Kee, Smeralda Trilogy, Venezia Innamorata, CCBDT, Virtual or Reality, Ultramarine Girls Band, Action Street, Fantazia, Evolution Dance Theater, and The Tenors; (3) Corporate entertainment production services including creative concept development, planning, art direction, and legal/logistic support. The shows are primarily performed on cruise ships and in hotels/casinos worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Selection
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Selection technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Selection partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and strategic.
- Costa CruisescoreMajor cruise line partner for whom Selection produces exclusive theatrical shows including 'Venezia Innamorata' and 'Fantazia' for Costa Toscana vessel. Long-standing partnership in cruise entertainment production.
- Royal Caribbean InternationalcorePremier cruise partner for which Selection provides accredited artists including Viktor Kee and other entertainment acts. One of Royal Caribbean's most accredited artist providers.
- Crystal CruisesmajorLuxury cruise line partner receiving entertainment booking services from Selection.
- Silversea CruisesmajorUltra-luxury cruise partner receiving entertainment services and artist bookings.
- TallinkmajorBaltic Sea cruise and ferry operator partner for entertainment services.
- Silja LinemajorNorthern Europe cruise line hosting Action Street dance show production.
- SBM Monte CarlomajorMonte Carlo entertainment and events partner including Rolex Masters tournament involvement.
- NicolausmajorItalian tourism and hotel group receiving entertainment services.
- ValturmajorItalian holiday resort brand receiving entertainment programming.
- Adora CruisesmajorCruise operator receiving entertainment booking and production services.
- Art Vision ProductioncoreCreative partnership with Aurelia Cats & Viktor Kee for concept and artistic direction of productions like Smeralda Trilogy.
- Quantum XXL Dance CrewstrategicCo-development partner for 'Virtual or Reality' dance show production exploring social media themes.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Selection competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Agency for the Performing Arts (APA): Talent agency representing performers across music, theater, comedy, and live entertainment. Comparable to Selection's core artist booking and live performance representation business, with a similar focus on performing artists and live event programming.
- IMG Artists: Global talent agency representing classical and contemporary performing artists, musicians, and dancers. Comparable to Selection as a performing arts talent agency serving concert halls, festivals, and live entertainment venues, though IMG is broader in scope and larger in scale.
Broad incumbents
- Creative Artists Agency (CAA): One of the largest global talent and entertainment agencies. Overlaps with Selection's artist booking activities across music, performance, and live entertainment, though CAA serves a much broader client base across film, TV, sports, and brand endorsements.
- Paradigm Talent Agency: Full-service talent agency with strong representation in comedy, music, theater, and live touring. Comparable to Selection on the artist representation and booking side, particularly for live touring and venue-based performances.
- United Talent Agency (UTA): Global talent and entertainment agency with artist representation across music, comedy, theater, and live performance. Overlaps with Selection's booking function but operates at much greater scale and breadth.
- William Morris Endeavor (WME): Major talent agency representing artists across music, theater, TV, and live performance. Comparable to Selection on the artist representation and booking side, but at significantly greater scale and with cross-industry reach.
- Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group: World-leading theatrical show production company creating original resident and touring productions. Comparable to Selection's show production arm, but operates on a far larger scale with owned IP (resident shows, touring shows) rather than commissioned cruise entertainment.
Others
- Norwegian Cruise Line Entertainment: In-house entertainment team of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, producing original Broadway-style shows and managing onboard casts. Relevant peer as a potential client for Selection or as a competing in-house production capability within the cruise industry.
- Royal Caribbean Productions: In-house entertainment production division of Royal Caribbean, one of Selection's largest customers. Relevant as both a client relationship and a vertical integration threat, given Royal Caribbean produces many of its own onboard shows and casts.
- MSC Cruises Entertainment: In-house entertainment division of MSC Cruises. Represents the captive entertainment model that cruise operators can pursue as an alternative to working with agencies like Selection for show production and artist booking.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Selection social profiles
Digital presenceSelection financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Selection leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Selection funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Selection M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Selection
What does Selection do?
Selection is an entertainment booking and production agency that recruits and books artists, dancers, musicians, DJs, and vocalists for cruise ships, hotels, casinos, and events worldwide. It also produces original full-stage shows, providing concept creation, art direction, planning, scenography, lighting, and musical direction as an all-inclusive entertainment service.
Is Selection a public or private company?
Selection is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Selection founded?
Selection was founded in 1980. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Selection based?
Selection is headquartered in Milano, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Selection make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Entertainment Booking Services are the primary driver. The others are show Production and Art Direction.
Who are Selection's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) and IMG Artists. Broad incumbents are Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Paradigm Talent Agency, United Talent Agency (UTA), William Morris Endeavor (WME) and Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. Others are Norwegian Cruise Line Entertainment, Royal Caribbean Productions and MSC Cruises Entertainment.
Does Selection have an API?
No public API is recorded for Selection.
What industry is Selection in?
Selection's product category is Live Entertainment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAAAF, Artist Booking, Talent Buying & Agency Services, with a secondary code of HSACAHAO, Entertainment Programming & Curation (Lineups, Run-of-Show, Scheduling). Its NAICS code is 7111 and its SIC code is 7900.