1. ADELE: The record that might save the music business continues to click away at 100k+ week after week. Could it reach five million in the
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3. THE CIVIL WARS: If you don't know about them yet, it is time to WAKE UP and smell the favorite for Best New Artist honors at the upcoming Grammys. This incredibly musical duo is reminiscent of everything good in beautiful songwriting, stunning harmonies and a live show that is just plain magic. Just ask one of their biggest fans, Adele, who had them open for her. Released on their own with no label deal, no distribution deal and the undying support of CMT’s Jay Frank and VH1’s Rick Krim, the album debuted at #1 at iTunes and just keeps chugging along on the oldest of viral engines—word of mouth.
4. THE PUBCOS: Historically, the most stable part of the business has become a game of musical chairs that seems to have started with the exit of David Renzer at UMPG. Now Kenny McPherson, Jody Gerson, Tom Sturges, Evan Lambert, etc., have all been spun into play. And BMG/Chrysalis' Laurent Hubert is also a man to know. Curiosity should be quenched in the coming months.
5. PROMOTION IN MOTION: Let's see now. Richard Palmese is exiting RCA and heading for where exactly? Motown's Todd Glassman is a man without a label, yet still in the UMG system. Joe Riccitelli has Jive and RCA and his own upward mobility. Peter Gray is about to take the reins overseeing Warner and Reprise, with changes afoot. IDJ's red-hot Erik Olesen is rumored to be a free agent, while Rick Sackheim is on the rise. Hmmm, gotta wonder how this will all play out this summer.
6. UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC: Now new and improved, Monte and Avery's little hit engine that could now takes on new A&R sources from Cash Money and SRC, adds Tom Whalley, a revitalized internal talent team and lots more. Their potential is unlimited moving forward. Just call them the hottest brother duo since the Everlys.
7. STEVE BARTELS: Longtime valued aide de camp of Clive Davis and most recently L.A. Reid, Bartels now steps out on his own and takes charge at IDJ. With a lot to live up to, he is a large personality in a very large container. Go Steve go.
8. THE EMI
9. DANIEL GLASS: In case you thought
10. FOSTER THE PEOPLE: A #1 Alternative single that Julie Pilat added to KIIS-FM out of the box? Yes, this unstoppable song is catching everyone's attention. Yes, real hits can start at Alternative radio; heck, real hits can start anywhere. Your “Pumped Up Kicks” are getting easier to find.
THE MUSIC OF CLIVE COMES ALIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL
That's what friends are for. (5/1a)
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THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
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