The biggest developing story of 2023 is dramatically evident in our marketshare chart as the biz nears the end of Q1. Republic, which seized control of current share late last year, has absolutely dominated through the first 11 weeks of 2023 and now sits at 12.3%, a stunning four percentage points above the field. Not only that, but Monte Lipman’s crew is closing in on the top spot in overall share as the scalding-hot label climbs to 9.1, while John Janick’s long-reigning Interscope Geffen A&M finds itself in a rare off-cycle stretch.

That isn’t surprising given that Republic and its label partners have scored a pair of massive hit albums in Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping One Thing at a Time (Big Loud/Mercury)—lined up to become the year’s biggest album—and Taylor Swift’s late-’22 supernova, Midnights, #3 YTD and north of 4m ATD. They’re joined on the leader board by albums from Boominati’s Metro Boomin (#4), OVO’s Drake & 21 Savage (#6) and BIGHIT/Imperial’s TOMORROW X TOGETHER (#10), with Wallen’s 2021 champ Dangerous still at large at #5. The country superstar’s ongoing success is directly attributable to the visionary partnership of Lipman and Big Loud boss Seth England.

In all, Republic owns more than a third of the Top 50 real estate with an insane 18 entries; Swift occupies five slots and Drake four, with Wallen and XO’s The Weeknd landing three apiece. The company’s Taylor-driven 10.9% vinyl share is icing on its towering layer cake.

Sony-owned, Brad Navin-led indie distribbery The Orchard is #2 in current share at 8.3%, with Atlantic and IGA tied for #3 at 7.2. Peter Edge’s RCA rounds out the Top 5 with 6.0%, thanks in large part to TDE’s acclaimed, ascendant SZA, whose SOS (TDE)—a fixture at the top of the chart since its 12/9/22 release—has moved another 1.1m units YTD. The R&B innovator’s “Kill Bill” also sits atop the Streaming Songs chart as Top Dawg and Edge’s wildly successful collaboration continues to bear fruit.

Miley Cyrus is experiencing a dramatic career comeback on Columbia, scoring her first #1 single in a decade with the massive “Flowers,” while Endless Summer Vacation, her first studio album on Big Red, snags the #8 slot YTD as Ron Perry performs his latest magic trick. Additionally, Harry Styles and Beyoncé’s celebrated 2022 albums are hanging out in the Top 15.

Deep catalog, a pair of Top 25 LPs from Quality Control/Motown’s Lil Baby and current hits from Sam Smith and up-and-comer Toosii have combined to keep Michelle Jubelirer’s Capitol Music Group at #5 in overall share. The same recipe is being served up by Warner—whose 2022 breakout star Zach Bryan is holding strong at #9 YTD for Aaron Bay-Schuck and Tom Corson.

In other noteworthy action, Luke Combs’ three Top 50 albums have powered Randy Goodman’s Sony Nashville to a Music City-leading 2.1% in current share, while UMG Nashville â€¨transitions into the Cindy Mabe era. Afo Verde’s Sony Latin â€¨is flirting with a 2% current share, and Jesús López’s UMLE is at 1.6% in overall.

Elsewhere among the majors, Future, with the #18 album, is still delivering for Sylvia Rhone’s Epic; Tunji Balogun is in the midst of his revitalization of Def Jam; and Ken Bunt’s Disney Music Group, coming off a banner year with the Encanto soundtrack, is currently championed by Queen’s Greatest Hits I at #31.

With all those numbers in play, there’s one indisputable truth at the quarter pole of 2023: The championship is now Republic’s to lose as House Lipman positions itself to make music-business history.