1 MONTE LIPMAN AND JOHN JANICK: Division heads of the new UMG square the circle—and rule the charts from East to West. | |
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2 ARIANA GRANDE: Megadiva springs eternal with strong #1 chart bow, which is Wicked good news for Corps morale. | |
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3 MAX LOUSADA: WMG macher is digging the Bunny bounce as Benson, Teddy, Zach, Marcagi deliver a basket of goodies—just in time for Easter. | |
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4 TIKTOK: Megaplatform battling on multiple fronts as ban threats, buy offers loom. Is it Mnuchin ado about nothing? | |
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5 JIM ROPPO: Republic Corps commander presiding over murderer’s row amid UMG East reorg—and overcoming all Ropposition. | |
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6 SETH ENGLAND: Big Loud boss inks big fat distro deal with Mercury/Republic, which earns plaudits from Morgan Wallen and Morgan Stanley. Austin Neal is stocking up on fireworks for July 4 in Hyde Park. | |
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7 STEVE BERMAN: Janick’s trusted lieutenant wins Best Supporting Actor for his role in 2024 restructuring as curtain rises on ICLG. Berms away. | |
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8 HENRY CÁRDENAS: Chicago-based Latin live-music powerhouse’s heavyweight deal with AEG makes Jay Marciano feel like his uncle Rocky. Should be a knockout combination. | |
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9 FUTURE & BEYONCÉ: Freebandz/Epic rapper’s Metro double play and Parkwood/Columbia’s Cowboy Carter position Sony for a windfall with new fiscal year about to start. If this is Texas Hold ’Em, Team Stringer’s got a killer hand. | |
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10 ROLLING LOUD: Tariq and Matt bring all-star lineup to Inglewood in latest iteration of celebrated hip-hop fest. That’s one big (microphone) check. | |