SKÅL SET

During a visit to Stockholm, Republic chief Monte Lipman and President Charlie Walk learn about the process of creating hit records, Swedish-style. As writer/producer Max Martin explained, "First we drink 30 or 40 of these. When we wake up, hit song!" Seen thinking their beverages would pair nicely with some smoked fish are (l-r) Lipman, Spotify's Nick Holmsten, songwriter Savan Kotecha, Walk, Shellback and Martin.

The actual occasion for this shot, of course, is Brilliant Minds. In addition to describing the personages above, that phrase is the name of a symposium conceived by Spotify chief Daniel Ek in 2015 as a gathering of the world’s "edgiest creators and purposeful leaders." Ek himself was at this moment busily preparing the world's edgiest Swedish meatballs.