NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) — Billboard on Thursday revealed their annual “Power 100“ rankings of the one hundred most influential people in the music industry, with 41 new entrants to the list for 2018.
Topping this year’s list, unsurprisingly, is Live Nation Chairman and CEO Michael Rapino. Rapino’s position on the list improved over last year when Billboard had the promoter-giant chief pegged at #3 on the list, behind Spotify’s Daniel Ek and UMG chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge. Billboard praised Rapino for his dealmaking and control of a company that has become the dominant force in live entertainment in little more than a decade.
Lucian Grainge slipped to the #2 spot behind Rapino, while Ek dropped two places to appear at #3 on the list.
Irving Azoff, Chairman and chief executive officer, Azoff MSG Entertainment, and a key figure in Tim Leiweke’s Oak View Group improved his placement this year, and came in at #4 in 2018, up two places from last year when he appeared at #6. Azoff’s upward mobility was due to power moves such as the merger of his own firm with son Jeffrey’s Full Stop Management and Brandon Creed’s The Creed Company.
Columbia Records Chairman and CEO Rob Stringer maintained his 2017 position at #5, while Apple’s Eddy Cue, Jimmy Iovine and Robert Kondrk all slid from #4 in 2017 to #7 in 2018.
Warner CEO Stephen Cooper moved up from #8 last year to #6, but in 2018 has to share his spot on the rankings with Max Lousada, Warner’s CEO of Recorded Music, whereas last year, Cooper enjoyed a solitary position on the chart.
Jody Gerson, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group moved from #17 last year to break into the top ten at #8 in 2018. The only female executive in the top ten, Gerson was propelled up the ranks by coups such as landing Bruce Springsteen’s entire catalog for the label.
Coran Capshaw, founder of Red Light Management broke into the top ten in 2018 as well. This year, Capshaw posted at #9 after barely missing the top ten last year at #11. Billboard noted Capshaw’s Baker’s Dozen run of 13 shows with jam band legends Phish at New York’s Madison Square Garden last summer as a prime mover in his placement.
Rounding out the top ten for 2018 is Boyd Muir, CFO and Executive Vice President, President of Operations, Universal Music Group; Michele Anthony, Executive vp, Universal Music Group. While the pair came in at #13 last year, Billboard cited expected improvements of almost 20% for the for UMG’s earnings before interest, taxes and amortization.
