‘Billboard’ Reveals 2019 Power 100 List

Billboard has named its 2019 Power 100 List, ranking the top influencers in the music industry. Unlike years prior, Billboard left out executives from selected brands and branding companies, like Citi, American Express and MAC Presents. Women represent 20 percent of the Power 100—compared to 17 percent in 2018.

Billboard made a disclaimer about the change on their website, reading: Although executives rise, fall and drop off the Power 100 every year due to performance, a handful who have perennially appeared on previous lists were not included this year due strictly to an editorial decision to refocus the Power 100 on core music-industry companies. As a result, executives from brands and branding companies, such as Citi, American Express and MAC Presents, and music bookers from the morning and late-night talk and entertainment shows were not considered for inclusion. Dick Clark Productions executives also were not considered this year because they share a parent company with Billboard.

This year’s top 10 includes:
1. Chairman/CEO, Universal Music Group Chairman/CEO, Lucian Grainge
2. Live Nation Entertainment President/CEO, Michael Rapino
3. Spotify Founder/CEO, Daniel Ek; Spotify Chief Content Officer, Dawn Ostroff; Spotify CFO, Barry McCarthy; Spotify General Counsel/VP Business and Legal Affairs, Horacio Gutierrez; Spotify Global Head of Music, Nick Holmstén
4. The Azoff Company Chairman/CEO, Irving Azoff; Full Stop Management Partner, Jeffrey Azoff
5. Sony Music Entertainment CEO, Rob Stringer
6. Warner Music Group CEO, Steve Cooper; WMG CEO of Recorded Music, Max Lousada
7. Apple VP Apple Music and International Content, Oliver Schusser; Apple Global Head of Business Development and Music Partnerships, Amanda Marks; Apple Music Global Creative Director/Host, Zane Lowe; Apple Music Global Creative Director, Larry Jackson; Apple Music Global Director of Original Content, Bebhinn Gleeson; Apple Music Global Director of Editorial, Rachel Newman
8. Sony/ATV Music Publishing Incoming Chairman/CEO, Jon Platt
9. Atlantic Records Chairman/CEO, Craig Kallman; Atlantic Records Chairman/COO, Julie Greenwald; Atlantic Records President of Black Music, Mike Kyser; Atlantic Records President of West Coast, Kevin Weaver
10. Universal Music Group CFO/Executive VP/President of Operations, Boyd Muir; UMG Executive VP, Michele Anthony; UMG Executive VP Business and Legal Affairs/General Counsel, Jeffrey Harleston; UMG Executive VP Digital Strategy, Michael Nash

Nashville-based executives in the 2019 Power 100 List include (by ranking):
36. Universal Music Group Nashville Chairman/CEO, Mike Dungan; Universal Music Group Nashville President, Cindy Mabe
37. Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO, Randy Goodman
51. Big Machine Label Group Founder /President/CEO, Scott Borchetta
55. Concord CEO, Scott Pascucci; Concord Chief Label Executive, Tom Whalley; Concord Chief Publishing Executive, Jake Wisely
66. Paradigm Talent Agency Music Executive Leadership Group, Marty Diamond, Corrie Christopher Martin, Matt Galle, Jonathan Levine
69. Warner Music Nashville, Chairman/CEO, John Esposito
92. Sandbox Entertainment President/CEO; Monument Records Co-President, Jason Owen

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LB Cantrell

LB Cantrell is Editor/Director of Operations at MusicRow magazine, where she oversees, manages and executes all company operations. LB oversees all MusicRow-related content, including the publication’s six annual print issues and online news. She is a Georgia native and a graduate of the Recording Industry Management program at Middle Tennessee State University.

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