CONTROL TOWER: Capitol Music Group ruler
Michelle Jubelirer has made her first big move since assuming the Tower’s top post, elevating marketing veteran
Arjun Pulijal to president. Having been at the company for almost a decade, Jubelirer has a deep understanding of its team, structure and talent.
The relocated
Todd Moscowitz, who nabs former Atlantic exec and
HITS escapee
Juliette Jones as
Alamo COO, is in a similar situation in his new
Sony locale. Meanwhile, all eyes are on
Def Jam’s
Tunji Balogun and the
Majid/Eshak tandem at
Island, who have just arrived at their posts, as they begin their tenures.
CHART CHECK: Speaking of Mosco, he’s knocked one out of the park at the top of 2022 with the one-listen smash “Broadway Girls,” the unlikely duet of
Alamo rapper
Lil Durk and
Big Loud’s
Morgan Wallen. Big Loud boss
Seth England and partner/President
Greg Thompson have put Wallen back on Country radio. The artist’s
Dangerous was 2021’s top album and he’s sold out some major arena dates.
“Broadway” has racked up 50m+ U.S. streams without being playlisted anywhere as the boycott continues over Wallen’s use of a racial epithet. One big question remains: Will this streaming monster go to Pop radio, where it could radically expand the brand of both artists when it explodes?
THE INDIE UPTICK: Much buzz on both sides of the drink as
Nick Raphael exits as co-president of
Capitol U.K. after nearly a decade at the label. Co-Prez
Jo Charrington is expected to assume sole leadership. The Nick and Jo Show saw success with
Sam Smith,
5 Seconds of Summer,
Liam Payne and recent breakout
Mae Muller, among others.
Insiders believe that, with all the big money now being invested in music—and the sharp growth of the indie sector—the talented Raphael may be planning to hang up a shingle. Could a move stateside be part of that plan?
Meanwhile, as the first year of
Mike Caren’s free agency ends, expect year two to be about artist development. Caren probably has the biggest bankroll of any indie after
WMG bought him out of his
APG for a princely sum. Caren watchers say he’s now figuring out how to use NFT tech to score another windfall.
The biggest independent record right now is another
TikTok breakout,
Lauren Spencer-Smith’s “Fingers Crossed” (currently Top 15 at
Spotify U.S./Top 20 on the streamery's global chart and trending Top 15 at
Apple Music). Canadian Spencer-Smith’s bedroom-pop anthem is a monster that has all the majors Zooming after her. The question looms: Does she have more of these kinds of songs—and the vision to become a career artist? Stay tuned.
DESERT OASIS: With the addition of
Harry Styles, Coachella’s 2022 lineup is a remarkably strong card. Styles in particular is a sensational booking; his live show, observers all agree, has acquired truly impressive dimensions. The headlining triumvirate of Styles,
Ye and
Billie Eilish bridges several divergent audiences, and industryites are heaping praise on festival supremo
Paul Tollett, Styles manager
Jeff Azoff and their teams.
