THE BIG NINE IN 2014
| Strang, whose skill and integrity were saluted by longtime friends Tom Morello and Steve Earle when he was honored by the ACLU earlier this month, has also overseen the first-ever #1 debut by rock icon Tom Petty, a record-setting 10-week run atop the Alternative radio chart by The Black Keys and a #1 Alt single by Big Data. And his commitment to artist development is emblematized by the patient stewardship of sibling band Echosmith, who’ve gone from WARPED Tour darlings to platinum popsters this year. Strang took the helm at the end of 2012, the company’s lowest ebb; the comedy duo of Bronfman and Cohen had left the once-mighty label a shell of its former self. The new chief moved with assurance and speed, tapping Gray and clearing the decks of other Cohenites. His canny, unorthodox commitment to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (leveraging label services for sales participation) paid off in spades, boosting not only revenue but morale at the Bunny, laying the groundwork for home-grown successes like Nico & Vinz and Jason Derulo. British duo Royal Blood, having exploded in the U.K., look poised for a huge run stateside. Although the recent Prince project underperformed, the rise of OVO/WB’s ILoveMakonnen at retail and radio (“Tuesday” featuring Drake is #3 at Urban, #10 Rhythm as of this writing) is a Q4 addition to the Bunny’s blossoming. The proof is in the marketshare pudding, and Strang’s frontline is 4.3% (up from 2013’s 3.5%), while his TEA is 5.9% (spiking more than a point over last year). The Bunny’s Grammy-nomination haul includes a Best Rock Album nod for Petty’s Hypnotic Eye (Reprise), Best Metal Performance for Mastodon (also Reprise) and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for ILoveMakonnen's “Tuesday." Next, Strang will add rock-to-country crossover Kid Rock, among others, to his roster, which means his bottom line will be what’s up, Doc. | |
