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Is is there a role for the trio of Tom Whalley, consultant Don Ienner and free agent-to-be Rick Rubin in Lucian Grainge’s universe?

LENNY BEER ON RECORDS:
10 THEMES FOR 2012

Here's What's Happening Right Now—and What May Be Happening Soon—as the Music Biz Kicks Off the New Year
1. VH1 Divas clearly sold records this year, with the brilliant Florence + the Machine album faring best. Take a peek at the iTunes album chart for confirmation.

2. The first breakout song/artist of the year will be “Somebody that I Used to Know” by Gotye. It has the instant infectiousness of “Pumped Up Kicks” and adds a sexier vibe.

3. Can this be the year that Rock/Alternative makes a comeback? The Black Keys start the year on fire, Foo Fighters are nominated for a Best Album Grammy, Bush and Evanescence have made successful comebacks onto the scene, Nickelback continues strong and Bon Iver is getting mainstream attention, while the aforementioned Florence and Gotye projects enter the New Year on a high. If only Rock radio stations would get off their PPM addiction and listen to and play the best new music once again.

4. I always seem to be writing about Daniel Glass, so here I go again. He enters 2012 with Childish Gambino on a roll and a slate of releases that includes Phoenix, Mumford & Sons and Temper Trap. Is Glassnote on the verge of being the next major?

5. With L.A. Reid now finished with his on-air work on this season of The X Factor, it’s time for the new Epic Records team to be in the spotlight. Expect Reid and his handpicked team of Mark Shimmel, Angelica Cobb-Baehler, Benny Pugh and Erik Olesen to put points on the board shortly.

6. EMI Records enters the year as the property-to-be of Universal and Lucian Grange…and with rumors swirling about a Tom Whalley-headed West Coast operation. Are the rumors ahead of the reality, as the purchase still has to pass regulatory in the U.K., Europe and the U.S.? And is there a role for the trio of Whalley, consultant Don Ienner and free agent-to-be Rick Rubin in Grainge’s universe?

7. Speaking of EMI, Greg Thompson has again proved to be a top-grade marketing and promotion executive. Now, as the EMI transition continues full force into the New Year, the question is, will he stay or will he go?

8. And speaking of hot executives that make a significant difference on a day-to-day basis, our info is that Universal Republic promo domo Joel Klaiman is entering the last year of his contract. Will Monte Lipman and team step up with the kind of deal to keep Joel in place, or will he become one of the hottest free agents of 2013?

9. To Spotify or not to Spotify is becoming an issue to deal with as we move forward. The conventional wisdom is that Spotify will bastardize record sales (or will it, or has it?), but if that is indeed the case, will the income it generates for the labels be enough to satisfy any sales drop? And should new music appear on the service day-and-date with retail?

10. Grammy time is near—and while we all know that Adele will be rewarded for her brilliant and gigantic success story—the most intriguing questions are, who will Ken Ehrlich chose as performers and what amazing combination surprises await us that night?
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High time for another Eminem skit (3/26a)
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Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
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