COLUMBIA'S NEW FAVORITE SINGER

Now it's official: Columbia has announced a joint venture, Small Giant Records, with manager and SMG Entertainment CEO Ben Singer, who reps breakouts Andy Grammer and Rachel Platten.

Grammer's multiplatinum smash "Honey, I'm Good" and Platten's platinum juggernaut "Fight Song" (both #1 at Hot AC radio and Top 10 Pop) were among the year's biggest new-artist stories.

Columbia prexy Ashley Newton called singer "one of an impressivve new breed of smart, driven and entrepreneurial young managers," while EVP/GM Joel Klaiman welcomed him "as an invaluable collaborative partner" with whom the label would break artists. Singer thanked label ruler Rob Stringer, Newton, Klaiman and Sony Music's Doug Morris and Julie Swidler for the opportunity.