Sir Lucian Grainge’s marketshare remains commanding at the halfway mark of the year (37.9% overall and 39% in streams), with a big assist from his marquee artist, Drake, who passed 1 billion U.S. streams shortly after the end of his first week out with Scorpion. Drake’s success, on Monte Lipman’s Republic (the #2 label with 9.5 overall share and 10.3 streaming), is unprecedented in the new-world ecosystem.
Given all this, did anyone honestly believe Sir Lucian would let Drake go anywhere? Much uninformed coverage has zeroed in on the line, “Soon as this album drop I’m out of the deal” in one of his Scorpion songs, with rumors of another forthcoming album prompting the clueless to speculate Drake was going indie. Why would Grainge—one of the savviest and most aggressive music-group CEOs—wait for his star of stars to become a free agent before offering him a new deal? The smart money says that the only deal Drake is out of is his longtime pact with Cash Money, and that he already has a new arrangement in place with Uni. While nothing official has been announced, it’s likely that Drake has been given his own label with fabulous terms and amazing splits. As usual, only Drake knows when he’ll be dropping his next set, but typically contracts like the expiring one with Cash Money contain clauses concerning conflicting release date. Theoretically, a new Drake set could mitigate the success of the current project, but you never know what kinds of deals can be worked out when you’re on fire like the Canuck wonder.
THE RISE OF CHAPPELL ROAN: BEHIND THE SCENES
Here's how it happened. An oral history by Craig Marks. (8/30a)
A SIZZLING HITS LIST
Hot off the grill. Pairs well with your brewski of choice. (8/30a)
GUY MOOT AND CARIANNE MARSHALL: THE HITS INTERVIEW
Publishing's dynamic duo (8/28a)
THE COUNT: A LABOR (DAY) OF LIVE-MUSIC LOVE
Your other option is staying home and watching college football. (8/30a)
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THE GRAMMY SHORT LIST
Who's already a lock?
COUNTRY'S NEWEST DISRUPTOR
Three chords and some truth you may not be ready for.
AI IS ALREADY EATING YOUR LUNCH
The kids can tell the difference... for now.
ALL THE WAY LIVE
The players, the tours, the enormous beers.
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