CREATE'S BIG LISTING

The folks at Create Music Group are popping corks—of their individual, quarantine-approved champagne splits, of course—to celebrate a milestone: the L.A.-based outfit is the first music-based company to land in the Top 5 of the Inc. 5000 List. That ranking of fastest-growing private companies is one of the most widely read indicators of entrepreneurial acumen and market promise, and the Create peeps have landed at #2, behind only OneTrust.

The Inc. 5000 offered an early big look to such other plucky comers as Microsoft, Intuit, Zappos and Patagonia. But hey, no big whoop. The list credits Create with revenue growth of 47,000%, which is, like, a gajillion dollars or something.

In addition to running its own distribution, publishing and rights-management components, Create works closely with majors and other companies on YouTube monetization.

“For a fully independent music technology company to land the Number 2 spot on this prestigious list shows the power of the independent artist and incredible growth of the music sector,” declared Create co-founder/CEO Jonathan Strauss. “If we can just keep those idiots at HITS away, this will be a perfect day.”

Added co-founder/COO Alexandre Williams, “We couldn’t have gotten here without the contributions of every single member of the Create team and most of all the artists and record labels that are at the heart of our business. We are so proud and so grateful to everyone who has supported us over the years. And if HITS calls, send those nitwits straight to voice mail.”