YTD MARKETSHARE: AND THE WINNER IS...

Barring some massive surprise in the next few weeks, the 2020 marketshare standings are set in stone. The championship will go to John Janick’s Interscope Geffen A&M, which has had the best year in its three-decade history, with Billie Eilish, Juice WRLD, DaBaby, Rod Wave, Summer Walker and Moneybagg Yo representing the next generation of IGA stars. These six breakout acts, along with core artists Eminem and Lady Gaga, have 12 of the year’s Top 50 albums in overall activity, four more than 2019 champ and 2020 runner-up Atlantic. A&R-wise, EVP Joie Manda and Alamo’s Todd Moscowitz were droppin’ dimes all over the place.

IGA is just the tip of the iceberg for Sir Lucian Grainge’s perennially dominant UMG, whose 38.5% share is a stunning 13 percentage points above the field—another reason the Vivendi brass are salivating in anticipation of that 2022 IPO as if it were an upcoming feast at a Michelin three-star restaurant. Monte Lipman’s Republic is a solid #3 with 8%, claiming no less than four of the Top 7 albums, from The Weeknd, Taylor Swift (who has once again broken a million in sales—in the midst of the streaming revolution), Pop Smoke and Post Malone. Steve Barnett’s Capitol Music Group, which holds onto #4 in the standings with 7.5%, has the only album to break 2m, Lil Baby’s My Turn, in another triumph for QC/Motown. Halsey, Lewis Capaldi and 10K/Caroline’s Trippie Redd give CMG four Top 50 entries. Def Jam is showing signs of life under Jeff Harleston’s leadership, with Justin Bieber north of 1m units and Jhené Aiko becoming the label’s newest star. And Mike Dungan is having continued success with Chris Stapleton and Sam Hunt at UMG Nashville.

Ron Perry’s revitalized Columbia leads the way for Rob Stringer’s Sony Music, #2 of the Big Three with 25.5%, thanks to a pair of superstars in Harry Styles and BTS, along with sophomore sensation Polo G and rookie phenoms 24kGoldn and Jawsh 685. Peter Edge’s RCA has made a big splash with newcomer Doja Cat; Future and Travis Scott/Jackboys have delivered for Sylvia Rhone at Epic; and Luke Combs has rocketed into the stratosphere for Randy Goodman’s Sony Music Nashville.

Steve Cooper’s WMG has 16.8% of the market, paced by a Top 10 album from Dua Lipa for Aaron Bay-Schuck and Tom Corson’s Warner, while Espo’s Warner Music Nashville has launched a pair of potent crossover acts in Gabby Barrett and Dan + Shay.

All of the above have come through amid unimaginably trying circumstances. Indeed, everyone who crosses the finish line this year deserves a medal and a magnum of chilled Dom Perignon.