RON PERRY: SUPERCHARGING THE BIG RED MACHINE

Columbia is nearing the finish line of 2020 at full gallop. BTS’ BE became the Korean superstars’ second chart-topper of the year over Thanksgiving weekend, seven days after the #1 debut of Aussie Hall of Famers AC/DC, a group that was cranking out hits two decades before BTS’ members were born. The Kid LAROI bowed at #3 the week prior, following a #2 debut from Bruce Springsteen.

Singles-wise, “Life Goes On” became the second straight track from BE to hit #1, following “Dynamite," giving Columbia the #1 song in the U.S. for an incredible 12 of the last 18 weeks, with RECORDS’ 24kGoldn, Harry Styles and Jawsh 685 joining Big Hits’ BTS in the winner's circle. Additionally, 24kGoldn’s “Mood” became the most-played song at radio in a single week ever, with north of 20k spins.

As a result of all this action, the high-scoring label has been progressively rising in the marketshare standings, zooming from 8% to 12% to a chart-topping 19% on HITS’ Top 100 Weekly Marketshare tally for the week ending 11/26.

In the 35 months since Chairman & CEO Ron Perry took the reins of Big Red from Rob Stringer at the tender age (for a major-label CEO) of 38, the new-school A&R star and former SONGS partner has transformed the iconic label, effectively competing for, signing and breaking viable talent in a stream-powered business, while also remaining responsive to the very different needs of Columbia’s core artists.

2020 has seen the label break recent signings like The Kid LAROI and Polo G into album-consumption acts while scoring global pop hits from Jawsh 685, BTS, Powfu, Ritt Momney, Staysolidrocky and another one from Lil Nas X.

Columbia has also taken Harry Styles to the next level of global success and gotten the job done properly with Bob Dylan, AC/DC and Springsteen, as well as Album of the Year Grammy nominees HAIM.