NEAR TRUTHS:
THINKING GLOBALLY

“SEVEN” UP: HYBE and Geffen orchestrated a historic launch of the solo career of BTS standout Jung Kook. The K-pop star’s debut single, “Seven,” has all the signs of an instant smash—and one that can go the distance. Jung Kook’s sexy, explicit and English-language bop not only opened as the most-streamed Spotify global #1 on the year, but it is offering an edgy new lane for BTS solo campaigns.

For the moment, the song’s early activity--#1 global, #1 U.S. debut and Most Added at Pop—appears to be on par with BTS’ English-language smashes “Dynamite” and “Butter,” which solidified the group as general-market superstars. With iHeart and Cumulus on board, “Seven” could be the next major crossover hit from the BTS lineage.

The alliance between HYBE Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk and Scooter Braun couldn’t be stronger. Bang’s trust in Braun led to the HYBE acquisition of Quality Control, a proven hip-hop powerhouse to go with Braun’s pop portfolio and Scott Borchetta’s country force Big Machine. But Braun’s involvement in Jung Kook’s debut, which included picking the song and tapping Grammy-winning hitmaker Andrew Watt for production, shows that Bang is all in on his HYBE America CEO.

Jung Kook’s solo kickoff should only enhance Bang-Braun synergy and the potential of HYBE’s mission—it’s already led to a stock boost.

PYRAMID SCHEME: Travis Scott doesn’t do things by half. It’s been five years since the release of ASTROWORLD (which opened with 500k+ and nearly 350m streams, and is now at 6.2m ATD), at which time he began teasing the soon-to-drop Utopia. Along with a raft of merch, Scott has unveiled his plan to livestream a 7/28 performance—from the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

It was rumored that there was trouble making Scott’s new deal, and that it’s still being negotiated. Is Utopia the last release under the old deal? The rap firebrand was allegedly negotiating to regain the rights to his recorded works (please don’t call them “masters”), though conventional wisdom is that nobody is getting those back.

IN MERCURY’S ORBIT: Tyler Arnold and Ben Adelson’s Mercury—though ensconced in the bosom of Republic, where the co-heads have been mentored by Monte and Avery Lipman—has rapidly emerged as a power in its own right. Thanks to their relationships with Post Malone and Morgan Wallen (the latter an outgrowth of Arnold’s history with Big Loud’s Seth England, with whom he maintains a longstanding personal and professional relationship), Mercury was immediately outfitted with proven hits. But they’ve also shown that they can develop acts via old-school A&R, as evidenced by the impressive DSP ascent of breakout Noah Kahan and a solid hit by Stephen Sanchez. How will they wield these skills with ZAYN, who recently signed with the label after his RCA deal expired?

NIR GREATNESS: John Janick’s 2019 move to open an Interscope outpost in Miami, placing effective Latin-world exec Nir Seroussi in charge, now looks more prescient than ever. It was certainly well ahead of the curve in a world where Latin divisions were mostly siloed within label groups. With word that the office is on the verge of making some significant moves—in the wake of signing star Karol G—The Scope is quickly establishing a beachhead in what has become, in the last two or so years, the hottest genre in music. The unit has scored hits with artists like DJ Snake f/J Balvin and Tyga, Tainy f/Anuel AA and Ozuna and Lele Pons f/Guaynaa and has proved crucial in breaking Kali Uchis and guiding Selena Gomez to chart success—and a Grammy nom—with her first Spanish-language release. Global acts in its bullpen include Argentina’s KHEA, Spain’s Judeline and Colombia’s DEKKO. The label picked up música Mexicana luminaries Grupo Marca Registrada last year; word has it more ink will be announced in the near future. Interscope Miami GM Jose Cedeño is running point as Team Nir interfaces with IGA’s other departments.