THIS HITS PHOTO GALLERY CONTAINS EXTRA TRYPTOPHAN

Thanksgiving is a full week away, so naturally all we can think about is turkey and gravy and stuffing and yams and buttered crescent rolls and bottomless tumblers of Beaujolais Nouveau. But we are contractually obligated to feign interest in work, so we are dutifully assembling this weekly gallery and its aptly carb-heavy captions for your weekend-adjacent delectation. The following includes some lovely CMA pics, but we got more of those than we include here (a classy problem, in all honesty), so we refer you to our separate CMA gallery, which is tastier than a homemade pumpkin pie.

Wicked is a massive cultural phenomenon, as was apparent at this screening, at which co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande sprinkled fairy dust on a room full of seasoned entertainment-industry professionals, who were enchanted by the prospects of the Verve/Republic soundtrack. Seen just before clicking their heels together and chanting "There's no place like HITS" are (l-r), Erivo, Republic's Jim Roppo and topper Monte Lipman, NBCUniversal Head of Music and Publishing Mike Knobloch, Grande and Verve chief Jamie Krents.
(Photo: Devin Kasparian)

Gathered to hail the posthumous Juice WRLD release The Party Never Ends are IGA Marketing Manager Akeem Rollock, IGA EVP Head of Urban Marketing Laura Carter, ICLG Vice Chairman Steve Berman, Grade A COO Peter Jideonwo, IGA President, A&R Nicole Wyskoarko, Grade A CEO/co-founder Lil Bibby, ICLG EVP, Head of Strategic Marketing Daniel Sena and Juice WRLD collaborator G Money.

Why are Mercury boss Tyler Arnold, Post Malone and Republic’s Monte Lipman standing in this shower? A clause in Posty's contract stipulates that his beard must be shampooed by senior executives at least once per fiscal quarter.

Columbia SVP A&R Julian Swirsky is feeling pretty relieved that he decided not to wear his blue ball gown to the CMAs, because, honestly? Megan Moroney wore it better.

At Primary Wave's '90s Revival Party, the following luminaries assembled to document the moment before an absolutely epic game of hacky sack: Gin Blossoms' Jesse Valenzuela, Primary Wave President, Global Sync Marty Silverstone, Spin Doctors' Eric Schenkman, Gin Blossoms' Robin Wilson, PW boss Larry Mestel, and Spin Doctors' Aaron Comess and Chris Barron.

If you wondered who all that "Espresso" was for, we give you Sabrina Carpenter's Volara Management team, who gathered backstage at the singer's recent L.A. show. Seen feeling caffeinated almost beyond the point of human endurance are (l-r) Merce Jessor, Bianca Nour, Amy Davidson, Janelle Lopez Genzink and Malia Denney.

At the CMAs, River House/Columbia Nashville hitmaker Luke Combs bore witness to a major transition at his label, preserved for posterity in this photo that finds him flanked by outgoing chieftain Randy Goodman and incoming Chairman/CEO Taylor Lindsey. Meanwhile, President/COO Ken Robold silently vowed to wear a tux to work every damn day.
(Photo: David Bergman)

At Run Out Groove Records in Burbank, the following record collectors found that they somehow all owned a copy of Yma Sumac's Voice of the Xtaby: owner Jeff Ferguson, Mike Shinoda of Warner's Linkin Park (which just scored a big chart bow), Warner VP Physical Damon Valentino, owner Ellen Rehak and LP's Emily Armstrong.

"These HITS photo captions aren't remotely funny in English," observed Universal Music Greater China Chairman/CEO Timothy Xu, "but for some reason, they kill in Mandarin." Seen wondering what else we've lost in translation are Xu, UMG EVP, Market Development Adam Granite, The Rap of China 2024 Chief Director Zuo Jin and UMGC VP of Artist Management and Entertainment Development Ming Lu.