WEEKEND GALLERY: IT COUNTS AS WORK
This collection of photos capturing industry luminaries posing together coincides, roughly, with the fifth anniversary of the pandemic shutdown. Remember that? It seemed, for a fleeting instant, that the virtual office and perpetual connectivity were going to work in our favor, and that by shedding the outdated ritual of the eight-hour office day and the time suck of the commute, we'd be able to fashion a proper work-life balance at last.
We all know how that worked out. Much as the "lunch hour" now means eight minutes of shoving a turkey Reuben in your face while rolling emails, "weekend" is office code for catching up on the work you couldn't get to during the week, and nobody feels the slightest compunction about texting you with a fresh assignment at 5am on Sunday morning.
Call us old-fashioned, but we at HITS believe in the weekend. In that spirit, we've compiled these pics; viewing them will feel like leisure, even if it's obliquely connected to work.
Republic chief Monte Lipman, seen here with kids Juliet and Cameron on a college-visiting trip, asks the questions any parent must when considering a child's educational opportunities, such as: Does this high-quality jersey come in a ticket bundle?
This shot from 2022 reminds us, as if we needed reminding, that Capitol's Kali Uchis, Interscope's Lana Del Rey, Big Noise/Virgin's iann dior and Geffen's Olivia Rodrigo are all very glamorous, and we are not. (Stefanie Keenan)
Sony Italy/Arista’s Damiano David performed at L.A.’s El Rey Theatre on 3/18, previewing material from his debut solo set, FUNNY little FEARS (due out 5/16). And speaking of FEARS, the Roman rocker’s darkest ones were realized when he was set upon by HITS’ Leisa St. John and Nicole Ghapgharan, who insinuated themselves into this stately trade shot with the artist and Arista’s Nick Petropoulos. Later, a cigarette helped calm Damiano’s nerves.
With a new Lizzo record in the marketplace, we revisit this 2019 photo commemorating the artist's pub deal with Warner Chappell. Just before this pic was taken, Ryan Press did a hair toss and checked his nails. Seen wondering if they'll still be bad in 2025 are (l-r) Brandra Ringo (who has since moved from WCM to QC), pubco co-chief Carianne Marshall, Lizzo, Press and erstwhile WCM A&R exec Marc Wilson.
Universal Music Latino artist Feid is seen here with UML President Angel Kaminsky at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, asking the musical question, "¿Qué es un foto iHeart sin Sykes y Poleman?"
Warner’s perennially puckish rockers Green Day and their beloveds snag an iHeartRadio Music Awards photo op with iHeart’s forever fabulous John Sykes and Tom Poleman. As you may have heard, the band’s Billie Joe Armstrong cribbed Mark Wahlberg’s speech from Boogie Nights when the band accepted its Alternative Artist of the Year trophy. Later, everyone enjoyed a sing-along rendition of “You Got the Touch.” (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson, hosts of Amazon Music's Country Heat Weekly podcast, ask Island's Chappell Roan what hot new single "The Giver" is about. That portion of the conversation has subsequently been redacted. In related news, online tutorials are available.