The music industry’s 100 most influential people
He started life in a trailer park, has been sued by his mother for claiming she smokes more dope than he does and strikes curious poses with chainsaws.
It might not be the typical profile of a mogul, but in a new survey Marshall Bruce Mathers III, aka Eminem, has been voted the most powerful person in the music industry.
Click on Full Article to read the top 100 and found out Madonna‘s position
1 Eminem Bad-boy rapper Marshall Mathers III has sparked controversy with his extreme lyrics and courtroom battles with his former wife and mother (for lines such as “my mother smokes more dope than I do”), but he is an astute businessman with his own range of clothes. He also used his influence to persuade 75,000 young people to register to vote. And he doesn’t do cheesy endorsements – he sued Apple for using one of his songs without permission.
2 Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive. The co-founder of Apple and his creative sidekick have revolutionised the music industry with the invention of the iPod. The iTunes music store has been heralded as the saviour of the industry.
3 L Lowry Mays As the chief executive of the world’s largest media conglomerate, Clear Channel, Mays employs 60,000 people in 66 countries. A former associate of George Bush, Mays owns more than 50 per cent of rock radio in the US.
4 Doug Morris The chief executive of Universal has been in the music business for more than 40 years, starting out as a song writer and penning hits such as the Chiffons’ “Sweet Talkin’ Guy”. Wields huge power in the industry.
5 Edgar Bronfman Jnr As chairman of the Warner Music Group, the 49-year-old father of seven oversees artists including Madonna and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But he is planning to cut 1,000 jobs.
6 Andre 3000 The frontman of OutKast, Andre “3000” Benjamin is refusing to play the music industry’s game and has threatened to quit music for film.He is about to star in Be Cool, the sequel to Get Shorty.
7 Jimmy Iovine A former producer, Iovine built up Interscope records, whose artists include Eminem and U2 in America. His recent contract with parent company Universal Music was worth $50m.
8 Sir Howard Stringer Chief executive of the Sony Corporation and highest placed Brit on the list. The saviour of Columbia Pictures and CBS Television, his next task is to launch Sony’s online music store.
9 Bono The Irish rock legend has forged a second career as a campaigner on global issues, including Aids. When he is not managing the U2 brand, which nets about £35m a year, he is doing good deeds.
10 Chris Martin One minute the Coldplay frontman was a geek in an anorak, the next he was a world famous singer with two albums and a Hollywood star, Gwyneth Paltrow, on his arm.
11 50 Cent The bullet-scarred gangsta rapper signed by Eminem and Dr Dre has his own line of trainers. His new album and an autobiography about his upbringing in New York are out in the autumn.
12 Rick Rubin The most influential producer working today, he co-founded Def Jam, worked with Run-DMC and Aerosmith, made albums with Johnny Cash and produces the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
13 Rolf Schmidt-Holtz Chairman and chief executive of BMG, he oversees Avril Lavigne and Pink. Currently masterminding BMG’s merger with Sony and expected to become chairman of the group.
14 Clive Davis The head of BMG North America was axed in 2000, and retaliated by setting up his own label and discovering Alicia Keys. BMG then offered him $150m to rejoin the company.
15 Simon Fuller The creator of Pop Idol and former manager of the Spice Girls owns 19 Entertainment, managing artists such as Gareth Gates. The Pop Idol format has been exported to 18 countries.
16 Sir Paul McCartney The 62-year-old former Beatle, who headlined the Glastonbury Festival on Saturday night, is currently on a summer tour of Europe and also has a new album on the way.
17 Britney Spears The show is not over. She duetted with Madonna and her last hit, “Toxic,” was her first number one since “Oops! I Did It Again”. She has a greatest hits album coming out next year.
18 Jack White Fans of the White Stripes frontman range from Iggy Pop to Joss Stone and he is dating the actress Renée Zellweger. He turned down $1m for a Gap advert.
19 Dr Dre The founding father of gangsta rap with NWA in the Eighties was behind artists including Tupac, Snoop Dogg and Eminem, and can claim much of the credit for the success of 50 Cent. Dr Dre recently decided to abandon recording the final album of his career, which was to be called Detox. He is currently producing Busta Rhymes’ next album, due for release next year, and continues to work with rappers including The Game.
20 Van Toffler The president of MTV is credited with reviving the career of Ozzy Osbourne by bringing his dysfunctional family to the small screen. He also brought the wacky gore-fest Jackass to MTV.
21 Lyor Cohen The new chief executive of US recorded music for Warner Bros.
22 Kanye WestThe producer-turned rapper dubbed “the new Pharrell”.
23 Bob Dylan The rock legend whose debut album was released 42 years ago.
24 Michael Gondry Music video director behind Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
25 Dave Grohl Lead singer of the Foo Fighters.
26 Alan Levy The Frenchman who runs EMI.
27 Madonna The pop legend who now wants to be known as Esther.
28 Beyoncé Knowles Solo artist and former member of Destiny’s Child.
29 Michael Bebel The boss of Napster, the now legitimate former music pirates.
30 Thom Yorke Radiohead frontman.
31 Rich Harrison R&B producer whose clients include Janet Jackson and Usher.
32 Yoko Ono John Lennon’s widow and the chief curator of his legacy.
33 Terry McBride Head of Nettwerk Productions and manager-mogul to Dido
34 R Kelly R&B legend who is facing child-porn charges.
35 Spike Jonze Music video producer for the Beastie Boys and Fat Boy Slim
36 Antonio “LA” Reid R&B hitmaker turned Def-Jam chairman.
37 Linda Perry Grammy-nominated songwriter who penned Pink’s “Get the Party Started”.
38 Pharrell Williams & Chad Hugo, The Neptunes Music producers behind Justin Timberlake..
39 Jay Berman Head of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
40 Dido The British female solo artist who has enjoyed huge international success.
41 Rod Smallwood & Andy Taylor Heads of music management group Sanctuary.
42 Usher America’s favourite R&B singer.
43 Jeff Kwatinetz Chief executive of The Firm whose clients include Limp Bizkit.
44 Kevin Weatherly Head of Los Angeles radio station KROQ and the Infinity radio network.
45 David Bowie The rock star is recording an album.
46 Justin Timberlake The former boy-band member who has made it as a solo star.
47 Red Hot Chilli Peppers: Anthony Keidis, Flea, John Fruscianti, Chad Smith Californian rockers who have recently enjoyed a revival.
48 Jay-Z Hip-hop legend who turned the Roc-A-Fella label into an urban lifestyle brand.
49 Prince The pint-sized artist is touring the world with his new album Musicology.
50 Norah Jones Ravi Shankar’s daughter has sold more than 25 million records in her own right.
51 Korda Marshall Managing director of East West UK and the executive behind The Darkness and Muse.
52 Beastie Boys The rappers have now turned into political activists.
53 Mick Jagger & Keith Richards The pair have made more than $750m out of Rolling Stones tours since 1989.
54 Simon Cowell Pop Idol presenter and music tycoon.
55 Robbie Williams Former Take That member is planning new singles and a greatest-hits album.
56 George Michael The most-played artist on UK radio over the past 20 years.
57 Gwen Stefani The frontwoman of No Doubt
58 Tim Armstrong Californian rocker and songwriter.
59 Christina Aguilera US pop diva.
60 Big Boi Andre 3000’s partner in OutKast
61 Bruce Springsteen Rock veteran whose tours still sell out.
62 Cliff Burnstein & Peter Mensch A&R men at Q Prime Management behind Metallica, Def Leppard and Shania Twain
63 Martin Dodd Senior vice president Worldwide A&R, Sony who masterminded Britney Spears’s success
64 Timbaland R&B producer who made Missy Elliott and Aaliyah
65 David LaChappelle Pop photographer who was given his first job by Andy Warhol.
66 Cathy Dennis Former 90s pop singer turned songwriter.
67 Courtney Love The key custodian of Kurt Cobain’s back catalogue
68 Metallica: James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammet, Rob Trujillio Veterans of heavy rock.
69 Axl Rose The front man of rockers Guns’N’Roses.
70 John Silva The manager of Nirvana who now oversees the Foo Fighters and the Beastie Boys.
71 Sharon Osbourne The power behind Ozzy.
72 Alex Jones Donnelly Editor of music policy, Radio 1
73 Missy Elliott Hip-hop singer who starred in a Gap advert with Madonna (sorry, Esther).
74 Nigel Godrich Record producer favoured by Radiohead and Travis.
75 Kelly Jones Stereophonics frontman.
76 Beck Individualistic artist whose record contract allows him to do whatever he wants.
77 Morrissey The iconic former frontman of the Smiths.
78 Noel Gallagher Oasis singer-songwriter.
79 Kylie Minogue Australian pop singer who has enjoyed enduring success.
80 Irving Azoff Manager whose clients include Christina Aguilera and the Eagles.
81 Russell Simmons The head of a $300m hip-hop empire.
82 Matt Bellamy The frontman of West Country indie band Muse, who headlined Glastonbury on Sunday.
83 Josh Homme The front man of Queens of the Stone Age.
84 Geoff Travis The indie mastermind behind the Strokes and the Libertines.
85 Janet Jackson Still going strong despite her “wardrobe malfunction” on stage this year.
86 Marilyn Manson The weird-looking rocker and bane of US Christians.
87 Joseph Kahn MTV video director who made the video for Britney Spears‘s Toxic.
88 Lil’ Jon Rap DJ and producer.
89 Sean Paul Jamaican R&B star who has duetted with Beyoncé.
90 Alicia Keys Singer-songwriter who rose to fame as a teenager.
91 Danger Mouse Producer behind the Grey Album, a mix of Jay-Z and the Beatles.
92 Michael Parkinson The Saturday night chat-show host and Radio 2 DJ.
93 Vince Power The head of the Mean Fiddler Group, the festival promoters behind Glastonbury, Reading and Creamfields.
94 Jack Black Star of the film School of Rock.
95 Tim Westwood Veteran hip-hop DJ.
96 Liam Howlett The mastermind of The Prodigy.
97 Ryan Adams Singer-songwriter whose second album Love is Hell was rapturously received.
98 Rollo Armstrong Dido’s producer, co-writer and brother.
99 Michael Eavis Founder of Glastonbury.
100 Mike Skinner The voice of The Streets, credited with capturing Britain in 2004.
From The Indipendent