The pair of surprise albums that the Carter family dropped on us last year has landed them on top of yet another list. This time, music’s wealthiest (and most famous) couple share the No. 1 spot for Billboard’s annual Power 100 list, a ranking of the most influential people in the music business.
Of course, for Jay Z and Beyoncé to be considered “powerful” comes as no surprise, but what makes this most interesting is their dual role as artists and executives — there are no other artists on the list until No. 50, where Bryan “Birdman” Williams shares the spot with his brother Slim.
Power, the publication describes, is “the ability to reshape the world around you according to your vision.”
Jay is noted for his myriad accomplishments, especially of late with Roc Nation, which has a roster that includes Rihanna, Shakira and Timbaland; and now sports stars.
Bey gets a big up for being self-managed through her Parkwood Entertainment, and dropping Beyoncé as bow-down as she did.
“Artists have always had the power, but courage is in short supply,” said Lyor Cohen, a longtime associate of Jay’s, and No. 74 on the list. “It’s just that the hip hop generation believes in the possibilities.”
Birdman and Slim made the Power 100 for their massively successful Cash Money Records, which, in addition to the Young Money Cash Money empire, expanded this year with their recent signees Ace Hood and Austin Mahone, a pop singer who picked up an Artist to Watch honor at the MTV Awards.
“The music business is like fashion — it switches,” Baby said. “You either got to switch with it or be the one to switch it.”
Other household-name executives included on the list are L.A. Reid, TV hosts/executives Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell, and BET’s own Debra Lee.
Source: BET
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