ATLANTIC RECORDS
Current Rank: 21
Previous Rank: 9
The super hot trio of Julie Greenwald, Craig Kallman, and Michael Kyser are back again, making power moves that are taking them one step closer to being the best. In a slumping industry, US music sales were up 3.1% in 2012 thanks to digital sales, a milestone led by Atlantic, which in 2008 became the first major label with more than half of its music sales sold digitally. They also acquired Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group, putting them in position to take control of the rap game with artists such as T.I., Lupe Fiasco, Young Jeezy, Wiz Khalifa, Bruno Mars, Rick Ross (officially signed to Def Jam but also recording on Maybach), Meek Mill, Wale, Teedra Moses, Stalley, French Montana (with Bad Boy Entertain- ment), and Omarion. —Charles Fisher & Randy Fisher
