INTERSCOPE RECORDS
Current Rank: 8
Previous Rank: 5
With the competition between record labels at an all-time high, Interscope has found a way to stay ahead of compe- tition. The past 12 months have seen the ever-expanding label reach new heights. Shady Aftermath’s acquisition of Top Dog Entertainment—a roster including Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Dr. Dre’s protégée Kendrick Lamar—has paid off extremely well, especially with the release of Kendrick’s good kid, m.A.A.d city. Speaking of Dr. Dre, he and label Co-Founder and Chairman Jimmy Iovine have continued to see remarkable success with their Beats by Dre line. This year the company expanded into even more audio markets, including mobile phones and laptops speakers. The dynamic duo has captured over 40% of the market. And both have remembered to give back to younger generations, by donating $70 million to USC’s new music school. Interscope is definitely on the rise. —James Elliott