All hail Beyoncé and Jay Z. The superstar couple reigns atop Billboard’s Power 100, an annual list of the most influential people in the music business.
They are the first celebrities to ever claim the No. 1 spot on the magazine’s list of industry titans.
Beyoncé was recognized for her self-titled album, which took the industry by storm when it unexpectedly arrived in December. It has gone on to sell more than 1.5 million copies in the U.S.
“She took a high risk and was highly rewarded for it,” said Guy Oseary, who manages Madonna and U2. “I love what she did. Thank you, Beyoncé—it brings much-needed excitement and buzz to our industry.”
Jay Z also rewrote the rules with the release of his album Magna Carta…Holy Grail. Samsung purchased 1 million copies before it even went on sale to the public and gave it away for free to their users.
“Artists have always had the power but courage is in short supply. It’s just that the hip-hop generation believes in the possibilities,” said Jay Z’s longtime associate Lyor Cohen. “Jay and Beyoncé don’t listen to the noise—they make the noise.”
The game-changing duo joins a prestigious list that also includes Bryan “Birdman” Williams and Ronald “Slim” Williams, L.A. Reid, Ryan Seacrest, and Justin Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun.
The Power 100 issue of Billboard hits newsstands today. See the full list here.
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