Capitol Music Group CEO Tom March on the ‘Incredible’ Sienna Spiro, Breaking Sam Fender in the U.S. & More
Categoria: Musica
Two years into his tenure, March discusses CMG's recent hot streak, growing the Christian music division and keeping the label's legacy alive.
Por Billboard | 20/08/2026
It’s a sunny afternoon in late July, and it’s been a particularly good day for Capitol Music Group (CMG) chairman/CEO Tom March : Already, Paul McCartney received his first-ever Mercury Prize nomination; Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) garnered 112 Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Award nominations, its most in at least a decade; and two of the label’s brightest stars, Doechii and Leon Thomas , landed on Michelle and Barack Obama’s annual summer playlist. But there’s plenty more good news for the 45-year-old March, who took over the top spot in February 2024. British singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro ’s career is skyrocketing, with her debut album, Visitor , coming in at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 in July and breakout single “Die on This Hill” reaching No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sam Fender , whom March signed when he was co-president at Polydor in the United Kingdom, is sitting atop the U.K. Official Singles Chart with his Olivia Dean duet, “Rein Me In,” which broke the record for most weeks at No. 1 on that list, now at 21. Meanwhile, each of rapper Yeat ’s last three albums have debuted in the top five on the Billboard 200; new artists like British rapper EsDeeKid and Slovak singer-songwriter Adéla are breaking through; rockers Yungblud and Royel Otis continue to gain audiences; and superstars like Katy Perry are having streaming resurgences. The British-born March, a self- proclaimed “ ’90s indie boy,” is taking it all in with a cup of tea as sunlight streams into his spacious office in Hollywood’s Capitol Tower, which reopened in December following more than three years of renovations. March became U.S. president of Geffen Records in 2022, following 16 years with Universal Music Group (UMG) in the United Kingdom, where his roles included co-president of Polydor for six years, as well as GM of Virgin Records, after starting at Island Records U.K. As chairman/CEO, March, who reports to Interscope Capitol chairman/ CEO John Janick , oversees Capitol Records, Blue Note Records, Motown Records, Astralwerks, Harvest Records and CCMG. The company also maintains fruitful partnerships with such imprints as Top Dawg Entertainment, Quality Control, Field Trip, EZMNY Records, Wave Group and Disorder. And after finishing 2025 with a 4.40% current market share, Capitol is up to 4.78% through Aug. 6, according to Luminate. As he gazes out upon the Hollywood sign, March reflects on his role. “I’m a custodian of one of, if not the greatest record company ever, and, without a doubt, the most impressive building in the history of music,” he says. “So my job while I’m the custodian of Capitol and the other labels that form our group is, how can you leave it in a better place than you took over, and how can you build on that legacy?” What is the division of duties between you and former Universal Music Publishing Group executive Lillia Parsa, who was named CMG president when you started? &