Apple executives have received high placings in Billboard's 2017 Power 100, a list of the major players in the music industry, with Eddy Cue, Jimmy Iovine, and Robert Kondrk sharing fourth place behind the chief executives of Live Nation, Universal Music, and Spotify.

Cue, Iovine, and Kondrk earned their placement because of the success of Apple Music, with Billboardnoting the service's fast growth putting it in second place in the on-demand music market behind Spotify. Initiatives such as the exclusive album releases by Drake and Chance the Rapper are highlighted for the success of the albums as well as the service, and though Universal Music Group has banned the practice, the exclusives strategy may continue in the future. 

The expansion of Apple Music's repertoire into film and TV is also noted by the publication, including Drake's short film Please Forgive Me released in September last year, and three other shows currently in production. A quote from Kondrk mentions how the Apple Music team "thinks about feeding the beast every day," working to add exclusive album tracks or video content for subscribers to enjoy. 

The trio were beaten by Live Nation Entertainment CEO Michael Rapino and UMG CEO Lucian Grainge, in third and second place respectively. At the top of the list is Daniel Ek, the chairman and CEO of Spotify, improving on last year's tenth place ranking by being rated the most important person on the list. 

The fourth place of Iovine, Cue, and Kondrk is a slight demotion from last year, when the three were joined by Trent Reznor at third place on the list. 

Further down the list are two other Apple employees, also sharing the same position. Larry Jackson, the Head of Original Content for iTunes and Apple Music, is in 67th place alongside Head of Global Consumer Marketing for iTunes and Apple Music Bozoma Saint John.

Source: appleinsider