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Mike Caren

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Mike Caren
Caren in 2022
Alma materStern School of Business
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • songwriter
  • record executive
  • music publisher
Websitehttp://artistpg.com
Signature

Michael Caren is an American record executive. He founded Artist Publishing Company in 2007, as well as its subsidiary Artist Partner Group in 2013. He has served as the President of Worldwide A&R at Warner Music Group from 2012 to 2015, as well as the company's Creative Officer until 2020, Executive Vice President of A&R at Atlantic Records from 2007 to 2012, and Co-president of Elektra Entertainment from 2008 to 2012.[1][2][3][4]

Early life

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Caren grew up in Beverly Hills, California.[5] When he was 12 years old, he began DJing at local parties in his neighborhood.[6][7] He attended Beverly Hills High School[8] and worked on a radio and music video show on the school channel. While still in high school, at age 15, Caren was offered an internship at Interscope Records by Fade Duvernay.[7] He also founded a Los Angeles–based high school and college marketing company called Skool Rules Promotions.[9] He attended the Stern School of Business at New York University.[10]

Career

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At age 17, Caren was hired by Big Beat Records (owned by Atlantic Records) for a marketing job, and moved from Los Angeles to New York City to take the role.[7] During his time at Big Beat, he produced songs for the bands The Pharcyde, Heltah Skeltah, Saukrates, and several hip hop artists.[9] After two years in the marketing department, Caren switched over to A&R. Among the first artists he brought to Big Beat was Chicago rapper Twista.[7] While an intern at Interscope Records, Caren worked on a marketing campaign for Tupac Shakur.[5] He then worked for Loud Records, an imprint of RCA Records as a National High School/College Representative Coordinator, and Ruthless Records as a National Marketing Manager.

Caren was promoted to Executive Vice President of A&R at Atlantic Records in 2007. He directly signed acts to label including Trina, Sunshine Anderson, and Trick Daddy.[9] He also discovered and signed Nappy Roots while the group was attending school at Western Kentucky University.[11] Throughout his time with Atlantic, Caren has signed artists including T.I., Plies, Trey Songz, Flo Rida, and Wiz Khalifa, among others. He founded the Artist Publishing Group, a music publishing company in conjunction with Warner/Chappell Music in 2007.[6][12]

In 2009, Caren was named Co-President of the revived Warner-owned Elektra Records alongside John Janick. In his capacity as co-head of the label, he signed and worked directly with artists including CeeLo Green, Bruno Mars, and Ed Sheeran.[12][2][13] In 2012, Caren was named Warner Music Group's President of Worldwide A&R. In this post, he was responsible for artist development across the company's record labels Atlantic Records, Elektra Records, Warner Bros. Records, as well as its international affiliates.[14][15] In the following year, Caren launched Artist Partners Group, a sister-company to Artist Publishing Group which acts as a record label and provides direct marketing, business development, mentoring, and legal support for artists.[16][17]

In 2016, Caren was named the Creative Officer of the Warner Music Group. In this role, Caren acted as an advisor to WMG's global A&R department.[16][18][2] WMG also made a multi-millionaire dollar investment in Artist Partners Group, which houses acts including Kevin Gates and Charlie Puth.[18] His Artist Publishing Group company is responsible for 30 Billboard Hot 100 entries during 2015.[2][19]

In 2021, post a transition with Warner Music, Caren’s Artist Partner Group launched the 2.0, fully independent stage. The first single was Jason Derulo featuring Adam Levine “Lifestyle”, was certified RIAA Gold. It was produced by Artist Publishing Clients Rice N Peas and co written by Artist Publishing client Amy Allen.

In 2022, Caren joined beatBread's Artist Advocacy Council, which provides critical advice to the independent artist-focused music funding platform.

He also announced his partnership with 100 Management, and the representation of producers Cirkut, Stargate, and Alex Da Kid.

In 2023, Caren’s Artist Partner Group announced RIAA certifications of four songs by Odetari, certification of Soldier Kidd’ “Thug Paradise” and platinum certification of Cico P’s “Tampa.” Caren announced his role in co founding social media marketing place Sound.me along with Alex Akimov.

In 2024, Caren announced his role as a co-founder of JEN Music AI, a text to prompt music platform. Caren also announced the official launch of Release.Global, a distribution and marketing platform for independent artists. He also announced Artist Publishing Group’s signing of Veeze, Rich Amiri, Alec Benjamin, and others. Artist Partner announced RIAA certifications of singles by label and publishing client, Lay Bankz.

In 2024, 100 Management also announced the representation of artist/producer/writer Jon Bellion and his Beautiful Mind company.


Selected discography

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List of written or produced songs, showing artist, album, year of release, and selected chart history
Song Year Artist Album Notes
"She Said"[20] 1996 The Pharcyde Labcabincalifornia
"Black Fonzirelliz"[20] 1998 Heltah Skeltah Magnum Force
"Riches to Rags (Mmmkay)"[20] 1999 Nappy Roots Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
"Just a Ride"[20] 2003 Jem Finally Woken
"Take Control"[20] 2007 Amerie Because I Love It US R&B #66[21]
"Swagga Like Us"[20] 2008 T.I. feat. Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne Paper Trail US #5[22]
"I Love College"[12] 2009 Asher Roth Asleep in the Bread Aisle US #12[23]
"Jump"[12] Flo Rida feat. Nelly Furtado R.O.O.T.S. US #54[24]
"Sugar"[20] Flo Rida feat. Wynter Gordon US #5[24]
"Hot Mess"[12] Cobra Starship Hot Mess US #64[25]
"Hell of a Life"[1] 2010 Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
"Dirty Talk"[20] Wynter Gordon With The Music I Die US Dance #1[26]
"The Other Side"[20] Bruno Mars It's Better If You Don't Understand
"Club Can't Handle Me"[20] Flo Rida feat. David Guetta Only One Flo (Part 1) US #9[24]
"Everybody's Girl"[20] 2011 Jennifer Lopez Love?
"Bleed Out"[20] Jason Derulo Bleed Out
"Where Them Girls At"[1] David Guetta feat. Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj Nothing but the Beat US #14[27]
"I Cry"[20] 2012 Flo Rida Wild Ones US #6[24]
"Ring Off"[1] 2013 Beyoncé Beyoncé US R&B #31[28]
"G.D.F.R."[29] 2014 Flo Rida feat. Sage the Gemini and Lookas My House US #8[24]
"Oops" 2016 Little Mix feat. Charlie Puth Glory Days UK #41
"Barbie Dreams" 2023 Fifty Fifty feat. Kaliii Barbie the Album

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Aswad, Jem (12 February 2016). "Warner Music's New Creative Officer Mike Caren on Making Beyonce Beats and Amping Up His Artist Partners Group". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Ingham, Tim (10 February 2016). "Warner promotes Mike Caren to Creative Officer – and pumps millions into his business". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Mike Caren". Billboard.
  4. ^ "Mike Caren - CEO, Artist Partners Group & Creative Officer at Warner Music Group".
  5. ^ a b J., Miranda (26 May 2014). "Warner Music Group's Mike Caren Gives Career Advice To Aspiring A&Rs". XXL. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  6. ^ a b Sullivan, Michelle (15 December 2014). "THE PHILOSOPHY OF MIKE CAREN". The Manifesto. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d "Words of Wisdom from Atlantic Records' A & R, Mike Caren". 24 Hours of Hip Hop. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  8. ^ Samuels, David (30 March 2015). "Nine Rules of Hit Songwriting". WeWork. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  9. ^ a b c Bouwman, Kimbel (16 October 2001). ""Go out and establish a fanbase. Then let the music business people come to you."". HitQuarters. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  10. ^ "No. 84: Mike Caren | Power 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  11. ^ Feinstein, Jessica (21 February 2003). "Atlantic Records VP talks talent". Yale Daily News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  12. ^ a b c d e Houghton, Bruce (2 June 2009). "Atlantic Announces A New Elektra Records Will Be Fueled By Ramen". HypeBot. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  13. ^ "40 Under 40". Fortune. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  14. ^ Morris, Christopher (23 July 2012). "Mike Caren upped at WMG". Variety. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  15. ^ Rys, Dan (23 July 2012). "Mike Caren Named Warner Music Group's President of Worldwide A&R". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  16. ^ a b Faughnder, Ryan (8 February 2016). "Warner Music Group steps up investment in Los Angeles venture for artists". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  17. ^ Zemler, Emily (25 July 2013). "40 Under 40: Mike Caren, Warner Music Group". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  18. ^ a b Atkinson, Claire (8 February 2016). "Artist Partners gets multimillion-dollar boost from Warner Music". New York Post. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  19. ^ Kawashima, Dale (29 June 2015). "Ben Maddahi, President of APG Music, Discusses The Company's Music Publishing Success". Songwriter Universe. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Mike Caren". www.discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  21. ^ "Amerie - Chart History". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  22. ^ "T.I. - Chart History". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  23. ^ "Asher Roth - Chart History". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  24. ^ a b c d e "Flo Rida - Chart History". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  25. ^ "Cobra Starship - Chart History". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  26. ^ "Wynter Gordon - Chart History". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  27. ^ "David Guetta - Chart History". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  28. ^ "Beyoncé - Chart History". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  29. ^ Houghton, Bruce (April 28, 2016). "Warner/Chappell Music Named ASCAP Publisher Of The Year 2016". HypeBot. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
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