This guy is the greatest. I had no idea he produced a bulk of Adele's number one record this past year. It sort of all makes sense now. Running side by side with his immense talent to produce artists in the studio, for the past 3 years now Rick's been Co-Chairman of Columbia Records. He has some wonderful thoughts on what the music industry needs to be doing differently and there's some great tidbits on upcoming work. Shout to Mahdude for the heads up.

"People love music more than they ever have and ... are willing to pay for music," he said. "It's just a question of finding the best way for that to happen, without holding onto any of the past. I think with certain artists you want to hear their album ... and then there are other artists who I like where maybe it's more about the single. I don't think there is going to be one way that everything works. I think people will have many more options and choices of how to digest music, and hopefully the labels will get to the point where they are in the business of serving the audience instead of trying to hold on to an old model. Ultimately if they do service the audience, I think it's going to be a big business -- a bigger business than it has ever been."


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