(L-R) Global Head of Country Music at Spotify, John Marks and Lil Nas X visits the Spotify House during CMA Fest at Ole Red on June 06, 2019 in Nashville.
Brett Carlsen/Getty Images for SpotifyMonths after he ended a run as Spotify USA global head of country programming, John Marks has established a new consulting firm, JohnMarks.me, to assist artists and their associated teams as they develop streaming strategies.
Marks' five-year tenure at Spotify built atop his previous history as SiriusXM head of country programming and a lengthy programming background at radio stations in San Diego; Salt Lake City; Little Rock, Ark.; Beaumont, Texas; and Cincinnati.
That experience provides him an insider's perspective that mirrors the skills of the country industry at large: The collective business has established familiarity with promoting to the needs of broadcasters for decades, but it now focuses frequently on a newer streaming platform with its own set of data that's influenced by a different array of consumer uses and built-in functions. The language and the needs of the platform don't always overlap with the best practices at terrestrial radio.
"Even though there is no rhyme or reason to a lot of it, I've been able to look at the data on a lot of music, and I have what I feel is a reasonable approach to what is more likely to stream than others,"says Marks.
Marks' knowledge base includes insights on release strategies, social media and some A&R decisions.
"Even though there is no rhyme or reason to a lot of it, I've been able to look at the data on a lot of music, and I have what I feel is a reasonable approach to what is more likely to stream than others,"says Marks.
Marks' knowledge base includes insights on release strategies, social media and some A&R decisions.
London four piece Keo are on course to land their first UK Number 1 album with Put A Smile On For Me. After building a loyal audience over the past two years, the London band now lead this week’s Official Albums Chart update. Their debut record explores love, guilt, and self destruction.
Nothing But Thieves are close behind at Number 2 with their fifth album, Stray Dogs. The Southend band are hoping for a second straight Number 1 after Dead Club City reached the top in 2023. Taylor Swift is at Number 3 with The Life Of A Showgirl, helped by the expanded The Encore edition. Olivia Rodrigo’s You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In sits at Number 4, while Soft Cell’s Danceteria opens at Number 5. It is the synth pop duo’s final album together following Dave Ball’s death last year.
Europe could reach Number 9 with Come This Madness, giving the Swedish rock band its first UK Top 10 album in four decades. A 30th anniversary reissue of Alice In Chains’ MTV Unplugged is at Number 13 in the midweek update, with Orbital’s Glastonbury 1994 set at Number 14. Julia Jacklin is heading for her first Top 40 album as The Gem reaches Number 18, while Suede’s Coming Up returns at Number 23 after its 30th anniversary physical release.
Also on track for Top 40 places are Nessa Barrett’s Tough Love at Number 29, the companion soundtrack to LINKIN PARK: UNSHATTER at Number 30, and Dublin band Gurriers’ Nobody’s Coming To Save You at Number 31. Blondshell, Kneecap, Tina Turner, and Leon Bridges also appear in the lower half of the midweek chart.
The official positions will be announced when the final Albums Chart is published on Friday.
