Ryan Seacrest
Radio/TV host
TV producer
Twitter: @ryanseacrest
POWER MOVE: His expanding production empire now includes a music cable channel, AXS, launched with Mark Cuban and AEG.
THE RUNDOWN: Seacrest has built a major production empire within NBC and E!, assumed an expanded role as executive producer/host of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” and also joined Mark Cuban and AEG to launch a new music cable channel, AXS TV. But he singles out his daily work in radio — as morning host at Los Angeles pop powerhouse KIIS-FM and nationally syndicated host (“On Air With Ryan Seacrest”) — as the job that keeps him most closely connected with the music industry.
“You’re in the midst of products and singles, that goes back to the old-school excitement of hearing what’s being sent to the station this week, or who’s coming by to perform,” Seacrest says. “Without coming into that office every day, I wouldn’t be in that mix.”
Seacrest, who continues to host “American Idol” on Fox and reaches about 18 million viewers per show, feels that the past year was particularly good for new artists at pop radio.
“Guitars and strings weren’t part of people’s vocabulary [a year ago], but with the Lumineers and fun. breaking through, we have great records coming onto pop playlists,” he says. “Now it’s R&B with Frank Ocean and Miguel — the Jay-Z and Justin [Timberlake] track [“Suit & Tie”] has that vibe. We’re going to see R&B move into the pop world during the next quarter.”