Billboard

This week’s very special issue: Billboard’s Power 100 List

You may not know Irving Azoff by face, or even by name, but rest assured that the chairman of Live Nation ­- the world’s largest promoter, ticketing company and artist management group - is the most powerful person in the music industry. Azoff topped the first-ever Billboard Power 100 list, a ranking of where power and influence resides in the music business and the industries that intersect with it.Find out who else made the list.

While most of the executives on the list are behind-the-scenes power players, there are 11 names that even casual music fans will instantly recognize. Jay, Bey, U2, Gaga… they’re right up there, too.