Mike Caren

Caren grew up in Beverly Hills, California.{{cite magazine | last=J.| first=Miranda| title =Warner Music Group's Mike Caren Gives Career Advice To Aspiring A&Rs| magazine = XXL| date =26 May 2014 | url =http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2014/05/warner-music-groups-mike-caren-gives-career-advice-aspiring-ars/| access-date =18 April 2016}} When he was 12 years old, he began DJing at local parties in his neighborhood.{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Michelle |date=15 December 2014 |title=THE PHILOSOPHY OF MIKE CAREN |publisher=The Manifesto |url=http://themanifesto.co/feature/2014/mike-caren |access-date=18 April 2016}}{{cite news | title =Words of Wisdom from Atlantic Records' A & R, Mike Caren| publisher =24 Hours of Hip Hop| date =20 April 2009 | url =http://24hourhiphop.com/features/exclusive-interviews/words-of-wisdom-from-atlantic-records-a-r-mike-caren/| access-date =18 April 2016}} He attended Beverly Hills High School{{cite news | last=Samuels| first=David| title =Nine Rules of Hit Songwriting| publisher =WeWork| date =30 March 2015 | url =https://creator.wework.com/how-to-guides/mike-carens-nine-rules-of-hit-songwriting/| access-date =18 April 2016}} 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. He also founded a Los Angeles–based high school and college marketing company called Skool Rules Promotions.{{cite news | last=Bouwman| first=Kimbel| title ="Go out and establish a fanbase. Then let the music business people come to you."| publisher =HitQuarters| date =16 October 2001 | url =http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/2001/October16_14_28_32.html| access-date =18 April 2016}} He attended the Stern School of Business at New York University.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8096114/no-84-mike-caren-power-100|title=No. 84: Mike Caren {{!}} Power 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-09-18}}

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. During his time at Big Beat, he produced songs for the bands The Pharcyde, Heltah Skeltah, Saukrates, and several hip hop artists. 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. While an intern at Interscope Records, Caren worked on a marketing campaign for Tupac Shakur. 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. He also discovered and signed Nappy Roots while the group was attending school at Western Kentucky University.{{cite news|last=Feinstein |first=Jessica |title=Atlantic Records VP talks talent |newspaper=Yale Daily News |date=21 February 2003 |url=http://www.yaledailynews.com:80/articles/view/7007 |access-date=18 April 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225192246/http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/7007 |archive-date=February 25, 2009 }} 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.{{cite news |last=Houghton |first=Bruce |date=2 June 2009 |title=Atlantic Announces A New Elektra Records Will Be Fueled By Ramen |publisher=HypeBot |url=http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2009/06/atlantic-announces-a-new-elektra-records-will-be-fueled-by-ramen.html |access-date=18 April 2016}}

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.{{cite magazine | title =40 Under 40| magazine =Fortune| date =25 October 2011 | url =https://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/news/companies/1110/gallery.40_under_40.fortune/32.html| access-date =18 April 2016}} 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.{{cite magazine |last=Morris |first=Christopher |date=23 July 2012 |title=Mike Caren upped at WMG |url=https://variety.com/2012/music/news/mike-caren-upped-at-wmg-1118056938/ |magazine=Variety |access-date=18 April 2016}}{{cite magazine |last=Rys |first=Dan |date=23 July 2012 |title=Mike Caren Named Warner Music Group's President of Worldwide A&R |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/executive-turntable/1084526/mike-caren-named-warner-music-groups-president-of-worldwide |magazine=Billboard |access-date=18 April 2016}} 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.{{cite news |last=Faughnder |first=Ryan |date=8 February 2016 |title=Warner Music Group steps up investment in Los Angeles venture for artists |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-warner-music-artist-partners-group-20160208-story.html |access-date=18 April 2016}}{{cite magazine |last=Zemler |first=Emily |date=25 July 2013 |title=40 Under 40: Mike Caren, Warner Music Group |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/4642077/40-under-40-mike-caren-warner-music-group |magazine=Billboard |access-date=18 April 2016}}

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.{{cite news |last=Atkinson |first=Claire |date=8 February 2016 |title=Artist Partners gets multimillion-dollar boost from Warner Music |newspaper=New York Post |url=https://nypost.com/2016/02/08/artist-partners-gets-multimillion-dollar-boost-from-warner-music/ |access-date=18 April 2016}} WMG also made a multi-millionaire dollar investment in Artist Partners Group, which houses acts including Kevin Gates and Charlie Puth. His Artist Publishing Group company is responsible for 30 Billboard Hot 100 entries during 2015.{{cite news | last=Kawashima| first=Dale| title =Ben Maddahi, President of APG Music, Discusses The Company's Music Publishing Success| publisher =Songwriter Universe| date =29 June 2015 | url =http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/ben-maddahi-apg-2015.htm| access-date =18 April 2016}}

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 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, Artist Publishing Group was named #6 on Billboard Magazine's Top Publishing Corporations and the #1 fully independent Publisher. Also, Artist Partner Group was one of only 8 labels to have 3 or more artists with RIAA certifications for the first time. Release.Global distribution also announced real time payment systems in partnership with Trolly which has enabled the distribution platform to some of the industries fastest payments.

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Category:1977 births

Category:Living people

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:American music industry executives

Category:Record producers from California

Category:Songwriters from California

Category:American male songwriters

Category:A&R people