Mike Caren: A&R Legend on His Career, Artist Development, Songwriting, APG, Music, Publishing, AI
Video Overview & Insights
Episode 80: Mike Caren.
11:41 💎
13:29 | 29:30 Songwriting;Writers (Publishing)
41:20
1:18:48 Productions
Alt’, Rave/Snowboard
If you’re in the music industry, you hear the name Mike Caren all the time. He’s one of the most powerful people in music, with a career that’s led to billions of streams, multiple GRAMMY wins, and chart-topping, career-defining hits as both an A&R and executive.
He’s signed and/or helped break artists like Bruno Mars, Charlie Puth, Ed Sheeran, Kehlani, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Wiz Khalifa, Flo Rida, T.I., Trey Songz, Ava Max, Kevin Gates, and Don Toliver.
Awesome interview! Going to clip to send you some artist traffic.
He started his career at Atlantic Records at just 18 years old, eventually becoming President of Worldwide A&R at Warner Music Group. Today, he is the founder and CEO of APG, which includes Artist Partner Group (label) and Artist Publishing Group (publishing), one of the most successful independent music companies in the world.
This is Mike Caren’s first-ever long-form, on-camera interview. Mike usually keeps a low profile, so I was honored he agreed to do this. We dive into his full trajectory, how he got where he is today, lessons learned, and his advice for artists, songwriters, and A&Rs trying to build meaningful careers in today’s music landscape. We also talk artist development, the balance of creativity and business, AI and more. There’s so much to take away from this one.
I’ll be signed to APG soon
Hope you enjoy my conversation with the great Mike Caren!
Special thanks to Apogee Electronics. We used their Apogee HypeMic and Podcast Kit in this episode and they sounded great. Check it out!
Pretty sure he signed any artists that starts with the letter “T.”
Apogee HypeMic & Podcast Kit: https://hubs.li/Q03zczhb0
‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights.
A legend. Great insights!
0:00:00 - INTRO
0:07:13 - EARLY CAREER, GROWING UP
❤️🔥✨️💫⚡️
0:08:22 - RADIO SHOW WITH THE ALCHEMIST
0:09:20 - INTERSCOPE RECORDS INTERNSHIP 1993
I used to hang at the Ruthless offices in Canoga Park when I was 16. I would go after school and jump on Jerry Heller‘s couch and they said stop jumping. There are guns in between the seat cushions. It’s true!
0:13:10 - PROVIDE VALUE
0:14:34 - MARKETING ROLES
GOLD
0:17:14 - CRAIG KALLMAN, BIG BEAT, ATLANTIC
0:19:21 - BLACK EYED PEAS, SIGNING TWISTA
Legendary one!
0:21:56 - THE PHARCYDE REMIX, STARTING IN A&R
0:24:23 - BECOMING EVP OF A&R AT ATANIC RECORDS, SIGNING TRICK DADDY, TRINA, T.I., TREY SONGZ, NAPPY ROOTS,
0:28:10 - STARTING APG
0:31:37 - ATLANTIC AND APG
0:33:18 - BEING AN EXEC WHILE RUNNING A PUBLISHING COMPANY, STARTING ELEKTRA RECORDS
0:34:15 - CEELO GREEN
LOVE these interviews, love this pod, but i do wish it would just start with a short intro and then jump right in. i dont need the sizzle reel at the top. thankfully you also leave bookmarks which is really helpful 💜
0:34:30 - B.O.B, “NOTHING ON YOU” WITH BRUNO MARS
0:35:13 - ED SHEERAN
Wowww what a great interview😊😊😊 i wish he would have talked the label Big Beat Records (early days)much more.. my auntie R.I.H Joanne Thomas had a deal with Big Beat/Atlantic records and her Dance/R&B group Jomanda from 1990-1994🔥🔥
0:36:49 - BRUNO MARS, BRANDY, AARON BAY-SCHUCK
0:41:09 - BEING A CO-PRESIDENT WITH JOHN JANICK
3:00 - Wooooow What an intro!!! Saving this in my "Insperation" playlist! 👏 Aloha from Hawaii! 🤙
0:42:35 - SIA & DAVID GUETTA “TITANIUM”
0:48:23 - PRESIDENT OF A&R WARNER MUSIC GROUP, SIGNING KEVIN GATES
wow so dope Elmo! Thanks for sharing! Still chasing this legend!
0:51:57 - CHARLIE PUTH, WIZ KHALIFA, LIL WAYNE
0:54:09 - KEHLANI
Great and needed interview
0:56:16 - “SEE YOU AGAIN” CHARLIE PUTH
0:57:43 - CREDITING
thats so coo he mentioned bandlab cause ive been using bandlab for years and years to chock down basic first ideas and bring it to my producer at my next studio session!! i really enjoyed this interview first time hearing about this guy!
1:03:01 - HOW TO PRIORITIZE
1:10:10 - CRAFTING HIT SONGS IN 2025
Great insights! 😊
1:17:24 - A.I.
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Extremely insightful! Thank you 🙏🏽
Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://elmolovano.komi.io/
Follow Mike:
I can't believe we get to listen to all of this information for free, Mike Caren is a legend. I want to work for him so bad!
https://www.instagram.com/mikecaren/
Follow Go With Elmo:
Mike Caren is an industry legend. When he talks, I listen!
https://www.instagram.com/gowithelmo/
https://www.tiktok.com/@gowithelmo
This was one of the few best interviews from Mike Caren so many gems and explains why he is successful where he is
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Follow Elmo Lovano:
Mike is a legend. This interview is great!
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👏👏👏✨
Follow Jammcard:
https://www.youtube.com/@jammcard
It’s rare to hear someone this high up speak with such clarity and honesty. I learned so much. Thanks for this! 😊
jammcard.com
Mike's work ethic is so impressive! This interview is packed with valuable insight and information for aspiring A&R's, songwriters, and artists