Rio Caraeff

Can he save the music business? Caraeff grew Universal's mobile division until it became 45% of the parent's digital revenues, then headed all of digital for the leading label. Earlier this year he was tapped to run Vevo, the high-profile partnership between YouTube and record labels Universal and Sony designed to extract profits from music videos on the web (they're hugely popular, it turns out). Now EMI and Warner Music Group are mulling joining the venture, boosting its potential.

Do-gooder: Caraeff spends a week a year volunteering at an animal shelter in Utah.

Rio has led VEVO since the company was founded in 2009. Previously, Rio was EVP of Universal Music Groups eLabs, responsible for handling the companys electronic commerce initiatives, Internet exploitation, and new technology business opportunities worldwide. He formerly served as GM of Universal Music Mobile. Rios extensive background before Universal included working in new technologies in virtually all areas of entertainment including film, television, music and games for such companies as Sony Pictures Entertainment, Fabric (a Media/Telecom consultancy he co-founded), Sony 550 Digital Media Ventures, Sony Music Entertainment, Capitol Records Group and Propaganda Films.

Rio was featured in Vanity Fair's The Next Establishment (2012, 2010), Billboards The Power 100 (2012) and 40 Under 40 (2012), The Hollywood Reporter's Digital Power 50 (2012), Fortune magazines 40 under 40 (2011, 2010, 2009), Fast Companys 100 Most Creative People in Business (2011), Evening Standard's London's Most Influential (2011) and The Hollywood Reporters Next Generation (2003) as one of the top 35 executives under 35 in Hollywood. He was also named one of the top digital executives to watch in 2010 by both the Los Angeles Times and Digital Media Wire.