Rob Stringer is CEO of Sony Music, one of the world's biggest record labels, with offices in 43 countries and $5bn revenue. In this in-depth interview, he reveals how a punk fan from Aylesbury made it to the very top of the global music industry; what it’s really like working with stars like Beyoncé, Adele, and Harry Styles, and how they deal with the darker side of fame; why no one really cares about the charts any more; and how in spite of streaming apps killing traditional record sales, there are still healthy profits to be made.