Capitol Music Group chairman and CEO Steve Barnett had tremendous ambition for Sam Smith from the moment he saw him perform during a visit to the UK. It was a level of ambition so big, in fact, that it startled his UK colleagues.

“Steve saw Sam perform at Islington Town Hall and he was blown away,” says Capitol UK boss Nick Raphael. “But when Stay With Me came in as a recording, that was when Steve went, ‘Right, not ...