Wikipedia

Sylvia Rhone

Sylvia Rhone(born March 11, 1952) is an American record company executive. Since 2019, she is thechair and CEOofEpic Records,a label owned bySony Music Entertainment.[1][2][3]

Sylvia Rhone
Chairwoman & CEO ofEpic Records
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 2019
PresidentEzekiel Lewis(2020-Present)
Preceded byLA Reid
President OfMotown Records
In office
October 2004 – 2011
Preceded byKedar Massenburg
Succeeded byEthiopia Habtemariam
Chairwoman and CEO of theElektra Entertainment Group
In office
July 1994 – October 2004
Preceded byRobert J. Morgado
Succeeded bySteve Bartels
CEO&PresidentofEastWest Records
In office
1990–1994

Rhone served previously in senior positions at Vested In Culture,Universal Motown,Elektra Entertainment Group,andAtlantic Records.[4]

In October 2004, Rhone was appointed president ofMotown Recordsandexecutive vice presidentofUniversal Records.Prior to herUniversal Motownrole, Rhone served as chairwoman and CEO of theElektra Entertainment Group.[5]Rhone's appointment in 1994 as chairwoman and CEO of EEG established her as the onlyAfrican Americanand the first woman in the history of the recording industry to attain such a title.[6][7][8][9]

Early life and education

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Born inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvaniaon March 11, 1952, and raised inHarlem,New York,[6]Rhone has cited her early exposure to seminalR&Bshows at theApollo Theatreas pivotal to her belief in music as an inspirational force. She cited influences in R&B such asAretha FranklinandElla Fitzgerald.[10]In addition to R&B, Rhone also enjoyed rock music through artists likeJimi HendrixandJanis Joplin.[10]Accepted at theWharton Schoolat theUniversity of Pennsylvania,Rhone graduated with aB.S.inEconomics.[6]

Career

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Rhone got a job atBankers TrustinNew York Citysoon after graduating college, but pursued her passion for music by landing a job as a secretary forBuddha Recordsin 1974. In a succession of promotions over the next six years, she also held positions atABC RecordsandAriola Records.Rhone was previously part of theElektrafamily in 1980 as northeast regional promotion manager for special markets, and she was eventually promoted to director of national black music marketing forAtlantic Records.

Atlantic Records

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Credited with helping to realign Atlantic's black music business, Rhone took on broader responsibilities inA&Randmarketingin 1986 with her promotion to senior vice president and general manager ofAtlantic Records.At Atlantic, Rhone managed such artists asEn Vogue,the System,Levert,Bob Baldwin,Brandy,Yo Yo,the D.O.C.,MC Lyte,Chuckii Booker,Miki Howard,Gerald Albrightandthe Rude BoysandChris Bender (singer).It was under her leadership thatBillboardmagazinenamed Atlantic the #1 Black Music Division in 1988.[11]

Rhone's career has been highlighted by multiple firsts: In 1990 she became the firstAfrican Americanwoman to head a major record company when she was named CEO and president of Atlantic'sEastWest RecordsAmerica division. A year later when theEastWestartist roster and operations were combined with those ofAtco Records,Rhone was named chairwoman and CEO ofAtco/EastWestand subsequently of EastWest Records America.

AtEastWest,she was directly involved in introducing several newcomers as well as helping established stars gain new success, includingEn Vogue,Gerald Levert,PanteraandDas EFX.She also played a role in furthering the careers ofAC/DCandSimply Red,who eventually became EEG artists.Atlantic Records' founderAhmet Erteguncommented on Rhone's success during the period, calling her administration one of "innovation, imagination, and freshness."[2]

In 1993, she was cited byEbonymagazineas one of the top up-and-coming black executives in the entertainment industry.

Elektra Entertainment Group

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In July 1994, Rhone was hired byWarner Music GroupchairmanDoug Morristo become chairwoman and CEO of theElektra Entertainment Group.[12][13]TheLos Angeles Timescalled Rhone "the most powerful woman in the music business", citing her as the onlyAfrican Americanand the first woman in the history of the recording industry to attain the dual title.[14][15]

Rhone guided the merger ofElektra,EastWest(of which she was formerly CEO) andSire Recordsinto one of theWarner Music Group's most diverse and competitive labels. Rhone was directly involved in the launch and guidance of multiple best-selling artists, includingMissy Elliott,Busta Rhymes,Tracy Chapman,Yolanda Adams,Metallica,Natalie Merchant,Gerald Levert,Ol' Dirty Bastard,Fabolous,Jason Mraz,andThird Eye Blind,among others.[16]

Motown and Universal Motown Records

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In 2004, Rhone was appointed president ofMotown Records,executive vice president ofUniversal Records,with the chairman ofUniversal Music Group,Doug Morris,calling her "a rainmaker"[citation needed],andUniversal MotownRecord Group chairman Mel Lewinter citing Rhone as a "natural to lead Motown's evolution into the future".[17]Under Rhone's stewardship, Motown reinvigorated both roster and staff, re-tooling the label into one of the savvier digital music business platforms. Rhone addedAkon,India.Arie,Erykah Badu,Lil Wayne,Chamillionaireand others to the label.

In February 2006, theUniversal Musiclabel split into two labels,Universal Republic RecordsandUniversal Motown Records,with Rhone serving as president of the latter. Rhone's approach helped to raise the global identity ofCash Money Records,while also placing an increased emphasis onUniversal Motownartists' connecting with fans via social media.

Rhone declined to signDrake,[18]who would later sign a distribution deal with Universal for one of the largest advances to an unsigned artist in history.

Rhone stepped down from being president of the company in 2011.[19]

Sony Music Entertainment/Epic and Vested In Culture

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In 2012, Rhone became CEO of her self-established label Vested In Culture, which was distributed through Epic Records.[20]In 2014, Rhone was named President of Epic Records, where she has overseen the release of projects including Travis Scott's No. 1 albumAstroworld,Camila Cabello's #1 debut albumCamila,and the smash single "Havana," which was recently named the biggest single of 2018 by the IFPI.[21][22]Since 2017, Rhone has been the head of Epic Records' operations.[23]

Rhone was named Chairwoman and CEO ofEpic Recordsin 2019.[24]Under Rhone's leadership, the label has placed three artists simultaneously in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 Albums chart twice, withTravis Scott's albumAstroworlddebuting at the top spot and returning to No. 1 again at the end of 2018. Rhone has guided multiple artists to the top of the charts at Epic Records, includingTravis Scott,Camila Cabello,21 Savage,Future,DJ Khaled,French Montana,Meghan Trainorand others.

She has also been recognized for bringing unprecedented hip hop success to the label and projects fromFuture,21 Savage,and others.[25]

Honors and awards

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Rhone was ranked No. 35 on Billboard's Annual Power 100 List in 2019.[26]She appeared at No. 29 in 2025.[27]

Rhone received the City Of Hope's Spirit Of Life Award in October, 2019, presented by former U.S. Attorney GeneralEric Holder.[28][29][30][31]

Rhone received theMidem2019 Hall Of Fame Award,[32]in association with Billboard, at their 53rd annual conference in June, 2019, where Rhone gave the keynote address.

Rhone received an honorary doctorate from theBerklee College of Musicin April, 2019.[33]

In 2019 Rhone was profiled inVariety.[34]

2018 Rhone was profiled in Billboard Magazine as "Sony Music's Most powerful African-American Woman."[35]

In 2018, Rhone received the Culture Creators Icon Award,[36][37]where Rhone stated in her acceptance speech "Our one common goal is to protect the culture."

Rhone is a member of the board of directors of theRock and Roll Hall of Fame.[38]

References

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  1. ^"Sylvia Rhone Promoted to Chairman & CEO of Epic Records".Variety.April 23, 2019.
  2. ^ab"The Inspirational Music Legend Harlem's Sylvia Rhone".Harlem World Magazine.2019-04-24.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  3. ^"Trailblazing Music Industry Titan Sylvia Rhone Appointed Chairman and CEO of Epic Records".Essence.23 October 2020.Retrieved2022-12-13.
  4. ^Halperin, Shirley (2013-02-14)."Sylvia Rhone on New Label and Undoing 'Old-School Models' That Segregate Along Genre Lines (Q&A)".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2022-12-13.
  5. ^Jones, Gareth R. (January 2007).Introduction to business: how companies create value for people.McGraw-Hill/Irwin. p. 206.ISBN978-0-07-352456-6.Retrieved4 July2011.
  6. ^abcContemporary Black biography. Volume 2: profiles from the international Black community.Bigelow, Barbara C. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research. 1992.ISBN9781414435305.OCLC643557099.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ^"The League - Sylvia Rhone Alumni Spotlight".theleagueonline.org.Retrieved2021-12-28.
  8. ^"Why Sylvia Rhone Isn't Scared of Losing | Berklee".berklee.edu.Retrieved2021-12-28.
  9. ^"Sylvia Rhone - Sony Music".Sony Music Entertainment.Retrieved2021-12-28.
  10. ^ab"How Sylvia Rhone Became Sony Music's Most Powerful African-American Woman: 'Many Questioned My Ability'".Billboard.Retrieved2019-04-22.
  11. ^"Black Executives Quietly Rising in Music Industry: Pop music: African-Americans have made top-level gains in the record business, but critics claim that racism still exists".Los Angeles Times.1991-12-28.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  12. ^Hofmeister, Sallie (1994-07-20)."COMPANY NEWS; Warner Music Group Names Chairwoman for New Unit".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  13. ^Strauss, Neil (1995-01-02)."Winds of Change Hit Music's Top Tier".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  14. ^"COVER STORY: You've Still Got a Long Way to Go, Baby".Los Angeles Times.1993-04-18.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  15. ^Landler, Mark (1995-11-27)."Time Warner Wins a Tug-of-War".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  16. ^"Elektra Makes Offer for Bad Boy Label".Los Angeles Times.2002-07-30.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  17. ^Gallo, Phil (October 4, 2004). "Music Maven Finds Groove at Motown".Daily Variety Gotham.p. 5 – via Reed Business Information database.
  18. ^Ju, Shirley (2020-08-26)."Akon Passed Up Signing Drake Because He 'Sounded Like Eminem'".Variety.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  19. ^Morris, Christopher (August 10, 2011)."Ethiopia Habtemariam upped at Motown".Variety.Retrieved17 August2011.
  20. ^Halperin, Shirley (2013-02-14)."Sylvia Rhone on New Label and Undoing 'Old-School Models' That Segregate Along Genre Lines (Q&A)".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  21. ^"It's Official: Sylvia Rhone to Run New Label Through Epic".Billboard.February 14, 2012.RetrievedDecember 2,2016.
  22. ^Mitchell, Gail (19 March 2014)."Sylvia Rhone Appointed President of Epic Records".The Hollywood Reporter.
  23. ^"Sylvia Rhone | Berklee College of Music".berklee.edu.Retrieved2019-04-22.
  24. ^Halperin, Shirley (2020-09-23)."'Change Is the Only Constant': Epic Records Chief Sylvia Rhone Looks Back on Four Decades in the Music Business ".Variety.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  25. ^"Epic Records Names Sylvia Rhone Chairman and CEO".Billboard.
  26. ^"Billboard's 2019 Power 100 List Revealed".Billboard.
  27. ^DiGiacomo, Frank (2025-01-27)."Billboard 2025 Power 100 List Revealed".Billboard.Retrieved2025-02-26.
  28. ^"City of Hope gala: Sylvia Rhone, CEO of Epic Records, receives honors, En Vogue performs".Los Angeles Times.2019-10-11.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  29. ^"Epic Records Chief Sylvia Rhone to Receive City of Hope's Spirit of Life Award".Billboard.
  30. ^"Epic Records CEO Sylvia Rhone to be honored by City of Hope".The Seattle Times.2019-09-06.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  31. ^Aswad, Jem (2019-06-14)."Epic Records CEO Sylvia Rhone Honored at City of Hope's 'Spirit of Life' Breakfast".Variety.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  32. ^"Midem Announces Epic Records Chairwoman and CEO Sylvia Rhone to to[sic] Keynote and Receive 2019 Hall of Fame Award".Music Connection Magazine.April 24, 2019.
  33. ^"Sylvia Rhone | Berklee".berklee.edu.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  34. ^Halperin, Shirley (May 2, 2019)."Epic Records Chairman Sylvia Rhone: 'It's a Watershed Moment for Black Culture'".
  35. ^"How Sylvia Rhone Became Sony Music's Most Powerful African-American Woman: 'Many Questioned My Ability'".Billboard.
  36. ^"Sylvia Rhone Accepts ICON Award".2 June 2021.
  37. ^"Epic Records' Sylvia Rhone Cautions 'Feeding Frenzy' Will 'Dilute' Hip-Hop".yahoo.23 June 2018.Retrieved2021-09-16.
  38. ^"Sylvia Rhone - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee Member | Future Rock Legends".futurerocklegends.
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