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Sylvia Rhone

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Sylvia Rhone
Born (1952-03-11) March 11, 1952 (age 73)
Philadelphia, PA
Alma materWharton School
OccupationMusic industry executive

Sylvia Rhone (born March 11, 1952) is an American record company executive. She was the chair and CEO of Epic Records from 2019-2025.[1][2][3]

Rhone served previously in senior positions at Vested In Culture, Universal Motown, Elektra Entertainment Group, and Atlantic Records.[4] She was the first female and firstAfrican American to serve as chair and CEO of a major label. [5][6][7][8]

Early life and education

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Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 11, 1952, and raised in Harlem, New York,[5] Rhone has cited her early exposure to seminal R&B shows at the Apollo Theatre as pivotal to her belief in music as an inspirational force. She cited influences in R&B such as Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald.[9] In addition to R&B, Rhone also enjoyed rock music through artists like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.[9] Accepted at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Rhone graduated with a B.S. in Economics.[5]

Career

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Early career

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Rhone got a job at Bankers Trust in New York City soon after graduating college, but pursued her passion for music by landing a job as a secretary for Buddha Records in 1974. In a succession of promotions over the next six years, she also held positions at ABC Records and Ariola Records. Rhone was previously part of the Elektra family in 1980 as northeast regional promotion manager for special markets, and she was eventually promoted to director of national black music marketing for Atlantic Records.

Atlantic Records

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Credited with helping to realign Atlantic's black music business, Rhone took on broader responsibilities in A&R and marketing in 1986 with her promotion to senior vice president and general manager of Atlantic Records. At Atlantic, Rhone managed such artists as En Vogue, the System, Levert, Bob Baldwin, Brandy, Yo Yo, the D.O.C., MC Lyte, Chuckii Booker, Miki Howard, Gerald Albright and the Rude Boys and Chris Bender (singer). It was under her leadership that Billboard magazine named Atlantic the #1 Black Music Division in 1988.[10]

Rhone's career has been highlighted by multiple firsts: In 1990 she became the first African American woman to lead a major record company when she was named CEO and president of Atlantic's EastWest Records. . A year later when the EastWest artist roster and operations were combined with those of Atco Records, Rhone was named chairwoman and CEO of Atco/EastWest and subsequently of EastWest Records America.

At EastWest, she was directly involved in introducing several newcomers as well as helping established stars gain new success, including En Vogue, Gerald Levert, Pantera and Das EFX. She also played a role in furthering the careers of AC/DC and Simply Red, who eventually became EEG artists. Atlantic Records' founder Ahmet Ertegun commented on Rhone's success during the period, calling her administration one of "innovation, imagination, and freshness."[2]

In 1993, she was cited by Ebony magazine as 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 by Warner Music Group chairman Doug Morris to become chairwoman and CEO of the Elektra Entertainment Group.[11][12] The Los Angeles Times called Rhone "the most powerful woman in the music business", citing her as the only African American and the first woman in the history of the recording industry to attain the dual title.[13][14]

Rhone guided the merger of Elektra, EastWest (of which she was formerly CEO) and Sire Records into one of the Warner Music Group's most diverse and competitive labels. Rhone was directly involved in the launch and guidance of multiple best-selling artists, including Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Tracy Chapman, Yolanda Adams, Metallica, Natalie Merchant, Gerald Levert, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Fabolous, Jason Mraz, and Third Eye Blind, among others.[15]

Motown and Universal Motown Records

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In 2004, Rhone was appointed president of Motown Records, executive vice president of Universal Records, with the chairman of Universal Music Group, Doug Morris, calling her "a rainmaker"[citation needed], and Universal Motown Record Group chairman Mel Lewinter citing Rhone as a "natural to lead Motown's evolution into the future".[16] Under Rhone's stewardship, Motown reinvigorated both roster and staff, re-tooling the label into one of the savvier digital music business platforms. Rhone added Akon, India.Arie, Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne, Chamillionaire and others to the label.

In February 2006, the Universal Music label split into two labels, Universal Republic Records and Universal Motown Records, with Rhone serving as president of the latter. Rhone's approach helped to raise the global identity of Cash Money Records, while also placing an increased emphasis on Universal Motown artists' connecting with fans via social media.

Rhone declined to sign Drake,[17] 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.[18]

Vested In Culture and Epic

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In 2012, Rhone became CEO of her self-established label Vested In Culture, which was distributed through Epic Records.[19] In 2014, Rhone was named president of Epic in 2014 and CEO and chair in 2019. .[20][21] [22] She stepped down from the position in September 2025. [3]

Honors and awards

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Rhone was ranked No. 35 on Billboard's Annual Power 100 List in 2019.[23] She appeared at No. 29 in 2025.[24]

Rhone received the City Of Hope's Spirit Of Life Award in October, 2019, presented by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.[25][26][27][28]

Rhone received the Midem 2019 Hall Of Fame Award,[29] in association with Billboard, at their 53rd annual conference in June, 2019, where Rhone gave the keynote address.

Rhone received an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music in April, 2019.[30]

2018 Rhone was profiled in Billboard Magazine as "Sony Music's Most powerful African-American Woman."[31]

She is on the board of directors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[32]

References

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  1. ^ "Sylvia Rhone Promoted to Chairman & CEO of Epic Records". Variety. April 23, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "The Inspirational Music Legend Harlem's Sylvia Rhone". Harlem World Magazine. 2019-04-24. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  3. ^ a b Millman, Ethan (2025-09-22). "Sylvia Rhone Steps Down From Epic Records (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  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. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  5. ^ a b c Contemporary Black biography. Volume 2 : profiles from the international Black community. Bigelow, Barbara C. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research. 1992. ISBN 9781414435305. OCLC 643557099.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. ^ "The League - Sylvia Rhone Alumni Spotlight". www.theleagueonline.org. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  7. ^ "Why Sylvia Rhone Isn't Scared of Losing | Berklee". www.berklee.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  8. ^ "Sylvia Rhone - Sony Music". Sony Music Entertainment. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  9. ^ a b "How Sylvia Rhone Became Sony Music's Most Powerful African-American Woman: 'Many Questioned My Ability'". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  10. ^ "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. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  11. ^ Hofmeister, Sallie (1994-07-20). "COMPANY NEWS; Warner Music Group Names Chairwoman for New Unit". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  12. ^ Strauss, Neil (1995-01-02). "Winds of Change Hit Music's Top Tier". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  13. ^ "COVER STORY : You've Still Got a Long Way to Go, Baby". Los Angeles Times. 1993-04-18. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  14. ^ Landler, Mark (1995-11-27). "Time Warner Wins a Tug-of-War". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  15. ^ "Elektra Makes Offer for Bad Boy Label". Los Angeles Times. 2002-07-30. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  16. ^ Gallo, Phil (October 4, 2004). "Music Maven Finds Groove at Motown". Daily Variety Gotham. p. 5 – via Reed Business Information database.
  17. ^ Ju, Shirley (2020-08-26). "Akon Passed Up Signing Drake Because He 'Sounded Like Eminem'". Variety. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  18. ^ Morris, Christopher (August 10, 2011). "Ethiopia Habtemariam upped at Motown". Variety. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  19. ^ 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. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  20. ^ "It's Official: Sylvia Rhone to Run New Label Through Epic". Billboard. February 14, 2012. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  21. ^ Mitchell, Gail (19 March 2014). "Sylvia Rhone Appointed President of Epic Records". The Hollywood Reporter.
  22. ^ "Sylvia Rhone | Berklee College of Music". www.berklee.edu. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  23. ^ "Billboard's 2019 Power 100 List Revealed". Billboard.
  24. ^ DiGiacomo, Frank (2025-01-27). "Billboard 2025 Power 100 List Revealed". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  25. ^ "City of Hope gala: Sylvia Rhone, CEO of Epic Records, receives honors, En Vogue performs". Los Angeles Times. 2019-10-11. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  26. ^ "Epic Records Chief Sylvia Rhone to Receive City of Hope's Spirit of Life Award". Billboard.
  27. ^ "Epic Records CEO Sylvia Rhone to be honored by City of Hope". The Seattle Times. 2019-09-06. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  28. ^ Aswad, Jem (2019-06-14). "Epic Records CEO Sylvia Rhone Honored at City of Hope's 'Spirit of Life' Breakfast". Variety. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ "Sylvia Rhone | Berklee". www.berklee.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  31. ^ "How Sylvia Rhone Became Sony Music's Most Powerful African-American Woman: 'Many Questioned My Ability'". Billboard.
  32. ^ "Sylvia Rhone - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee Member | Future Rock Legends". futurerocklegends.com.
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