The news from Billboard indicated a big shake up in the music industry.
As speculated by Billboard.biz yesterday, Sylvia Rhone has left her position at Universal Motown, company reps confirmed Friday. We will have further details shortly.
Since Barry Weiss came to UMG as chairman/CEO of Island Def Jam and Universal Motown Republic Group, it’s been expected that Rhone’s role at Universal Motown would be coming to an end. But Weiss and UMG CEO Lucian Grainge had been trying to keep her in the UMG fold, negotiating with her to build a new company that would serve as a multi-purpose firm for UMG. Rhone appears to have passed up that opportunity, and her future plans were unclear at press time …
If you don't know who Sylvia Rhone is … shoot, why do this when Wikipedia does it well enough …
Rhone has succeeded for more than three decades as one of the influential female executives in the history of music business. Currently overseeing a roster of best selling artists, the Universal Motown lineup includes Lil Wayne and the Cash Money roster of gold, platinum, and multi-platinum artists, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Kid Cudi, Nelly, Melanie Fiona, Akon, Erykah Badu, and the legendary Stevie Wonder … Prior to her Universal Motown role, Rhone served as Chairman/CEO of the Elektra Entertainment Group, transforming the boutique label into one of the most eclectic rosters in the music business. Rhone's historic appointment in 1994 as Chairman/CEO of EEG established her as the only African American and the first woman in the history of the recording industry to attain such a title. Recipient of more than three dozen honors and awards, and a pioneer of the diversity-driven business model, Rhone has been recognized throughout her career as one of the entertainment field's most prolific music executives.
She's on the Clive Davis level. Tommy Mottola level. Now she's a free agent. What she's gonna do next? Worth watching.
[Source: The Daily Swarm]