Music trade govt Sylvia Rhone, probably the most highly effective ladies within the trade, has introduced that she is going to step down as Chairman and CEO of Epic Data.
In an inner memo to her workers, Rhone, 73, confirmed her departure on the finish of September after 5 many years of distinguished service within the music trade.
“It’s been a rare journey: eleven years since my promotion to President of Epic Data and 6 years since my appointment as Chairwoman and CEO. This position at Epic represents the third time in my profession that I’ve been the primary girl and first Black particular person to function CEO of a significant file label owned by a Fortune 500 firm. And at present, I’m transferring on from this historic position at Epic, and I’m very excited in regards to the future,” Rhone’s memo mentioned.
I first met Rhone in 1989 once I interned at Atlantic Data in Manhattan, supporting the advertising and marketing and promotion of Stitchie’s ‘Wild Jamaican Romance’ album. Sylvia rapidly progressed up the ranks, turning into head at Elektra Leisure, the primary girl to have achieved so. She later assumed management roles at Motown and Epic Data.
Rhone oversaw the careers of mega stars equivalent to Travis Scott, En Vogue, R&B singer Brandy, MC Lyte, rapper and producer Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Tracy Chapman, Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Erykah Badu and Akon, DJ Khaled, Tyla, Roberta Flack, Donnie Hathaway, LeVert, Adina Howard, Miki Howard, Gerald Albright and The System.
Sylvia’s success included her embrace of Jamaican reggae and dancehall music. This left an indelible mark on the style. This started throughout her tenure at Elektra/Atlantic Data when she signed Jamaican DJ Lieutenant Stitchie as the primary dancehall act on the label. This helped to increase reggae’s footprint within the worldwide market. Stitchie garnered success with ‘Costume to Impress,’ which was the primary dancehall tune to chart on the Billboard charts. He additionally scored recording collaborations with LL Cool J and En Vogue. Stitchie’s success paved the way in which for different acts.
Rhone’s affiliation with reggae and dancehall, nevertheless, couldn’t be advised with out mentioning her protege Karen Mason, a Jamaican-born, US-based music govt who spearheaded profitable advertising and marketing campaigns for artists signed to EastWest Data, a subsidiary of Elektra Data. Rhone supported Mason’s efforts to advertise Jamaican artists on the label. Mason would finally be promoted to vice-president of selling at Elektra Data, the place she managed the advertising and marketing and promotion of Ziggy Marley, Beres Hammond, Metal Pulse, Terror Fabulous, Ini Kamoze, Nadine Sutherland, and Garnett Silk, amongst others.
She proved she was a branding prodigy, chopping her tooth on varied reggae/dancehall initiatives, together with the 1993 hit tune ‘Informer’ by Canadian dancehall reggae sinjay Snow. Mason was additionally the advertising and marketing genius behind the hit single ‘Motion’ by Nadine Sutherland and Terror Fabulous, and Snow’s follow-up hit ‘I’ll Do Something For You.’
Previous to EastWest, Mason labored at Columbia Data, the place she efficiently piloted initiatives for Tremendous Cat and hip hop stars Kriss Kross and Cypress Hill. Mason’s different initiatives embody creating profitable advertising and marketing methods for the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, Sade, Alexander O’Neal, Mary J Blige, En Vogue, Gerald Levert, The Fugees, and Busta Rhymes. Mason handed away in 2022.
Media marketer Dave Rodney, who as soon as managed Stitchie and who orchestrated his signing to Atlantic, mirrored on Rhone’s influence in a latest Fb put up.
“I first met Sylvia years in the past at Atlantic Data, and I thank her for the great work that she did to help reggae and to raise many reggae artists, together with Stitchie, Sean Paul, and others,” Rodney said.
His put up drew a number of likes and feedback, together with Jamaican music govt, broadcaster, and writer Clyde Paul McKenzie, who described Rhone as a “True Legend !” Andrea Davis, the founder & producer of Worldwide Reggae Day, mentioned,” MVP!” whereas Maxine ‘Isis’ Stowe, a former Columbia Data govt, mentioned, “Paths crossed a number of instances, an actual ceiling breaker. High Of The Class.”
Wanting again on her years at Epic Data, Rhone shared, “To my workforce of inventive champions, you now maintain the reins, and I do know your greatest work lies forward. I’m grateful for Zeke Lewis, Rick Sackheim, Sandra Aflorei, Tyler Pittman, John Shoup, Dave Bell, Lisa Kasha, Shannon Mingal, Margeaux Watson, Justin Duran, Chelsea Donnarumma, Brooke Marcimo, Mez Tara, Gina Harrell, Melissa Victor, Traci Adams, Scott Dimig, Dontay Thompson, Jennifer Goicoechea, Patrick Afeku, John Kirkpatrick, Michael Petullo, Max Sholl, Hector Rosario, and the numerous different executives who made Epic Data dwelling.”
Sylvia’s legacy of “firsts” is unprecedented and will by no means be replicated. Her profession is a masterclass in management, and her legacy will encourage generations to return.
