Music industry executive Sylvia Rhone, one of the most powerful women in the industry, has announced that she will step down as Chairman and CEO of Epic Records.
In an internal memo to her staff, Rhone, 73, confirmed her departure at the end of September after 5 decades of distinguished service in the music industry.
“It’s been an extraordinary journey: eleven years since my promotion to President of Epic Records and six years since my appointment as Chairwoman and CEO. This role at Epic represents the third time in my career that I’ve been the first woman and first Black person to serve as CEO of a major record label owned by a Fortune 500 company. And today, I am moving on from this historic role at Epic, and I’m very excited about the future,” Rhone’s memo said.
I first met Rhone in 1989 when I interned at Atlantic Records in Manhattan, supporting the marketing and promotion of Stitchie’s ‘Wild Jamaican Romance’ album. Sylvia quickly progressed up the ranks, becoming head at Elektra Entertainment, the first woman to have done so. She later assumed leadership roles at Motown and Epic Records.
Rhone oversaw the careers of mega stars such as 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 genre. This began during her tenure at Elektra/Atlantic Records when she signed Jamaican DJ Lieutenant Stitchie as the first dancehall act at the label. This helped to expand reggae’s footprint in the international market. Stitchie garnered success with ‘Dress to Impress,’ which was the first dancehall song to chart on the Billboard charts. He also scored recording collaborations with LL Cool J and En Vogue. Stitchie’s success paved the way for other acts.
Rhone’s association with reggae and dancehall, however, could not be told without mentioning her protege Karen Mason, a Jamaican-born, US-based music executive who spearheaded successful marketing campaigns for artists signed to EastWest Records, a subsidiary of Elektra Records. Rhone supported Mason’s efforts to promote Jamaican artists at the label. Mason would eventually be promoted to vice-president of marketing at Elektra Records, where she managed the marketing and promotion of Ziggy Marley, Beres Hammond, Steel Pulse, Terror Fabulous, Ini Kamoze, Nadine Sutherland, and Garnett Silk, among others.
She proved she was a branding prodigy, cutting her teeth on various reggae/dancehall projects, including the 1993 hit song ‘Informer’ by Canadian dancehall reggae sinjay Snow. Mason was also the marketing genius behind the hit single ‘Action’ by Nadine Sutherland and Terror Fabulous, and Snow’s follow-up hit ‘I’ll Do Anything For You.’
Prior to EastWest, Mason worked at Columbia Records, where she successfully piloted projects for Super Cat and hip hop stars Kriss Kross and Cypress Hill. Mason’s other projects include creating successful marketing strategies for the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, Sade, Alexander O’Neal, Mary J Blige, En Vogue, Gerald Levert, The Fugees, and Busta Rhymes. Mason passed away in 2022.
Media marketer Dave Rodney, who once managed Stitchie and who orchestrated his signing to Atlantic, reflected on Rhone’s impact in a recent Facebook post.
“I first met Sylvia years ago at Atlantic Records, and I thank her for the wonderful work that she did to support reggae and to elevate many reggae artists, including Stitchie, Sean Paul, and others,” Rodney stated.
His post drew several likes and comments, including Jamaican music executive, broadcaster, and author Clyde Paul McKenzie, who described Rhone as a “True Legend !” Andrea Davis, the founder & producer of International Reggae Day, said,” MVP!” while Maxine ‘Isis’ Stowe, a former Columbia Records executive, said, “Paths crossed several times, a real ceiling breaker. Top Of The Class.”
Looking back on her years at Epic Records, Rhone shared, “To my team of creative champions, you now hold the reins, and I know your best work lies ahead. 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 countless other executives who made Epic Records home.”
Sylvia’s legacy of “firsts” is unprecedented and may never be replicated. Her career is a masterclass in leadership, and her legacy will inspire generations to come.
