LABELS & DISTRIBUTORS
Tunji Balogun
CHAIRMAN/CEO, DEF JAM RECORDINGS LaTrice Burnette
EXECUTIVE VP, DEF JAM RECORDINGS; PRESIDENT, 4TH & BROADWAY
Archie Davis
EXECUTIVE VP/CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER,
DEF JAM RECORDINGS
Natina Nimene
EXECUTIVE VP OF PROMOTION AND ARTIST RELATIONS, DEF JAM RECORDINGS
Naim McNair
Noah Preston
EXECUTIVE VPs OF A&R, DEF JAM RECORDINGS
A return to creative and cultural leadership has been the focus at Def Jam since Balogun began his tenure in January. This year’s artist signings include Muni Long (partnering with her Supergiant Records) and Armani White, whose breakthrough single, “Billie Eilish,” netted the rapper-singer-songwriter his first entry on the Billboard
Hot 100. “Armani stands out as a real development story that has shown the whole team coming together to break an artist,” says Burnette. “Artist development and breaking new artists continue to be our focus, and we’re excited for the challenges ahead.”
Cleopatra Bernard
PRESIDENT, BAD VIBES FOREVER
Bob Celestin
Alicia Ferriabough Taylor HEADS OF BUSINESS/LEGAL AFFAIRS,
BAD VIBES FOREVER
Solomon “Sounds”
Sobande
MANAGER, BAD VIBES FOREVER
The team at Bad Vibes Forever has worked hard to keep the late XXXTentacion’s legacy alive in the four years since his death. This past year, the team produced and released the Hulu documentary Look at Me, which unflinchingly details the life and career of the rapper born Jahseh Onfroy. While the film dives deep into the star’s trials and tribulations, it also sheds light on his mental health issues in a way that will reinforce the connection between XXXTentacion and his devoted fan base.
Katina Bynum
EXECUTIVE VP OF EAST COAST LABELS FOR URBAN, UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES
For Bynum, watching Universal Music Group artists Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and others join forces for the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show was just one highlight from her banner year. Dr. Dre and Snoop’s “The Next Episode,” which opened the show, had a 994% weekon-week U.S. sales gain from the event. Bynum also points to key anniversary projects, such as UMe’s collaboration with Interscope Geffen A&M to celebrate Interscope’s 30th anniversary, complete with an art exhibition and vinyl series, as well the 25th anniversary of Janet Jackson’s The Velvet Rope — an “iconic release,” she says.
Don Cannon
Leighton “Lake” Morrison Tyree “DJ Drama” Simmons
CO-FOUNDERS, GENERATION NOW
After molding Lil Uzi Vert into a rap heavyweight, Generation Now scored again with burgeoning superstar Jack Harlow. The Louisville, Ky., upstart earned his first solo Hot 100 No. 1 hit with “First Class” as the record enjoyed a three-week stay atop the chart. In May, Harlow released his second album, Come Home the Kids Miss
You, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 113,000 equivalent album units. DJ Drama also reignited his iconic Gangsta Grillz series after working with YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Snoop Dogg, Jeezy and Tyler, The Creator, with the lattermost winning best rap album (2021’s Call Me If You Get Lost) at this year’s Grammy Awards alongside the renowned DJ. “2022 was an incredibly blessed year,” says Morrison.
Steve Carless
PRESIDENT OF A&R, WARNER RECORDS
Chris Atlas
EXECUTIVE VP OF URBAN MUSIC AND MARKETING, WARNER RECORDS
Brannon Scales
SENIOR VP OF RHYTHM PROMOTION,
WARNER RECORDS
Shawnae Corbett-Rice
SENIOR VP OF MARKETING, WARNER RECORDS While Warner Records artists like Saweetie continue to ascend the charts, the label is looking ahead to the next wave: “2022 has been all about making major contributions in signing artists in the cultural movements and the hyper-local scenes,” says Carless, with Warner investing in such artists as rappers Sha EK, Bandmanrill, 2Rare,
Kenzo B and Nigerian producerperformer Pheelz. “We’ve been successful in identifying and developing that new wave of young generational talent and using the power, resources and global reach of our label to bring that music to the masses.”
Julius “J.” Erving
CEO, HUMAN RE SOURCES; EXECUTIVE VP, THE ORCHARD; EXECUTIVE VP OF CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT, SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Naji Grampus
VP OF STREAMING AND STRATEGY, THE ORCHARD Mark Jackson
VP/HEAD OF ATLANTA, HUMAN RE SOURCES Sammy Pisano
DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT, THE ORCHARD In the past year, Human Re Sources, the artist distribution and services company that Sony Music Entertainment acquired in 2020, gave British singer-songwriter Raye “a new home and the freedom to speak her truth,” says Erving. Her most recent single, “Black Mascara,” debuted on BBC Radio 1 as the “hottest record in the U.K.” Human Re Sources also recently added Brooklyn rapper Kelz to its roster, whose first single, “Sinner,” caught the attention of Pharrell Williams, Jack Harlow and Drake. After turning down numerous front-line label offers, says Erving, Kelz chose Human Re Sources to help make his musical debut.
Bill Evans
EXECUTIVE VP OF URBAN PROMOTION, CAPITOL MUSIC GROUP
Ray Alba
SENIOR VP OF MARKETING, CAPITOL RECORDS Rebecca “Dimplez” Ijeoma SENIOR VP FOR DIGITAL MARKETING AND CONTENT DEVELOPMENT, CAPITOL MUSIC GROUP
Chris Turner
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF A&R, CAPITOL RECORDS
As Capitol continues to build its R&B and hip-hop roster, newcomers and veterans alike scored over the last several months. Iconic crooner-producer Babyface took “Keeps On Fallin’ ” to No. 2 on Adult R&B Airplay, while Queen Naija and Big Sean topped that chart with “Hate Our Love.” Capella Grey’s “Gyalis” reached No. 3 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, and fellow rapper Doechii received an MTV Video Music Award for the track “Persuasive” from her second EP (and first for the label), She/Her/Black Bitch.
Lanre Gaba
Michael Kyser
CO-PRESIDENTS OF BLACK MUSIC,
ATLANTIC RECORDS
Dallas Martin
EXECUTIVE VP OF A&R, ATLANTIC RECORDS; PRESIDENT, ASYLUM RECORDS
Orlando Wharton
SENIOR VP OF A&R, ATLANTIC RECORDS Veronica Howell
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, ATLANTIC RECORDS Kathryn Kenealy
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MARKETING,
ATLANTIC RECORDS
Appointed co-president of Black music in January alongside Kyser, Gaba says she’s most proud of the label’s “commitment to long-term artist development.” She cites Jack Harlow’s breakthrough with his first solo Hot 100 No. 1, “First Class” (released in partnership with Generation Now), Burna Boy’s next-level career jump with the No. 1 Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay single “Last
Last” and Kodak Black’s chart-topping third album, Back for Everything, and its successful single “Super Gremlin,” a 10-week No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. And that’s not counting Atlantic’s roster of rising acts. Adds Gaba: “I’m also so proud of the critical acclaim for our emerging artists like Ravyn Lenae and Symba... they’re up next.”
Ghazi
FOUNDER/CEO, EMPIRE Nima Etminan COO, EMPIRE
Tina Davis
SENIOR VP OF A&R, EMPIRE
Christian “Hitmaka” Ward
VP OF A&R, EMPIRE
Over the past 18 months, EMPIRE has seen tremendous growth from rapper-singer Yung Bleu, whose song “You’re Mines Still” (featuring Drake) reached the top 10 on the Hot R&B/HipHop Songs chart last year. “Not only has he put out multiple platinum records of his own, but he has really taken control of his career and narrative to write, produce and do features for a plethora of artists including H.E.R., Maroon 5
“Artist development and breaking new artists continue to be our focus, and we’re excited for the challenges ahead.”
—LaTRICE BURNETTE, DEF JAM RECORDINGS/4TH & BROADWAY
and Nicki Minaj,” says Etminan, whose company also represents Eric Bellinger, Larry June and Tink.
Yo Gotti
FOUNDER/CEO, CMG
“I’m proud that me and my artists have built CMG into a powerhouse,” says Gotti, the multiplatinum musician and label executive. Gotti’s own 11th studio album, CM10: Free Game, entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3, while Detroit’s 42 Dugg and Louisville, Ky., native
EST Gee’s Last Ones Left album entered at No. 7 and fellow Memphians Moneybagg Yo and Blac Youngsta remain popular. The additions of hometown “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” rapper GloRilla, Sacramento, Calif., rap veteran Mozzy and R&B singer Lehla Samia take “CMG to new heights,” Gotti says, adding that there’s “no better feeling than watching your artists develop, reach their potential and put themselves in position to create generational wealth for their families.”
Elliot Grainge FOUNDER/CEO, 10K PROJECTS Zach Friedman Tony Talamo
CO-PRESIDENTS, 10K PROJECTS
Under Grainge, 10K Projects expanded its reach this year with the purchase of the label Homemade Projects, which led to the latter’s co-founders, Friedman and Talamo, joining as 10K’s co-presidents.
The label’s new management re-signed marquee artist Trippie Redd in 2022, and found further success with names like Internet Money and newcomer Jeleel. “Hip-hop is foundational at 10K, and nothing has been more important to building our legacy than the re-signing of Trippie Redd,” Friedman says. “We’re thrilled he will call 10K his home for years to come.”
Ethiopia Habtemariam
CHAIRWOMAN/CEO, MOTOWN RECORDS Tramiel “Twin” Clark
SENIOR VP, MOTOWN RECORDS/QUALITY CONTROL MUSIC/ARMANI MUSIC
JD Anderson
SENIOR VP OF MARKETING, MOTOWN RECORDS Britney Davis
SENIOR VP OF ARTIST RELATIONS, MARKETING AND SPECIAL PROJECTS, MOTOWN RECORDS
Kenoe Jordan
VP OF A&R, MOTOWN RECORDS
Jamila Thomas
VP OF MARKETING, MOTOWN RECORDS
After regaining stand-alone label status in 2021, Motown has been revving up its engines — first with star signings such as Sean “Diddy” Combs, Brandy and, most recently, YoungBoy Never Broke Again — then with releases of chart-topping albums from Quavo & Takeoff and Lil Baby, whose It’s Only Me marks his third No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Of a roster that also includes Lil Yachty, Vince Staples, City Girls, Offset and Smino, Habtemariam says, “I’m so incredibly proud of our team and artists. Motown continues to create, define and influence popular culture around the world.”
Wayne Hampton
CO-FOUNDER/CHIEF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, CREATE MUSIC GROUP
Mark Hill
HEAD OF URBAN, CREATE MUSIC GROUP Carl LeGrett
DIRECTOR OF A&R, CREATE MUSIC GROUP PUBLISHING
Create Music Group takes pride in its “ability to handle artists at all levels,” says Hampton. “We’ve built an amazing team at Create, one that can help an established artist like Tory Lanez attain the upper reaches of the albums charts.” Lanez has had five top five releases on the Billboard 200. “At the same time, [Create] can identify and help propel a newcomer like Ice Spice to stardom,” he says. The music tech company is also letting artists tap into their digital service provider income streams as soon as that money is earned with the 2021 launch of the Create Carbon Card.
Saint Harraway
EXECUTIVE VP OF A&R, REPUBLIC RECORDS; CO-PRESIDENT, UPTOWN RECORDS
Danielle Price
EXECUTIVE VP, REPUBLIC RECORDS
Roderick Scott
Xiarra Diamond Nimrod
VPs OF MARKETING STRATEGY, REPUBLIC RECORDS Romel Lherisson
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE,
REPUBLIC RECORDS
Between a star roster that includes Drake, The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj, Post Malone, Kid Cudi, John Legend and rising newcomer Coi Leray, and a new partnership with multiplatinum producer ATL Jacob, Republic garnered a host of success stories over the last year. Adds Price, who joined Republic from 10K Projects in April: “We’re very proud to be a company that launched as a small independent and has grown into one of the most competitive labels in the world. This year, we’re most proud of how our strategic label ventures are similarly following suit. We’ve seen this firsthand with the relaunch of Uptown Records and Mercury Records, as well as with the growth of Imperial Distribution.”
Juliette Jones
COO, ALAMO RECORDS Dharmic Jain
VP OF MARKETING, ALAMO RECORDS Tiara Hargrave
EXECUTIVE VP/GM, ALAMO RECORDS
A year after Sony Music Entertainment acquired a majority stake in Todd Moscowitz’s Alamo Records, the New
York-based label had a breakout year. Jones says it was “incredibly exciting” in 2022 to see rappers Lil Durk and Rod Wave score No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 with 7220 and Beautiful Mind, respectively. “For our artists to score two certified gold albums in 2022 is a testament to their hard work and our dedication to positioning them for success in a competitive field,” says Jones, who also notes the rise of Chicago drill rapper PGF Nuk: His single “Waddup” has earned over 100 million U.S. streams in less than a year. “That,” she says, “reflects our commitment to artist development and breaking new artists.”
Kevin Liles
CHAIRMAN/CEO, 300 ENTERTAINMENT/ELEKTRA Rayna Bass
Selim Bouab
CO-PRESIDENTS, 300 ENTERTAINMENT
Dee Sonaram
EXECUTIVE VP OF RHYTHMIC PROMOTIONS,
300 ENTERTAINMENT
Shadow Stokes
EXECUTIVE VP OF PROMOTIONS,
300 ENTERTAINMENT
Leesa Brunson-Boland
SENIOR VP/HEAD OF A&R OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION, 300 ENTERTAINMENT
300 Entertainment/Elektra had a splashy start to the new year when Gunna released his Billboard 200 chart-topper, DS4Ever. Powered by his Hot 100 top 10 single “Pushin P” (featuring Young Thug and Future), Gunna had social media in an uproar over his newly coined phrase. The label’s female acts also scored big in 2022: Megan Thee Stallion flexed her prowess as host and performer on Saturday Night Live after the success of her Billboard 200 top five release, Traumazine, while Mary J. Blige and her fellow Super Bowl halftime show performers each received Emmy Awards for that event.
Mark Pitts
PRESIDENT, RCA RECORDS; CEO,
BYSTORM ENTERTAINMENT
Carolyn Williams
EXECUTIVE VP, RCA RECORDS
Derrick Aroh
Rich “Skane Dolla” Ford SENIOR VPs OF A&R, RCA RECORDS
Jonathan Master
SENIOR VP OF A&R AND MARKETING, RCA RECORDS Sam Selolwane
HEAD OF PROMOTION (HIP-HOP, R&B, MIXSHOW), RCA RECORDS
Latto, Nardo Wick and Sleepy Hallow have been “leading the pack for RCA this year,” says Pitts. Latto became the first female rapper to top the Rhythmic Airplay, Rap Airplay and Pop Airplay charts with the same song, “Big Energy.” Wick’s “Who Want Smoke??” peaked
at No. 17 on the Hot 100, while Hallow’s “2055” became his highest-charting hit, reaching No. 51 on the Hot 100, and was certified double-platinum. “We’re still the home for artistic expression across all genres,” says Pitts, “but particularly in the hip-hop space, we’re leveling up.”
Ricky Reed
FOUNDER/CEO, NICE LIFE RECORDING COMPANY Larry Wade
CO-OWNER/COO, NICE LIFE RECORDING COMPANY Lizzo has been a dominant pop culture presence this year, from climbing the Billboard charts to playing a crystal flute that once belonged to President James Madison at the Library of Congress. On the charts, three years after scoring her first Hot 100 No. 1 with “Truth Hurts,” Lizzo notched her second chart-topper with “About Damn Time,” which ruled for two weeks. The Reed-produced track, released on Nice Life/Atlantic Records, also landed Lizzo her first top 10 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts. “She was able to solidify her position as one of this generation’s most important global superstars,” says Reed, “while Nice Life was able to break new ground with global chart positions. Nobody outworks us.”
Tim Reid
SENIOR VP OF REPERTOIRE AND MARKETING, BMG Promoted to his current repertoire and marketing role at BMG in 2020, Reid secured a new multi-album deal with Logic and a global recording partnership with Stefflon Don, while BMG labelmate Maxwell had a successful run with his The Night Tour and the No. 1 Adult R&B Airplay single “Off.” Reid was also actively involved in making a deal with BMG UK for Danger Mouse and Black Thought’s latest album, Dangerous Thoughts.
Sylvia Rhone CHAIRMAN/CEO, EPIC RECORDS Ezekiel Lewis
EXECUTIVE VP/HEAD OF A&R, EPIC RECORDS
The past year brought a number of wins for Epic under Rhone’s leadership, including a combined 16.1 billion worldwide audio streams across the label’s roster and 27 RIAA platinum singles, according to Epic. In 2022 alone, the label scored nine Billboard 200 debuts, including Yo Gotti’s CM10: Free Game at No. 3 and Future’s I Never Liked You at No. 1. Future’s album also brought another career achievement with the Hot 100 No. 1 “Wait for U,” featuring Drake and Tems. The track set the record for the most weeks at No. 1 (15) in the 30-year history of the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.
Jonnyshipes
FOUNDER, CINEMATIC MUSIC GROUP Hovain Hylton
VP, CINEMATIC MUSIC GROUP
Adding comedy to the Cinematic Music
Group roster has been one of Jonnyshipes’ biggest accomplishments of the past year. “When I was growing up, I always loved comedy — as much as I did music,” says the label’s founder, who is credited with discovering Nipsey Hussle, Joey Bada$$ and Smoke DZA. “I have been lucky enough to find great artist after great artist in my career. Those wins in music gave me the platform to work with Druski,” the internet personality he co-manages, “and pursue my goals of fusing hip-hop and comedy.”
Abou “Bu” Thiam
EXECUTIVE VP, COLUMBIA RECORDS
Luis “Lu” Mota
SENIOR VP OF A&R, COLUMBIA RECORDS Shahendra Ohneswere
SENIOR VP OF CONTENT DEVELOPMENT,
COLUMBIA RECORDS
Wilt Wallace
SENIOR VP OF URBAN PROMOTION, COLUMBIA RECORDS
John Vincent Salcedo
VP OF DIGITAL MARKETING, COLUMBIA RECORDS Victoria White-Mason
VP OF MARKETING, COLUMBIA RECORDS
Over the past year, members of Columbia’s hip-hop roster scored top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200, namely Lil Nas X with Montero, Fivio Foreign with B.I.B.L.E. and Polo G with Hall of Fame
— his first No. 1 album. For the label’s R&B/hip-hop team, however, the real reward goes beyond numbers and charts. Says Salcedo: “The ability to adapt and move subgenres of hip-hop into the forefront of mainstream music is a testament to our team’s focus on further developing artists’ communities without ever steering away from the foundation they initially built.”
Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith FOUNDER/CEO, TOP DAWG ENTERTAINMENT Terrence “Punch” Henderson
PRESIDENT, TOP DAWG ENTERTAINMENT
A highlight of Top Dawg Entertainment’s year was the May release of Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers — what Tiffith calls the label’s “victory lap album” — as well as the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Lamar’s majorlabel debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city.
TDE’s year also included the emergence of newcomer Doechii and SZA’s first Grammy win for her guest role on Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me More” and the release of the deluxe version of SZA’s 2017 breakthrough, Ctrl. Tiffith says TDE is “laying the red carpet out” for the upcoming release of SZA’s second album: “We are very excited about that.” (For more on SZA, see page 46.)
Andre Torres
SENIOR VP OF GLOBAL CATALOG DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING, WARNER RECORDED MUSIC
Torres, who joined Warner from Spotify last fall, had numerous successes over the past year while working with the music giant’s front-line labels to spotlight its hip-hop catalog. Recently, a Kodak Black limited-edition figurine celebrating the fifth anniversary of the rapper’s Project Baby 2 album sold out “in a matter of hours” using Spotify’s Fans First program. His team also worked with Atlantic, HipHopDX and Warner Music Group’s WMX to create a 30-minute documentary about the 10th anniversary of Wiz Khalifa’s Rolling Papers and managed to get Kehlani’s Cloud19 debut mixtape on streaming services for the first time.
Steven Victor
CEO, VICTOR VICTOR WORLDWIDE; SENIOR VP OF A&R, UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
In April, Victor tasted victory on the managerial front when longtime client Pusha T notched his first Billboard 200 No. 1 album in May with It’s Almost
Dry. The previous month, Victor enjoyed another win when Japanese fashion designer/record producer
Nigo released his second album,
I Know Nigo!, under Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records. The album debuted in the top 15 on the Billboard 200 and includes features from A$AP Rocky, Lil Uzi Vert and
Tyler, The Creator. “It’s a thoughtful and impactful project,” says Victor, “that’s authentic to its art and artists.”