Sylvia Rhone

Sylvia Rhone held the prestigious position of Chairwoman and CEO of Epic Records from 2019 to 2025. Prior to this, she had a distinguished career in various senior positions at renowned companies, including Vested In Culture, Universal Motown, Elektra Entertainment Group, and Atlantic Records. Notably, in 1994, Rhone ascended to the position of Chairwoman and CEO of the Elektra Entertainment Group, becoming the only African American and the first woman to hold such a title in the recording industry. This appointment followed her successful stint at Atlantic, where her leadership saw the company named the #1 Black Music Division by Billboard magazine in 1988.

With her appointment as President of Motown Records and Executive Vice President of Universal Records in October 2004, Rhone continued to influence the music industry. Under her helm, Motown welcomed notable artists like Akon, India.Arie, Erykah Badu, and Lil Wayne. Furthermore, Rhone's influence is evident in the careers of artists such as Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Metallica, and Tracy Chapman. In 2014, Rhone took the reins as President of Epic Records, where she was instrumental in bringing significant hip hop success to the label with artists like Future and 21 Savage.

Rhone's leadership at Epic Records also led to multiple chart-topping successes, including Travis Scott's "Astroworld" and Camila Cabello's "Camila". Her contributions to the music industry have been widely recognized, with her ranking No. 35 on Billboard's Annual Power 100 List in 2019 and No. 29 in 2025. Moreover, Rhone was honored with the City Of Hope's Spirit Of Life Award in October 2019, the Midem 2019 Hall Of Fame Award, and received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in April 2019. She was also awarded the Culture Creators Icon Award in 2018, and currently serves as a member of the board of directors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.