Sylvia Rhone facts for kids

Sylvia Rhone (born March 11, 1952) is a very important person in the music industry. She is an American record company executive. Since 2019, she has been the leader of Epic Records. This is a big music label owned by Sony Music Entertainment.

Before this, Sylvia Rhone held many top jobs at other famous music companies. These included Vested In Culture, Universal Motown, Elektra Entertainment Group, and Atlantic Records.

In October 2004, Rhone became the president of Motown Records. She also became an executive vice president at Universal Records. Before her role at Universal Motown, she was the chairwoman and CEO of the Elektra Entertainment Group. When she got this job in 1994, she made history. She was the first African American woman to reach such a high position in the recording industry.

Early Life and Music Dreams

Sylvia Rhone was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 11, 1952. She grew up in Harlem, New York. She often talks about how seeing R&B shows at the Apollo Theatre when she was young inspired her. She believes music can be a powerful force.

She loved R&B artists like Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald. She also enjoyed rock music from artists like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Sylvia Rhone went to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She earned a degree in Economics.

Starting Her Music Career

After college, Rhone first worked at Bankers Trust in New York City. But her real passion was music. In 1974, she got a job as a secretary at Buddha Records. Over the next six years, she moved up quickly. She also worked at ABC Records and Ariola Records.

In 1980, Rhone joined the Elektra family. She started as a regional promotion manager. Later, she became the director of national black music marketing for Atlantic Records.

Leading at Atlantic Records

Sylvia Rhone helped make Atlantic Records' black music division very successful. In 1986, she became a senior vice president and general manager. At Atlantic, she worked with many artists. These included En Vogue, the System, Levert, Brandy, and MC Lyte.

Under her leadership, Billboard magazine named Atlantic the #1 Black Music Division in 1988.

Rhone's career is full of "firsts." In 1990, she became the first African American woman to lead a major record company. She was named CEO and president of Atlantic's EastWest Records America division. A year later, she became chairwoman and CEO of Atco/EastWest.

At EastWest, she helped new artists become famous. She also helped established stars find new success. These included En Vogue, Gerald Levert, Pantera, and Das EFX. She also helped the careers of AC/DC and Simply Red. Atlantic Records' founder Ahmet Ertegun praised her work. He called her leadership "innovation, imagination, and freshness."

In 1993, Ebony magazine recognized her. They called her one of the top rising black executives in entertainment.

Success at Elektra Entertainment Group

In July 1994, Warner Music Group chairman Doug Morris hired Rhone. She became chairwoman and CEO of the Elektra Entertainment Group. The Los Angeles Times called her "the most powerful woman in the music business." They noted she was the only African American and the first woman to hold both titles.

Rhone guided the joining of Elektra, EastWest, and Sire Records. She helped create one of Warner Music Group's most successful labels. Rhone was directly involved in launching many best-selling artists. These included Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Tracy Chapman, Metallica, Natalie Merchant, and Jason Mraz.

Motown and Universal Motown Records

In 2004, Rhone became president of Motown Records. She also became executive vice president of Universal Records. Universal Music Group chairman Doug Morris called her a "rainmaker."

Under Rhone's guidance, Motown became strong again. She helped the label adapt to the digital music world. She added artists like Akon, India.Arie, Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne, and Chamillionaire.

In February 2006, Universal Music split into two labels. These were Universal Republic Records and Universal Motown Records. Rhone became president of Universal Motown. Her approach helped make Cash Money Records famous worldwide. She also encouraged Universal Motown artists to connect with fans using social media.

Rhone stepped down from her role as president in 2011.

Epic Records and Vested In Culture

In 2012, Sylvia Rhone started her own music label called Vested In Culture. It worked with Epic Records. In 2014, Rhone became President of Epic Records. She oversaw big projects like Travis Scott's #1 album Astroworld. She also worked on Camila Cabello's #1 debut album Camila and the hit song "Havana."

Since 2017, Rhone has been in charge of Epic Records' operations. In 2019, she was named Chairwoman and CEO of Epic Records. Under her leadership, Epic Records has had great success. They have had multiple artists in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 Albums chart at the same time.

Rhone has helped many artists reach the top of the charts at Epic Records. These include Travis Scott, Camila Cabello, 21 Savage, Future, DJ Khaled, and Meghan Trainor. She is also known for bringing huge hip hop success to the label.

Awards and Recognition

Sylvia Rhone has received many honors for her work.

• In 2019, she was ranked No. 35 on Billboard's Annual Power 100 List. In 2025, she appeared at No. 29.
• She received the City Of Hope's Spirit Of Life Award in October 2019.
• She also received the Midem 2019 Hall Of Fame Award in June 2019. She gave the main speech at the conference.
• In April 2019, she received an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music.
• In 2019, she was featured in Variety magazine.
• In 2018, Billboard Magazine called her "Sony Music's Most powerful African-American Woman."
• Also in 2018, Rhone received the Culture Creators Icon Award. In her speech, she said, "Our one common goal is to protect the culture."
• Sylvia Rhone is a member of the board of directors for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.