For Black History Month Billboard is celebrating by highlighting some of the greatest Black executives in music. Today, we're celebrating Sylvia Rhone.
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00:00 And I'm very proud to run a label where our senior leadership is 53.6% women and 57.1% people of color.
00:16 For Black History Month, Billboard is celebrating by highlighting some of the greatest black executives in music.
00:22 Today we're celebrating Sylvia Rhone.
00:24 [music]
00:28 Three years is a long time in any business.
00:32 Warner Music Group for 28 years, Universal Motown for 7 years, and now Sony Music Group for 10 plus years.
00:42 Sylvia Rhone became the first black industry executive and woman to hold the dual title of CEO and Chairman when she was appointed at Epic Records in 2019.
00:52 Prior to that, she held senior roles at all three major record companies.
00:56 In 1990, Sylvia was the first black woman to head a major record label when she became CEO/President of Atlantic's EastWest Records U.S. division.
01:04 Always a champion for women, she helped artists like En Vogue, MC Lyte, Missy Elliott, and Nicki Minaj reach stardom.
01:12 She was an integral part in the success of all of Young Money.
01:15 I'm certainly really proud of the artists that I work with and the biggest thrill is to see them be successful.
01:21 Currently at Epic Records, she's been a key part of the success of Camila Cabello, DJ Khaled, Travis Scott, and 21 Savage.
01:29 Last year when she took home Executive of the Year at Billboard's Women in Music, she told us,
01:33 "I am focused on creating power by creating a culture where the creativity of artists on our roster can flourish and there is an exchange of ideas, culture, and information from a diverse group of creatives and executives."
01:46 I'm still as excited about the business today as I was over 40 years ago because it's simply, simply my passion.
01:57 Today we honor an epic woman in the music industry, Sylvia Roane.
02:01 Rome.
02:01 (upbeat music)
02:04 (electronic beeping)