Epic Chair/CEO Sylvia Rhone Stepping Down
• Music industry icon Sylvia Rhone is stepping down from her post as Chair & CEO of Epic Records, effective at the end of the month, Variety has confirmed. Billboard first reported the news.
There was no immediate word about a possible successor, although a source tells Variety that Epic President Zeke Lewis and GM Rick Sackheim will handle the company’s day-to-day business after Rhone’s exit.
A staff memo from Sony Music chief Rob Stringer, obtained by Variety, reads, in part, “In an industry defined by its constant evolution, Sylvia has adapted and embraced change, time and time again. Her journey is more than just a list of accomplishments. She is a trailblazing executive with a distinguished background and unwavering commitment to supporting artists. She has made history including becoming the first woman to be named Chair of a major record company and guided some of the biggest artists in our business across every genre. Sylvia’s influence is rooted in an understanding of music’s power to connect with people. And as Chairwoman and CEO of our Epic Records, she has shepherded No. 1 chart successes with 21 Savage, Future, Travis Scott, and Tyla, among others. It has been our honor to work with a true icon and our collective responsibility to continue to build on her work at Epic Records. Thank you, Sylvia, for your leadership and inspiration.”
Rhone also issued a lengthy memo reviewing her amazing career. The first paragraph reads: “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.”
The full text of Rhone’s memo is posted HERE.
