Epic Records Restructures Urban Dept.

• In a major tactical restructuring of the Epic Records‘ Urban Promotion Department, Cynthia Johnson joins the label as Vice President, Urban Promotion, and Cory “Sparks” Johnson has been elevated to Vice President, Urban Promotion.

Cynthia Johnson segues from Columbia Records where she spent nearly a decade, rising to VP, Urban Promotion. She began her career in 1986, holding regional positions with MCA Records, Arista, and Motown prior to her first stint at Columbia in 1990, rising to SVP. In 2002 she joined J Records as VP, Urban Promotion. Two years later she was named SVP of Urban Promotion for Warner Bros. Records, and in 2008 Johnson joined Interscope Geffen A&M as Nat’l Director, Urban Promotion before returning to Columbia in 2011. Cory Johnson has served as Nat’l Director, Promotion, at Epic Records, since 2018. He began his career as Southeast Regional Promotions Director for Interscope Geffen A&M in 2006. In 2008 he moved to eOne for two years as Southeast Regional Promotions Manager, prior to joining Epic.

Both executives report to Epic EVP of Promotion, Traci Adams (left), who remarked, “I’m excited to have Cynthia join our team. She has built decades of experience in the music business establishing meaningful relationships and breaking new artists. She also serves as a driving force who elevates established artists to gold, platinum and multiplatinum status, while attaining countless No. 1s on the charts.” Weighing in on Cory Johnson’s promotion, Adams said, “Over Cory’s past eight years at Epic he has proven himself as a team player in the southeast region, from the regional level, to Field National, and now to Vice President. His relationships with our partners in the marketplace are vital to Epic’s continued success in breaking and promoting artists on the roster.”

• And there’s more — the Epic Urban Promotion restructuring includes the addition of Republic Records’ veteran Maurice Harley as Midwest Regional Manager, Urban Promotion, based in Chicago; Stephen Campbell is upped from Carolinas Regional Manager, Urban Promotion to New York Regional Manager; Campbell is replaced in the Carolinas by former assistant McKayla Sibblies, now based in Charlotte. Also, L.A.-based West Coast Regional Manager Sylvon Marshall adds Mixshow & Lifestyle responsibilities. Traci Adams added, “With these changes in the Urban Promotion Department, ranging from regional to national levels, Epic definitely has one of the best radio promotion teams in the business. We will continue the legacy of Epic by breaking new artists in addition to carrying on the success of the established artists.”