Republic Names Taylor EVP/A&R, Head Of Hip-Hop

• Republic Records has elevated Sam Taylor to Executive Vice President, A&R, Head of Hip-Hop/R&B. The announcement was made jointly by Republic Founder Avery Lipman and Co-President Wendy Goldstei

Lipman commented, “Sam understands the culture of hip-hop and R&B at a core level. He really has an incredible ear for talent and the rare ability to not just spot the next wave, but actually instigate it. I’m honored to announce his promotion.” Goldstein added, “What Sam has done in the past year is nothing short of incredible. He brought an amazing amount of energy to our A&R department with a fresh perspective. He’s the perfect choice to take charge of our Hip-Hop and R&B roster, and this is the beginning of a really exciting new chapter for Republic Records.”

Taylor joined Republic Records in 2020 as EVP of A&R. Among many successes over the past year, he orchestrated “We Win (Space Jam: A New Legacy),” the chart-topping collaboration between Kirk Franklin + Lil Baby, which also earned a 2022 GRAMMY® nomination for “Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.

Prior to Republic Records, Taylor served as Executive Vice President, Creative at Kobalt for four years, notably signing Roddy Ricch and Gunna, while working on other high-profile signings such as Raphael Saadiq. He also played a large role in Kendrick Lamar‘s hit “Alright” with Pharrell Williams. Taylor began his career in 2002 at Elektra Records has also worked at Atlantic Records, Warner/Chappell, Sony/ATV, and EMI Music Publishing. He is also deeply involved in the Republic Records Action Committee (R2AC).

“Wendy, Monte, and Avery exhibit the utmost level of leadership, passion, and dedication to the artists,” said Taylor, who has been working closely with the legendary Stevie Wonder on forthcoming music. “I’ll always do the best I can to uphold the legacy they’ve built at the label. I want to build and lead the Hip-Hop/R&B A&R team to add to Republic’s already great history.”