Roots, Risks, and Rising Up
In the world of music, where fame often fades and trends shift overnight, Sylvia Rhone has built a legacy that doesn’t just endure—it evolves. With over four decades in the industry, she remains one of its most powerful and influential architects. Dubbed the “Godmother” of music business excellence, Rhone has shattered ceilings and opened doors not just for herself, but for countless artists and executives—particularly Black women—following in her footsteps.
Today, as Chairwoman and CEO of Epic Records, Rhone stands as the first Black woman to helm a major record label. But to understand her journey is to understand the tenacity, brilliance, and cultural acumen it took to navigate an industry not designed for women like her to rise. Her life is more than a résumé—it’s a masterclass in perseverance and purpose.
Roots in Harlem, Dreams Beyond
Born March 11, 1952, in Philadelphia, Sylvia Rhone spent her formative years in Harlem—a neighborhood pulsing with culture, rhythm, and community pride. It was here, amid the echoes of soul music and the energy of uptown streets, that she discovered the power of sound. As a teenager, she attended legendary shows at the Apollo Theater, watching artists like Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald set the stage on fire. These early experiences planted the seeds of a passion that would one day reshape the music world.
But Rhone wasn’t just a dreamer; she was a doer. Her academic excellence led her to the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a degree in economics. That combination—of artistic passion and business sense—would become her secret weapon in a career that demanded both creativity and calculation.
From Bank Floors to Boardrooms
Her first job after college was at Bankers Trust in New York City. It was respectable, safe, and well-paying. But it wasn’t music. Within a year, Rhone made a bold pivot. In 1974, she took a secretarial job at Buddha Records, the kind of position many Wharton grads might look down upon. But for Sylvia, it was a foot in the door—and that’s all she needed.
From that humble starting point, she ascended rapidly, landing roles at ABC Records and Ariola Records before joining Elektra in 1980 as a regional promotion manager. A few years later, she transitioned to Atlantic Records, where her strategic acumen began to shine. In 1985, she became director of national Black music marketing, and by 1986, she was named senior vice president and general manager of Atlantic.
There, she oversaw artists like En Vogue, MC Lyte, Brandy, and The D.O.C., helping shape a Black music division so successful that Billboard named it the top in the nation in 1988. That honor was a testament not only to her leadership but to her vision of what Black music could become when given proper investment and respect.
Breaking Barriers and Reshaping the Game
Breaking Barriers at the Top
In 1990, Rhone made history when she was appointed CEO and president of Atlantic’s EastWest Records America. She became the first Black woman to run a major label—an achievement that was both personal and political.
At EastWest, she balanced cultural authenticity with business prowess, managing artists as diverse as Gerald Levert, Pantera, En Vogue, and Das EFX. Her ability to move fluidly between genres—hip-hop, soul, rock, and pop—challenged the music industry’s narrow assumptions about what a Black woman executive could oversee.
Four years later, Warner Music Group tapped her to lead the newly merged Elektra Entertainment Group (EEG), combining Elektra, Sire, and EastWest into a powerhouse label. As chairwoman and CEO, Rhone was the first woman and the first Black person to ever hold both titles at a major label. Under her leadership, EEG signed and developed Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Tracy Chapman, Yolanda Adams, and Metallica, among others.
Her tenure there didn’t just break records; it broke molds. EEG’s annual sales jumped more than $300 million under her watch. She had proven that diversity wasn’t just good optics—it was good business.
Motown’s Modern-Day Matriarch
In 2004, Sylvia Rhone joined Universal Music Group as president of Motown Records and executive vice president of Universal Records. The move was momentous. Motown, the legendary label that once redefined Black music, was in need of a revival. Rhone brought both reverence and innovation.
She led the charge to modernize Motown, streamlining its operations for a digital-first world and signing a new generation of hitmakers like Akon, India.Arie, Erykah Badu, and Lil Wayne. Her work helped expand Cash Money Records’ reach and made Motown relevant again—not as a museum piece, but as a living, breathing brand.
Her tenure also reflected a deeper mission: to show the music industry that Black artistry, Black leadership, and Black excellence were not mutually exclusive—they were foundational.
Building Her Own Legacy: Vested In Culture
In 2012, Rhone founded her own label, Vested In Culture (VIC), under the distribution of Epic Records. VIC gave her the autonomy to shape artists her way, without the bureaucratic hurdles of major label politics. Her track record once again spoke for itself, and by 2014, she was named president of Epic, working alongside industry icon L.A. Reid.
When Reid exited in 2017, Sylvia Rhone stepped fully into the spotlight, becoming the sole leader of Epic Records. In 2019, she was officially named Chairwoman and CEO—the first Black woman ever to lead the label. Her impact was immediate and undeniable. She oversaw the release of Travis Scott’s Astroworld, Camila Cabello’s chart-topping Camila, and hits from DJ Khaled, Future, 21 Savage, and Meghan Trainor. Under her leadership, Epic achieved the rare feat of having three albums simultaneously in the Billboard Top 10—twice.
Culture, Champions, and the Rhone Legacy
Championing Women and the Culture
More than just a music executive, Sylvia Rhone has long been an advocate for equity and representation. She’s been outspoken about the need for gender and racial diversity in boardrooms and behind the scenes. Her career has been a blueprint for what it looks like to lead with intention.
She played a pivotal role in ushering women like MC Lyte, Missy Elliott, Yo Yo, Rah Digga, and Nicki Minaj into the spotlight—recognizing not just their talent, but their power. Rhone has also championed hip-hop’s legitimacy in the broader music canon, ensuring that a genre born from the margins received mainstream respect.
She serves as an honorary chair for the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective (BMC), where she advocates for Black voices in music to receive their proper due—not just in awards season, but in the systems that shape the industry year-round.
The Industry’s Most Decorated Executive
Sylvia Rhone’s accolades are as expansive as her influence. She was the first woman to receive the Music Business Association’s Presidential Award for Sustained Achievement and has been honored with nearly three dozen major awards. Among them: the Essence Black Women in Music Trailblazer Award, Billboard’s Women in Music Executive of the Year, and an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music.
In 2019, she was named the recipient of the City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award, a prestigious honor recognizing industry leaders for both professional and philanthropic impact.
She’s been featured on countless “Most Powerful” lists by Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, and Jet magazine. But more than plaques or press, her greatest legacy is the barrier-breaking path she continues to carve for others.
A Blueprint for Future Generations
Sylvia Rhone’s journey—from Harlem dreamer to music mogul—has changed the way the industry sees leadership. She’s done it without scandal, without shortcuts, and without apology. Her story is a love letter to Black culture, Black women, and the business of believing in yourself when the world tells you no.
She’s not just a woman in the room—she’s the reason the door opened in the first place. For every aspiring music executive, artist, and young Black girl who dreams big, Rhone’s story offers a powerful message: You don’t have to choose between being brilliant and being Black. You don’t have to dilute yourself to lead. You just have to walk boldly—and let your work speak volumes.
This Month’s Featured Articles
The Studio Museum in Harlem, long a global epicenter for artists of African descent—reopens in 2025 with a groundbreaking new home that redefines what a cultural institution can be. From its radical 1968 loft origins to Sir David Adjaye’s “inverted stoop,” the museum remains Harlem’s beacon of Black creativity, community, and future-making.
Kelly Rowland’s relationship with Harlem runs deeper than red carpets and photo ops. From the Apollo Theater to Harlem Hospital, Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO), and local Black-owned restaurants, she blends star power with street-level service. In Harlem, Rowland isn’t visiting—she’s investing, uplifting, and rewriting what celebrity commitment looks like.
The National Urban League’s return to Harlem with its $242 million Empowerment Center marks a bold new era of Black economic sovereignty. Combining affordable housing, a civil rights museum, workforce development, and a self-sustaining headquarters, the center reclaims Harlem’s legacy while shaping the future of social and economic justice.
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson’s story isn’t just about Hollywood greatness, it’s about a lifelong commitment to building, protecting, and funding Black institutions. From Harlem’s stages to Spelman’s arts center and the new Urban Civil Rights Museum, the Jacksons have spent decades transforming activism into infrastructure and legacy into community power.
FeaturedHarlem - The Most Soulful Place On Earth™
Walking Into the Heart of Harlem’s Holiday Spirit. On the evening of November 18th, Harlem did what Harlem does best — it shined.
FeaturedHarlemBusinessHarlemEmpowerment
Your dollar has power. Make it work for the culture. Read our guide to global Black-owned businesses you can support today.
Roots, Risks, and Rising Up
In the world of music, where fame often fades and trends shift overnight, Sylvia Rhone has built a legacy that doesn’t just endure—it evolves. With over four decades in the industry, she remains one of its most powerful and influential architects. Dubbed the “Godmother” of music business excellence, Rhone has shattered ceilings and opened doors not just for herself, but for countless artists and executives—particularly Black women—following in her footsteps.
Today, as Chairwoman and CEO of Epic Records, Rhone stands as the first Black woman to helm a major record label. But to understand her journey is to understand the tenacity, brilliance, and cultural acumen it took to navigate an industry not designed for women like her to rise. Her life is more than a résumé—it’s a masterclass in perseverance and purpose.
Roots in Harlem, Dreams Beyond
Born March 11, 1952, in Philadelphia, Sylvia Rhone spent her formative years in Harlem—a neighborhood pulsing with culture, rhythm, and community pride. It was here, amid the echoes of soul music and the energy of uptown streets, that she discovered the power of sound. As a teenager, she attended legendary shows at the Apollo Theater, watching artists like Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald set the stage on fire. These early experiences planted the seeds of a passion that would one day reshape the music world.
But Rhone wasn’t just a dreamer; she was a doer. Her academic excellence led her to the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a degree in economics. That combination—of artistic passion and business sense—would become her secret weapon in a career that demanded both creativity and calculation.
From Bank Floors to Boardrooms
Her first job after college was at Bankers Trust in New York City. It was respectable, safe, and well-paying. But it wasn’t music. Within a year, Rhone made a bold pivot. In 1974, she took a secretarial job at Buddha Records, the kind of position many Wharton grads might look down upon. But for Sylvia, it was a foot in the door—and that’s all she needed.
From that humble starting point, she ascended rapidly, landing roles at ABC Records and Ariola Records before joining Elektra in 1980 as a regional promotion manager. A few years later, she transitioned to Atlantic Records, where her strategic acumen began to shine. In 1985, she became director of national Black music marketing, and by 1986, she was named senior vice president and general manager of Atlantic.
There, she oversaw artists like En Vogue, MC Lyte, Brandy, and The D.O.C., helping shape a Black music division so successful that Billboard named it the top in the nation in 1988. That honor was a testament not only to her leadership but to her vision of what Black music could become when given proper investment and respect.
Breaking Barriers and Reshaping the Game
Breaking Barriers at the Top
In 1990, Rhone made history when she was appointed CEO and president of Atlantic’s EastWest Records America. She became the first Black woman to run a major label—an achievement that was both personal and political.
At EastWest, she balanced cultural authenticity with business prowess, managing artists as diverse as Gerald Levert, Pantera, En Vogue, and Das EFX. Her ability to move fluidly between genres—hip-hop, soul, rock, and pop—challenged the music industry’s narrow assumptions about what a Black woman executive could oversee.
Four years later, Warner Music Group tapped her to lead the newly merged Elektra Entertainment Group (EEG), combining Elektra, Sire, and EastWest into a powerhouse label. As chairwoman and CEO, Rhone was the first woman and the first Black person to ever hold both titles at a major label. Under her leadership, EEG signed and developed Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Tracy Chapman, Yolanda Adams, and Metallica, among others.
Her tenure there didn’t just break records; it broke molds. EEG’s annual sales jumped more than $300 million under her watch. She had proven that diversity wasn’t just good optics—it was good business.
Motown’s Modern-Day Matriarch
In 2004, Sylvia Rhone joined Universal Music Group as president of Motown Records and executive vice president of Universal Records. The move was momentous. Motown, the legendary label that once redefined Black music, was in need of a revival. Rhone brought both reverence and innovation.
She led the charge to modernize Motown, streamlining its operations for a digital-first world and signing a new generation of hitmakers like Akon, India.Arie, Erykah Badu, and Lil Wayne. Her work helped expand Cash Money Records’ reach and made Motown relevant again—not as a museum piece, but as a living, breathing brand.
Her tenure also reflected a deeper mission: to show the music industry that Black artistry, Black leadership, and Black excellence were not mutually exclusive—they were foundational.
Building Her Own Legacy: Vested In Culture
In 2012, Rhone founded her own label, Vested In Culture (VIC), under the distribution of Epic Records. VIC gave her the autonomy to shape artists her way, without the bureaucratic hurdles of major label politics. Her track record once again spoke for itself, and by 2014, she was named president of Epic, working alongside industry icon L.A. Reid.
When Reid exited in 2017, Sylvia Rhone stepped fully into the spotlight, becoming the sole leader of Epic Records. In 2019, she was officially named Chairwoman and CEO—the first Black woman ever to lead the label. Her impact was immediate and undeniable. She oversaw the release of Travis Scott’s Astroworld, Camila Cabello’s chart-topping Camila, and hits from DJ Khaled, Future, 21 Savage, and Meghan Trainor. Under her leadership, Epic achieved the rare feat of having three albums simultaneously in the Billboard Top 10—twice.
Culture, Champions, and the Rhone Legacy
Championing Women and the Culture
More than just a music executive, Sylvia Rhone has long been an advocate for equity and representation. She’s been outspoken about the need for gender and racial diversity in boardrooms and behind the scenes. Her career has been a blueprint for what it looks like to lead with intention.
She played a pivotal role in ushering women like MC Lyte, Missy Elliott, Yo Yo, Rah Digga, and Nicki Minaj into the spotlight—recognizing not just their talent, but their power. Rhone has also championed hip-hop’s legitimacy in the broader music canon, ensuring that a genre born from the margins received mainstream respect.
She serves as an honorary chair for the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective (BMC), where she advocates for Black voices in music to receive their proper due—not just in awards season, but in the systems that shape the industry year-round.
The Industry’s Most Decorated Executive
Sylvia Rhone’s accolades are as expansive as her influence. She was the first woman to receive the Music Business Association’s Presidential Award for Sustained Achievement and has been honored with nearly three dozen major awards. Among them: the Essence Black Women in Music Trailblazer Award, Billboard’s Women in Music Executive of the Year, and an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music.
In 2019, she was named the recipient of the City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award, a prestigious honor recognizing industry leaders for both professional and philanthropic impact.
She’s been featured on countless “Most Powerful” lists by Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, and Jet magazine. But more than plaques or press, her greatest legacy is the barrier-breaking path she continues to carve for others.
A Blueprint for Future Generations
Sylvia Rhone’s journey—from Harlem dreamer to music mogul—has changed the way the industry sees leadership. She’s done it without scandal, without shortcuts, and without apology. Her story is a love letter to Black culture, Black women, and the business of believing in yourself when the world tells you no.
She’s not just a woman in the room—she’s the reason the door opened in the first place. For every aspiring music executive, artist, and young Black girl who dreams big, Rhone’s story offers a powerful message: You don’t have to choose between being brilliant and being Black. You don’t have to dilute yourself to lead. You just have to walk boldly—and let your work speak volumes.
This Month’s Featured Articles
The Studio Museum in Harlem, long a global epicenter for artists of African descent—reopens in 2025 with a groundbreaking new home that redefines what a cultural institution can be. From its radical 1968 loft origins to Sir David Adjaye’s “inverted stoop,” the museum remains Harlem’s beacon of Black creativity, community, and future-making.
Kelly Rowland’s relationship with Harlem runs deeper than red carpets and photo ops. From the Apollo Theater to Harlem Hospital, Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO), and local Black-owned restaurants, she blends star power with street-level service. In Harlem, Rowland isn’t visiting—she’s investing, uplifting, and rewriting what celebrity commitment looks like.
The National Urban League’s return to Harlem with its $242 million Empowerment Center marks a bold new era of Black economic sovereignty. Combining affordable housing, a civil rights museum, workforce development, and a self-sustaining headquarters, the center reclaims Harlem’s legacy while shaping the future of social and economic justice.
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson’s story isn’t just about Hollywood greatness, it’s about a lifelong commitment to building, protecting, and funding Black institutions. From Harlem’s stages to Spelman’s arts center and the new Urban Civil Rights Museum, the Jacksons have spent decades transforming activism into infrastructure and legacy into community power.
FeaturedHarlem - The Most Soulful Place On Earth™
Walking Into the Heart of Harlem’s Holiday Spirit. On the evening of November 18th, Harlem did what Harlem does best — it shined.
FeaturedHarlemBusinessHarlemEmpowerment
Your dollar has power. Make it work for the culture. Read our guide to global Black-owned businesses you can support today.
