Sylvia Rhone Stepping Down as Chair/CEO of Epic Records

Variety reports that Sylvia Rhone, a trailblazing figure in the music business, will step down from her position as Chair and CEO of Epic Records at the month's end. Her exit signifies the departure of one of the very few women currently at the helm of a major record label. Although a permanent replacement has not yet been announced, a source familiar with the matter indicated that label president Zeke Lewis and general manager Rick Sackheim are expected to oversee day-to-day operations in the interim.

Rhone's six-year run as chair and CEO, a title she earned in 2019, concludes an eleven-year chapter at Epic Records, where she first joined as president in 2014. Her career is defined by a series of historic firsts. At just 42, she shattered a significant barrier by becoming the first woman ever to be named chairman and CEO of a major label, taking charge of Warner Music Group's Elektra Records. During that era, the label boasted an impressive roster including Metallica, Missy Elliott, and Natalie Merchant. A decade later, she replicated this groundbreaking achievement by ascending to the CEO role at Universal's legendary Motown label, where she collaborated with influential artists like Akon and Erykah Badu.

In an internal communication, Sony Music chief Rob Stringer lauded Rhone's "extraordinary career," praising her adaptability and "unwavering commitment to supporting artists." He specifically cited her role in steering chart-topping campaigns for Epic's roster, which includes major acts such as 21 Savage, Future, and Travis Scott. Industry observers note that her ability to merge artistic vision with commercial success has established a benchmark for contemporary label leadership. One analyst commented, "Rhone's tenure demonstrated that fostering creative talent and achieving market dominance are not mutually exclusive goals."

Reflecting on her time at the label, Rhone described her eleven years at Epic as an "extraordinary journey" in her own memo. She underscored that her appointment marked the third occasion on which she was the first woman and the first Black executive to serve as CEO of a major label under a Fortune 500 parent company. She expressed immense pride in the diverse team she built at Epic, highlighting that it is composed of 62% women and 57% people of color—a team responsible for crafting bespoke strategies for a wide spectrum of artists, from global superstar Travis Scott to rising sensation Tyla.

Rhone's message also served as a career retrospective, tracing her path from an entry-level secretary role at Buddha Records after graduating from the prestigious Wharton School, through influential senior positions at Atlantic Records where she worked with Brandy and Ice Cube, to her transformative leadership periods at Elektra and Motown. She extended gratitude to colleagues, family, and mentors like Doug Morris, whom she credited with empowering her to "shatter the glass ceiling." Looking ahead, Rhone concluded that the accolades she has received throughout her decades-long career "pale beside the glory of our musical culture," signaling a continued passion for the art form that defined her professional life.