Sylvia Rhone, born on March 11, 1952, is an American record executive. With fifty years in the music industry, she became the first Black woman to chair a major record company imprint and to hold both CEO and chair positions at a major label.
Rhone was president of Epic Records from 2014 to 2019, then served as chair and CEO from 2019 to 2025. Earlier, she led East West America at Atlantic, was chair and CEO of Elektra Entertainment Group, president of Universal Motown Records, and chair of Universal Motown Record Group. She also started the Epic imprint Vested in Culture and held senior roles at Atlantic. Her career began as a secretary at Buddah Records.
Age
Sylvia was born on March 11, 1952, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is 74 years old.
Biography & Education
Rhone was born in Philadelphia on March 11, 1952, and grew up in Harlem, New York. She has said that going to shows at the Apollo Theatre shaped her view of piracy. Artists like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin also influenced her.
Rhone attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated.
Career
After college, Rhone worked at Bankers Trust in New York City, but soon followed her passion for music by becoming a secretary at Buddha Records in 1974. Over the next six years, she moved up, working at ABC Records and Ariola Records.
In 1980, she joined Elektra as northeast regional promotion manager for national markets, and later became director of national black music marketing at Atlantic Records.
Rhon helped reshape Atlantic’s black music business and, in 1986, was promoted to senior vice president and general manager, taking on more responsibility in A&R and marketing.
She managed artists like En Vogue, the System, Levert, Bob Baldwin, Brandy, Yo Yo, the D.O.C., MC Lyte, Chuckii Booker, Miki Howard, Gerald Albright, the Rude Boys, and Chris Bender. Under her leadership, Billboard named Atlantic the top Black Music Division in 1988.
A year later, when the EastWest artist roster and operations were combined with those of Atco Records, Rhone was named chairwoman and CEO of Atco/EastWest and subsequently of EastWest Records America.
She also played a role in furthering the careers of AC/DC and Simply Red, who eventually became EEG artists. Atlantic Records’ founder Ahmet Ertegun commented on Rhone’s success during the period, calling her administration one of “innovation, imagination, and freshness.”
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In 1993, Ebony magazine named her one of the top rising Black executives in the entertainment industry.
The Los Angeles Times called Rhone “the most powerful woman in the music business”, citing her as the only African American and the first woman in the history of the recording industry to attain the dual title.
Rhone led the merger of Elektra, EastWest, and Sire Records, creating one of Warner Music Group’s most diverse and competitive labels.
She played a key role in launching and supporting many best-selling artists, such as Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Tracy Chapman, Yolanda Adams, Metallica, Natalie Merchant, Gerald Levert, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Fabolous, Jason Mraz, and Third Eye Blind.
In 2004, Rhone became president of Motown Records and executive vice president of Universal Records. Universal Music Group chairman Doug Morris called her “a rainmaker,” and Mel Lewinter, chairman of Universal Motown Record Group, said she was a “natural to lead Motown’s evolution into the future.” Under her leadership, Motown refreshed its roster and staff, becoming a leader in digital music. Rhone brought artists like Akon, India.Arie, Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne, Chamillionaire, and others to the label.
In February 2006, Universal Music split into Universal Republic Records and Universal Motown Records, with Rhone as president of Universal Motown.
Her leadership helped boost Cash Money Records’ global profile and encouraged Universal Motown artists to connect more with fans through social media.
Rhone chose not to sign Drake, who later made history by signing a distribution deal with Universal that included one of the largest advances ever for an unsigned artist.
Rhone stepped down as president of the company in 2011.
Honors and awards
Rhone was listed on Billboard’s Annual Power 100 in 2019 and ranked in 2025.
In October 2019, In October 2019, Rhone roceiIn October 20o9, ved the C, which was which wasin October, which was by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Rhone received the Midem of19 Hall of Fame partnership association with Billboard, at their 53rd annual conference in June, 20she alsohere Rhone gave the keynote address.
In April 2019, Rhone was awarded an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music.
In 2018, Billboard Magazine profiled Rhone as “Sony Music’s Most Powerful African-American Woman.”
She is on the board of directors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Net Worth
The American music industry executive has a net worth of $20 million.
