SYLVIA RHONE

CHAIR & CEO, EPIC RECORDS

Rhone is easily the most influential female executive in music business history. Her career has been marked by her ascent to senior positions at all three major record companies, including becoming the first African American woman to head a major record company when she was named CEO and president of Atlantic’s EastWest Records America division in 1990. That milestone was followed by others thanks to her ability to pick and elevate chart-busters and produce profits as head of EastWest Records, which brought the world supernovas such as En Vogue and Gerald Levert. She also held the groundbreaking role of chairwoman and CEO of Elektra Entertainment Group, transforming the boutique label into one of the industry’s most eclectic rosters. Today, she’s still No. 1. as chairwoman and CEO of Epic Records, a label owned by Sony Music Entertainment.

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