Sylvia
Rhone
S ylvia Rhone's current tenure as Chairman of the Elektra Entertainment Group
is the latest achievement in a distinguished 27 year career in the music business.
Her historic appointment as Chairman/ CEO of EEG establishes her as the only African
American and the first woman in the history of the recording industry to attain
such a title.
During her first year at EEG she was enormously successful at
consolidating the three companies that became the Elektra Entertainment
Group. Ms. Rhone guided the delicate merger of Elektra, EastWest
(of which she was formerly CEO), and Sire Records into the Warner
Music Group's premiere boutique label. She has been directly involved
in the launch of several artists at EEG, including Staind, Yolanda
Adams, Missy Elliott, Fabolous, Third Eye Blind, and Tamia. Long
known throughout the music industry as a keen developer of musical
talent, she was also instrumental in the continuing success of
platinum-plus artists like Metallica, Gerald Levert, Tracy Chapman,
Bjork, Keith Sweat, and Natalie Merchant.
Her career reads like a virtual litany of firsts. In 1990 she
became the first African American woman to head a major record
company when she was named CEO/President of Atlantic's new EastWest
Records America division. A year later when the EastWest Artist
Roster and operations were combined with those of Atco Records,
Rhone was named Chairman/CEO of Atco/EastWest, and subsequently
of EastWest Records America.
At EastWest, she was directly involved in breaking several talented
newcomers as well as taking established artists to new heights.
En Vogue, Gerald Levert, Pantera and Dream Theater all ignited
during her watch. She also played a pivotal role in furthering
the careers of noted superstars like AC/DC and Simply Red now
both prestigious EEG artists.
Rhone began her career with Buddha Records in 1974. In succession of promotions
over the next six years, she also held positions at ABC Records and Ariola Records.
Rhone was previously part of the Elektra family in 1980 as Northeast Regional
Promotion Manager/ Special Markets, and was eventually promoted to Director/National
Black Music Marketing. She took on broader responsibilities in A&R and marketing
in 1986 with her promotion to Vice President/ General Manager of Atlantic's Black
Music operation. In 1988 she was promoted to Senior Vice President of Atlantic
Records. It was under her watch that Atlantic was named the Number One Black Music
Division by Billboard Magazine in 1988.
Born and Raised in New York City's historic Harlem, Rhone holds
a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.
She has been honored with over two dozen awards during her career,
both from the music industry and the greater community. Most recently,
Ms.Rhone received the Creative Spirit Award from the Black Alumni
of the Pratt Institute. Ms. Rhone was appointed to the Board of
Directors of the AOL Time Warner Foundation in 2001, and in 2000
was named an alumni trustee of the University of Pennsylvania.
In 1996 Ms. Rhone was awarded an Honorary Degree, a Doctorate
of Humane letters, From Adelphi University. Highlights and honors
included 1996's Studio Museum Corporate award; 1995's Herbert
H. Wright award from the National Association of Market Developers;
1995's The Urban Network Executive of the Year award; 1994's Legacy
Life Member award from the National council of Negro Women; 1993's
Sony Soul of American Music Excellence award; 1993's The New Music
Seminar Joel Webber Prize For Excellence in Music and Business
award and 1992's Boy Scouts of America's Whitney M. Young Service
award.
Ms. Rhone is active in a number of community based organizations
and took the lead role in the entertainment industry in 1996 in
organizing a fund raising benefit for the National Council of
Churches Burned Churches Fund, which raised funds to rebuild churches
destroyed by fire.
Ms. Rhone is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alvin
Ailey American dance Theater, the Studio Museum of Harlem, the
RIAA, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Jazz at Lincoln Center,
NARAS, and the R&B Foundation.
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