She’s In Charge: African-American Women CEOs In Corporate America

If you ask anyone who is the most important female executive in the music business, Sylvia Rhone will surely be the name you hear. Rhone’s appointment in 1994 as chairwoman and CEO of Elektra Entertainment Group made her the only African American and the first woman in the history of the recording industry to attain such a title. After leaving EEG, Rhone helmed Universal Motown until 2011.

Now out on her own, last year Rhone partnered up with Epic for a new joint venture– Vested in Culture (VIC), which will soon release a slate of first releases, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Rhone will serve as chairman of VIC.

According to THR, the label’s first releases will be the debut from Latin pop star Kat Dahlia, followed by a new album from indie pop duo Quadron and the debut LP from R&B singer-songwriter Deon Young. Rhone has a history of making musical greats. She is credited with building the careers of En Vogue, Missy Elliot, and Busta Rhymes, among others.