In the wake of today’s (Sept. 22) announcement of Sylvia Rhone‘s departure as chairwoman/CEO of Epic Records at the end of this month, Billboard has obtained two letters that Rhone wrote to her Sony and Epic families.
Rhone exits Epic after 11 years, coming on board as president of the company in 2014 before being elevated to chair/CEO in 2019. Her trailblazing career has seen her become the first Black executive and first woman to chair a major record company, having been appointed to oversee Elektra Entertainment Group in 1994.
Over the course of her five-decade career, the pioneering executive has been honored with such accolades as the City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award, the Black Music Collective’s Recording Academy Global Impact Award, the Black Music Action Coalition’s BMAC Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award and the Vanguard Award at the inaugural Black Women in Music dinner last year. In 2023, she was named Billboard’s Women in Music executive of the year, where she was feted as “a force, an alchemist, a savant of creative artistry and an inspiration to all women for the glass ceilings you have conquered.”
Read both of Rhone’s notes in full below.
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TO MY EPIC FAMILY,
As I step away from this role that has defined so much of my journey, I am filled with pride in the extraordinary tapestry we’ve created together. From Future to Travis Scott to 21 Savage, Meghan Trainor, Tyla, Madison Beer, Giveon, Zara Larsson, Mariah the Scientist, Absolutely, ScarLip, BIA, UMI, Real Boston Richie, Eddie Benjamin, the late, great Ozzy Osbourne and more.
At this pivotal time in music history, your voices have not just survived; they have soared. Your creativity doesn’t just fill rooms and bottom lines — it fills the spaces between heartbeats, just when the world needs reminding that the soul of music still exists.
Together, we’ve scored the soundtrack to countless lives. We’ve given voice to the voiceless and rhythm to the restless. Your contributions haven’t just shaped our catalog — they’ve shaped culture itself. Every late night in the studio, every “what if we tried this,” every moment you pushed past the comfortable into the extraordinary — these are the building blocks of our legacy.
Thank you for trusting me with your brilliance. Thank you for making every day feel like the first-time music was invented. Your voices make a difference. Your creativity makes a difference.
You make a difference.
The stage is yours now. Make it sing.
Sylvia ❤️
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TO MY SONY FAMILY,
It’s been an extraordinary journey: eleven years since my promotion to President of Epic Records and six years since my appointment as Chairwoman and CEO. This role at Epic represents the third time in my career that I’ve been the first woman and first Black person to serve as CEO of a major record label owned by a Fortune 500 company.
And today, I am moving on from this historic role at Epic and I’m very excited about the future.
I’ve always been surrounded by excellent teams, but our current one at Epic is extraordinary. Spanning multiple generations, our team understands music’s history, finds meaning in complex data, and anticipates emerging trends. From Travis Scott, Future and 21 Savage, to Meghan Trainor, Tyla and Madison Beer, Zara Larsson to Giveon and Mariah The Scientist, Q-Tip to Andre 3000 and the late, great Ozzy Osbourne…Epic artists thrive through bespoke campaigns that honor their unique voices and goals. While helping artists maintain authentic fan connections, our team guides them through partnerships in video, fashion, gaming, and content innovation. We’re proud of leading Sony Music’s 2020 “Your Voice, Your Power, Your Vote” campaign and fostering a workplace culture that reflects our values: 62% women and 57% people of color. From day one, we set out to build something special at Epic — and we have.
This moment of my transition invites reflection on a journey that has been wide-ranging in its scope and impact.
Following my graduation from The Wharton School, I started as a secretary at Buddha Records and after working my way up through radio promotions, I was privileged to be appointed SVP of Black Music at Atlantic Records. Those times feel like yesterday, working with Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, En Vogue, LeVert, Brandy, Adina Howard, Troop, DAS EFX, Snow, MC Lyte, Kwamé, Miki Howard, Gerald Albright, The System and Ice Cube’s Lynch Mob and Yo-Yo. Through our Ruthless Records deal, we also released The D.O.C., JJ Fad, Michel’le, and Easy-E.
In July 1994, I was appointed Chairwoman of Elektra Records, where we orchestrated a cultural renaissance that still resonates today. There, we became guardians of musical diversity, nurturing the power of AC/DC and Metallica alongside the genius of Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes. From Pantera’s intensity to Phish’s improvisational spirit, from Tracy Chapman’s truths and Anita Baker’s soul to Tamia’s powerful vocals — each artist flourished on their own frequency. Third Eye Blind, Yolanda Adams, Silk, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Gerald LeVert, Keith Sweat, Natalie Merchant, The Cure, Björk, Staind, Better Than Ezra, The Afghan Whigs, and Jason Mraz all found their home in our musical family, creating moments that transcended mere entertainment.
Then came my chapter at Motown, where the label’s iconic history and its future converged under my leadership as Chairwoman and CEO. It was an honor to record Stevie Wonder’s last full-length studio album while simultaneously collaborating with artists like Nelly, Erykah Badu, Kid Cudi, and Akon. We also extended hip-hop’s global reach by distributing Cash Money Records’ roster — elevating Baby, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Drake.
I am blessed to have worked with some of the most brilliant and influential artists in the history of recorded music. And I’ve discovered this: when we channel our strength and creativity in service of a vision, and collaborate with artists who do the same, we create music that reflects our world, questions our assumptions, and uplifts our spirits. This is a kind of magic, a deeply human connection. Right now, when music’s DNA is being reimagined, when artists face existential challenges, and when all of us are building the future in real time, there is little that is more profound.
Looking back on my Epic era fills me with great pride. To my team of creative champions, you now hold the reins, and I know your best work lies ahead. I’m grateful for Zeke Lewis, Rick Sackheim, Sandra Aflorei, Tyler Pittman, John Shoup, Dave Bell, Lisa Kasha, Shannon Mingal, Margeaux Watson, Justin Duran, Chelsea Donnarumma, Brooke Marcimo, Mez Tara, Gina Harrell, Melissa Victor, Traci Adams, Scott Dimig, Dontay Thompson, Jennifer Goicoechea, Patrick Afeku, John Kirkpatrick, Michael Petullo, Max Sholl, Hector Rosario and the countless other executives who made Epic Records home.
I thank my daughter Quinn for her unconditional love and my late parents Marie and Bob Rhone for their heroic support. And I am forever grateful for my prior teammates from over the years. Not only did we work great music, but we also created an amazing network of advocacy and goodwill! Thanks to Rob Stringer for his trust and camaraderie and to Doug Morris for empowering me to shatter the glass ceiling.
I have worked in our industry since vinyl ruled, and women were rarely if ever in line for C-level or even vice-presidential roles. I am proud of my achievements, and of my commitment to those who take inspiration from them. The many individual honors I’ve received — from Billboard, Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful Women, Essence, Variety, Ms. Magazine’s Woman of the Year, and the recent honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music — serve as grace notes on my years of dedication. But they pale beside what we’ve all built together. They pale beside the glory of our musical culture.
Onward and upward,
Sylvia