Breaking new ground in the music industry for decades, pioneering executive Sylvia Rhone announced her resignation as CEO and Chairperson of Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, effective September 2025. The departure comes after more than six years at the helm of Epic, where she oversaw significant commercial successes and artist development.
Rhone’s exit is part of a broader leadership restructuring at Sony Music Entertainment, though industry insiders expect a smooth shift thanks to succession planning already in place. During her tenure, Rhone guided Epic Records to multiple Grammy nominations and wins while expanding the label’s roster across hip-hop, R&B, pop, and alternative genres.
Sylvia Rhone’s leadership propelled Epic Records to Grammy success while diversifying its musical footprint across multiple genres.
The executive’s career trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable since she began as a secretary at ABC Records in the mid-1970s. Rising through the ranks at Elektra Records and eventually becoming the first African-American woman to head a major record label when she took over Elektra Records in 1994, Rhone consistently broke barriers for women and minorities in executive music roles.
At Epic, Rhone signed and developed prominent artists including Future, Megan Thee Stallion, and Camila Cabello, helping Sony Music strengthen its presence in both urban and mainstream markets. Her leadership style emphasized inclusivity and artist support, characteristics that influenced company culture throughout her time at the label.
Rhone navigated significant industry disruption during her tenure, balancing the shift to streaming services while maintaining commercial objectives and artistic integrity. Throughout her career, she helped artists expand their revenue through diverse income streams including licensing deals for film and television, merchandise sales, and innovative digital strategies. Her departure creates an opportunity for new leadership direction at Epic Records, which analysts view as pivotal for Sony’s competitive positioning.
She especially excelled at helping artists leverage platform-specific features across streaming services to maximize their audience reach and royalty potential.
While her next moves remain unannounced, industry experts anticipate Rhone will continue to influence the music or related entertainment sectors, possibly through advisory roles, board memberships, or entrepreneurial ventures.
Regardless of her path forward, Rhone’s legacy as a pioneering figure for African-American women in music executive roles remains firmly established.
