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Kevin Liles, a veteran music executive and co-founder of 300 Entertainment, has announced he will step down as chairman and CEO of 300 Elektra Entertainment, effective September 30, 2024. Liles, known for his contributions to hip-hop culture and artist development, will stay on as a consultant until the end of the year to aid the transition. This move comes amidst significant executive changes at Warner Music Group (WMG), following the departures of Max Lousada and Julie Greenwald.
Despite speculation, Kevin Liles and Russell Simmons are not related by blood. However, they share deep professional ties. Liles, a veteran in the music industry, worked closely with Simmons during his tenure as the president of Def Jam Recordings, which Simmons co-founded. Liles joined Def Jam in the early 1990s and eventually became its president.
Kevin Liles' career at 300 Entertainment and Warner Music Group
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Kevin Liles started as a DJ and a songwriter before he was hired at Def Jam Records. By 2004, he left Def Jam Records to engage in other projects, and in 2014, he formed 300 Entertainment with Lyor Cohen, Todd Moscowitz, and Roger Gold. By signing numerous talented rappers like Megan Thee Stallion, Gunna, Migos, and Young Thug, the company toed the spotlight very soon.
In early 2021, 300 Entertainment was bought by Warner Music Group for 400 million dollars. In 2022, the label was merged with Elektra to become a new umbrella company called 300 Elektra Entertainment Group. Under Kevin Liles, 300 Elektra Entertainment Group saw continuous success, with chart-topping releases.
The CEO of Warner Music Group Robert Kyncl praised Liles’ contributions to the music industry, calling him an "extraordinary brand-builder" and a "champion of creative expression."
Liles emphasized in his memo that empowering the next generation of leaders is essential to sustaining the industry's future. In a statement he shared on Instagram, the music executive said:
"The cultural impact we created in 10 years when starting from scratch is simply unmatched in the modern era. We transformed our value proposition - "mindset of independent, muscle of a major" - into a model for the rest of the industry to chase in this new era of music. But if there's one consistent in music and culture, it's that change is inevitable."
Rayna Bass and Selim Bouab, the co-presidents of 300 Entertainment, will now report directly to Robert Kyncl, and no direct replacement for Liles will be appointed. This change is happening as part of a rewiring process in WMG, in which Elliot Grainge, the founder of 10K projects, will also head the Atlantic music group as the new CEO.
While Kevin Liles is stepping back from his CEO duties, he remains committed to various social causes. He has been an advocate for ending the criminalization of hip-hop lyrics, most notably in the case of rapper Young Thug. Liles is also focused on political activism, supporting Kamala Harris' presidential run.
