Universal Motown Records
Parent company	Universal Music Group
Founded	2005
Status	Defunct
Distributor(s)	Universal Motown Republic Group (In the US) Universal Island Records (Outside the US)
Genre	Various
Country of origin	United States
Location	New York City, New York

Universal Motown Records was a record label that operated as a division of Universal Motown Republic Group. It was the contemporary incarnation of the legendary Motown Records label, and the "urban" half of UMRG, although there was some rock artists on the label (along with its sub-labels) as well.

Background[link]

In 2005 Motown Records was merged with the urban artists on Universal Records to create Universal Motown Records, headed by former CEO of Elektra Records Sylvia Rhone, and placed under the newly created umbrella division of Universal Motown Republic Group. Motown Records began celebrating its fiftieth anniversary (January 12, 2009) in late 2008, including the release of a The Complete No. 1's boxset containing Motown #1 hits from Billboard's pop, R&B, and disco charts, reissues of classic-era Motown albums on CD, and other planned events, which were released in collaboration with Universal Music Group's catalog division.

Changes were made at Universal Motown Republic Group in 2011, and Motown Records was separated from Universal Motown Records and the umbrella label and merged into the The Island Def Jam Music Group (now named The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group), making Universal Republic Records a stand alone label and shutting down Universal Motown Republic Group.^[1]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official site

This article may contain wording that merely promotes the subject without imparting verifiable information. Please remove or replace such wording, unless you can cite independent sources that support the characterization. (March 2011)

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (July 2011)

Sylvia Rhone is an American music industry executive who served as president of Universal Motown Records until 2011.

She has overseen a roster of artists in the Universal Motown lineup including Lil Wayne and the Cash Money artists Nicki Minaj, Drake, Kid Cudi, Nelly, Melanie Fiona, Akon, Erykah Badu, and Stevie Wonder.

In October 2004, Rhone was appointed president of Motown Records and executive vice president of Universal Records. Prior to her Universal Motown role, Rhone served as chairman and CEO of the Elektra Entertainment Group,^[1] transforming the boutique label into one of the most eclectic rosters in the music business. Rhone's appointment in 1994 as chairman and CEO of EEG established her as the only African American and the first woman in the history of the recording industry to attain such a title.^{[citation needed]}

Early life, education, and early career[link]

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 11, 1952, and raised in Harlem, Rhone has cited her early exposure to seminal R&B shows at the Apollo Theatre as pivotal to her belief in music as an inspirational force. Accepted at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Rhone graduated with a B.S. in Economics. She got a job at Bankers Trust in New York City soon after graduating college, but she pursued her passion for music by landing a job as a secretary for Buddha Records in 1974. In a 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 for special markets, and she was eventually promoted to director of national black music marketing for Atlantic Records.

Atlantic Records[link]

Credited with helping to realign Atlantic's black music business, Rhone took on broader responsibilities in A&R and marketing in 1986 with her promotion to senior vice president and general manager of Atlantic Records. At Atlantic, Rhone managed such artists as En Vogue, The System, Levert, Brandy, Yo Yo, The D.O.C., MC Lyte, Chuckii Booker, Miki Howard and Gerald Albright. It was under her watch that Billboard Magazine named Atlantic the #1 Black Music Division in 1988.

Rhone's career has been highlighted by multiple firsts: In 1990 she became the first African American woman to head a major record company when she was named CEO and president of Atlantic's 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 and CEO of Atco/EastWest and subsequently of EastWest Records America. At EastWest, she was directly involved in introducing several newcomers as well as helping established stars gain new success, including En Vogue, Gerald Levert, Pantera and Das EFX. She also played a role in furthering the careers of AC/DC and Simply Red, who eventually became EEG artists. Atlantic Records' founder Ahmet Ertegun commented on Rhone's success during the period, calling her administration one of "innovation, imagination, and freshness". In 1993, she was cited by Ebony Magazine as one of the top up-and-coming black executives in the entertainment industry.

Elektra Entertainment Group[link]

In July 1994, Rhone was hired by Warner Music Group chairman Doug Morris to become chairman and CEO of the Elektra Entertainment Group. The Los Angeles Times called Rhone "the most powerful woman in the music business", citing her as the only African American and the first woman in the history of the recording industry to attain the dual title.

Rhone guided the merger of Elektra, EastWest (of which she was formerly CEO) and Sire Records into one of the Warner Music Group's most diverse and competitive labels. Rhone was directly involved in the launch and guidance of multiple best selling artists, including Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Tracy Chapman, Yolanda Adams, Metallica, Natalie Merchant, Gerald Levert, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Fabolous, Jason Mraz, and Third Eye Blind, among others.

Long recognized as a developer of musical talent, she was also instrumental in transforming the staff at Elektra, with Time Warner chairman and CEO Dick Parsons noting: "The Elektra Entertainment Group was one of the most actualized examples of diversity in action at a company that I've ever seen". In 1998, Fortune Magazine included her on their inaugural list of the Fifty Most Powerful Women, with Rhone joining corporate executives such as Carly Fiorina and Geraldine Laybourne, among others. In 2001, Ebony Magazine recognized her as one of the Ten Most Powerful Black Women In America, alongside Oprah Winfrey and Condoleezza Rice.

Motown and Universal Motown Records[link]

In 2004, Rhone was appointed president of Motown Records, executive vice president of Universal Records, with chairman of Universal Music Group, Doug Morris, calling her "a rainmaker", and Universal Motown Record Group chairman Mel Lewinter citing Rhone as a "natural to lead Motown's evolution into the future".^{[citation needed]} Under Rhone's stewardship, Motown reinvigorated both roster and staff, re-tooling the label into one of the more savvy digital music business platforms. Rhone added Akon, India.Arie, Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne, Chamillionaire, Stevie Wonder and others to the label.

In February 2006, the Universal Music label split into two labels, Universal Republic Records and Universal Motown Records, with Rhone serving as president of the latter. Rhone's approach helped to raise the global identity of Cash Money Records, while also placing an increased emphasis on Universal Motown artists' connecting with fans via micro-blogging and social network platforms.

Profiled and quoted in many magazines and entertainment media outlets through the years, Rhone has become a repeated choice on business and entertainment power lists. She has been named to the Entertainment Weekly Most Influential People list six times and to the Hollywood Reporter Women In Entertainment Power list seven times. Rhone has been praised by Crain's New York Business magazine for "breaking ground for years" and recognized by NBC, MTV, BET, Rolling Stone, VH1, Billboard, Vibe, and Ebony. Black Enterprise Magazine included her in their 2011 "Most Powerful Women In Business" issue.

Rhone stepped down from being president of the company in 2011.^[2]

Future[link]

It was confirmed in February 2012 that Sylvia Rhone will be launching her own record label through Epic Records.^[3]

Honors and awards[link]

Rhone has been honored with more than three dozen awards during her career, both from the music industry and the greater community. She was awarded the 2010 Lexus Pursuit Of Perfection Award as a trailblazer for African American women everywhere. In 2008, she was honored by the Black Women In Entertainment Law Foundation for her work as a pioneer in African American Music. In 2007, she was awarded the Black Girls Rock Corporate Award. In 2004, Rhone was awarded the Turner Broadcasting Trumpet Award which recognizes the accomplishments of distinguished African Americans from around the world. In 2001, Ms. Magazine named Rhone Woman Of The Year, along with Jane Fonda, Yoko Ono, and Venus and Serena Williams, among others. Rhone was one of only four women recognized in Jet Magazine's 50 Years Of Progress issue which chronicled the business achievements of prominent African Americans in the previous half-century.

Other honors include an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Adelphi; the Herbert H. Wright Award from the National Association of Market Developers; Sony's Soul of American Music Excellence Award; The Urban Network's Executive Of The Year Award; The Boy Scouts of America's Whitney M. Young Service Award; the New Music Seminar's Joel Webber Prize for Excellence in Music and Business Award; and the Legacy Life Member Award from the National Council of Negro Women. Rhone is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

References[link]

Young Chris (born Christopher F. Ries in 1983) is a Grammy nominated^[1] American rapper and songwriter. A member of Philadelphia rap duo Young Gunz, formerly signed to Roc-A-Fella records through Beanie Sigel’s State Property collective,^[1] early success included the hit single "Can't Stop, Won't Stop".^[2] Signed in December 2010 as a solo artist to Universal Motown through producer/songwriter Rico Love’s label imprint Division1, Young Chris is currently working on his album release.^[3] Because of identical names (minus a spelling difference), he is often confused with rapper Yung Chris and incorrectly credited as the performer of the song Racks

Music career[link]

Young Gunz[link]

Young Chris and Neef Buck (born Hanif Muhammad) had been friends since they were young boys on the block(C-Ave).^[4] On "Takeover", a track from his 2001 album “The Blueprint”, Jay-Z announced the duo as "Chris & Neef".^[5] In 2001, the duo performed on the State Property soundtrack album.^[5] Young Chris and Neef starred in the titular movie.^[6] Also during this period of their career, Young Chris appeared throughout Dame Dash's Dream Team compilation, and Beanie Sigel's The Reason.^[7] The duo performed together on guest appearances for albums like Jay-Z's The Blueprint 2, Freeway's Philadelphia Freeway, State Property's The Chain Gang Vol. 2, and Memphis Bleek's M.A.D.E.; all while recording their album.^[8] The Young Gunz scored their first hit with "Can't Stop, Won't Stop", the lead-off single from The Chain Gang Vol. 2 album.^[2] Its song and video received major airplay on hip-hop radio, MTV2, and BET and reached #14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and #6 on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.^[2]

After the success of their single, "Can't Stop, Won't Stop", the label jumped and was ready to release their debut album, Tough Luv.^[9] It included the remix to "Can't Stop, Won't Stop", which featured St. Louis rapper Chingy.^[9] Singles included "No Better Love" featuring former Roc-A-Fella Records crooner Rell and the Just Blaze-produced "Friday Night".^[9] Tough Luv debuted on the Billboard 200 at #3 after selling 128,000 copies in its first week.^[2] That week, the album at #2 was labelmate Kanye West's debut album The College Dropout, which was released just two weeks earlier.^[10]

After a brief hiatus, the duo returned with Swizz Beatz produced "Set It Off" from their second album, Brothers from Another.^[11] It was the second release from the "new" Roc-A-Fella Records, referencing when Jay-Z became president of Def Jam Records, the first being Memphis Bleek's 534.^[12][13] The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at #15, and included guest features from Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Slim of 112 and John Legend.^[14][15]

Solo career[link]

As early as March 2006, Young Chris thought about recording a solo album. He initially titled it Now or Never.^[16] He stated to XXL magazine that he wanted to release a solo album by the end of 2008 and had been "95 percent done" by June 2008.^[17] In this article, Young Chris also states that he feels himself up there with Lil' Wayne and Juelz Santana.^[17] Since this time, Chris has taken to the internet to solidify himself as a top solo artist, with his YoungChris.com Social Network, hitting the remix circuit, and his much anticipated "The Network" Mixtape series, hosted by DJ Don Cannon.^[18][19]

In December 2010 Young Chris signed with Division1, a label started by songwriter/producer Rico Love, under the Universal Motown umbrella.^[3] Love considers Young Chris his flagship artist, working closely with Young Chris on his debut album and pre-album/mixtape.^[20] The mixtape, called "The Re-Introduction", was released on November 20, 2010.^[21] The aptly titled mixtape gives the spotlight to a newly signed Young Chris, as a solo artist, and also, re-introduces the combination of DJ Drama and Don Cannon, the former "Affiliates" partners, hosting their first mixtape together, in several years.^[22]

On January 28, a song called "Philly Shit (Mega Mix)" featuring Young Chris, Eve, Black Thought, Money Malc, Fat Joe, Fred The Godson, Diggy Simmons, Jermaine Dupri & The Game was leaked.^[23] On March 22, 2011, Young Chris’ single “A$$ets” was commercially released.^[24]

Awards and Nominations[link]

"Can't Stop, Won't Stop" was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards.^[1]

Discography[link]

See: Young Chris Discography

External links[link]

• Young Chris Official Website
• Division 1 Website
• Young Gunz Official Website

References[link]

Lauren Evans is an American singer/songwriter responsible for penning hits by Alexandra Burke and Jordin Sparks.

Early life and career[link]

Lauren Evans grew up in San Bernardino, CA, the daughter of a worship pastor, John Evans, of Maranatha! Music and Promise Keepers. She recorded several popular Christian songs for the label Maranatha! Music. Lauren’s cover of “You’re Worthy of My Praise” became an oft-played radio hit for the label.^[1]

Her career got an early boost from working with production duo Buster & Shavoni who featured her on DreamWork’s Prince of Egypt soundtrack under the pseudonym Christian. “Didn’t I,” which she also co-wrote, earned a Stellar Award nomination the following year. Collaborating with producer Rex Rideout, another of her compositions “Brighter Days” was featured in the 2003 film The Fighting Temptations.

Lauren has also made her mark on TV, contributing her voice to Disney mainstays such as That's So Raven,^[2] The Cheetah Girls, High School Musical, Jump In, Cory in the House. Lauren was also the singing voice behind Fox’s animated series Bratz. Lauren's work on the series was released in 2006 as the compilation album Bratz: Genie Magic on Hip-O/Universal Music.^[3]

Songwriting[link]

Evans made her biggest impact to date as a songwriter. Several songs penned for the NBC soap opera Passions led to two Emmy nominations.^[4] She has also paired with producers such as Robbie Nevil, Rex Rideout, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Rodney Jerkins,^[5] J.R. Rotem^[6] and others.^[7]

Lauren co-wrote the hit single “One Step at a Time” for sixth-season American Idol winner Jordin Sparks. Lauren has also scored international hits with German pop trio Monrose’s “Even Heaven Cries” and British X Factor winner Alexandra Burke’s “Bad Boys.”

Lauren also became an in-demand session vocalist appearing on recordings by Yolanda Adams,^[8] Natasha Bedingfield,^[2] Corbin Bleu, Boney James, Will Downing,^[2] Mick Fleetwood, Heather Headley,^[9] Chaka Khan,^[10] The Isley Brothers, Ledisi,^[2] Latoya London, Barry Manilow, Nicole C. Mullen,^[2] Mýa, Ruben Studdard,^[2] Paul Taylor,^[2] Luther Vandross,^[2][11] Vanessa Williams,^[2] Charlie Wilson^[12] and the soundtrack of High School Musical 2.^[2]

Discography[link]

Featured appearances[link]

• Maranatha! Music, “You’re Worthy of My Praise”
• Andrae Crouch, “Yes Lord” (2005)
• The Avila Brothers featuring Lauren Evans, “Play For Me”

Songs written[link]

• Alexandra Burke, “Bad Boys”
• Vanessa Williams, “Breathless”
• Kelly Rowland, "No Man No Cry"^[13]
• Monrose, “Even Heaven Cries”
• Jordin Sparks, “One Step At A Time”
• Boney James, “Shine”
• Jeff Lorber, “Take Control”^[2]
• Paul Taylor, “Long Distance Relationship”
• Maysa, “Unexpectedly”
• Charice, "Fingerprint"
• Kimberley Locke, "Strobelight"
• JoJo, "Limbo"
• Joana Zimmer, "Tempted By Your Touch"
• Dionne Bromfield, "In Your Own World"
• Mandisa, "Free"
• Howie D., "Sleepwalking"
• Fady Maalouf, "This Anchor Holds"
• Mike Phillips, "Time of My Life"
• Jennifer McGill, "This Little Light"

See also[link]

• Dapo Torimiro
• Brian Kennedy

External links[link]

• Lauren Evans Songs at Allmusic
• Lauren Evans Credits at Allmusic
• Lauren Evans at the Internet Movie Database
• Official MySpace page

References[link]

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Shanti Das (born February 19, 1971 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a music industry executive, marketing consultant, entrepreneur, philanthropist and author. She was most recently Executive Vice President of Urban Marketing and Artist Development at Universal Motown Records, where she managed the marketing campaigns for artists such as Akon, Erykah Badu, and Ashanti.

Early life[link]

She suffered from a tragedy at an early age, when her Indian father (originally from Kolkata) committed suicide when she was 7 months old, leaving her African-American mother to take care of three children alone.^[1]

Career[link]

1990s[link]

Das graduated from Atlanta's Benjamin Mays High School in 1989. She attended Syracuse University, where she majored in Television, Radio and Film in the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications. In the summers of 1991 and 1992, she worked her first record label job as an urban promotions assistant at Capitol Records. She briefly interned in the sales department at Sony Music Atlanta before graduating from Syracuse in 1993 with a bachelor of science degree in communications.

Right out of college, LaFace Records hired Das as its National Director of Promotions, where she worked with label founders Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Antonio “LA” Reid on developing promotional campaigns for OutKast, Goodie Mob, Usher, TLC and Toni Braxton. She traveled with several artist tours, including Braxton’s first major U.S. concert tour (1993), TLC’s “CrazySexyCool” tour (1995-1996), and Usher’s 1994 and 1995 promotional tours.

In 1996, Das was promoted to LaFace’s marketing department, where she planned and coordinated campaigns for Outkast, Donell Jones, Goodie Mob and Toni Braxton. In 1997, she received Impact Magazine’s “National Promotion Director of the Year” award at its “Summer XII Conference.” A year later, Impact named her “Music Executive of the Year.”

2000s[link]

Upon the sale of LaFace Records to BMG in 2000, Das moved to New York and took on the role of Sr. Director of Urban Marketing at Arista Records, where L. A. Reid was then Arista’s new CEO. However, before leaving Atlanta, Outkast performed a free concert at Club Kaya in her honor. Das was awarded a “Key To The City of Atlanta” and June 5, 2000 was officially named “Shanti Das Day.”

Das left Arista in 2001 and became Vice President of Urban Marketing at Columbia Records. While at Columbia, she marketed high profile projects for So So Def Records, Jagged Edge, Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri. In 2003, she was elevated to Sr. Vice President of Urban Marketing at Sony Urban Music, where she developed and coordinated marketing and artist development campaigns for Prince, Vivian Green, Lyfe and Omarion.

In 2005, Das joined Universal Motown as Executive Vice President of Urban Marketing and Artist Development. From 2007-2009, she was co-President of 1st Class Entertainment and co-Founder of R&B Live New York, a monthly live music series that showcased urban talent from signed and unsigned artists.^[2]

Das sits on several boards and committees of organizations including:

• S.I. Newhouse School of Communications Advisory Board Member

• Bandier Music Program at Syracuse Advisory Board Member

• NARAS (NY Chapter) Urban Committee Member

• Apollo Theatre’s “Apollo Young Patrons” Committee Member

Das recently completed the program, “Effective Strategies for Media Companies: Navigating the New World,” at the Harvard School of Business in Dec 2008.

Das was named to Crain Communications "40 Under 40" in 2009.^[3] Later that year, moved by the plight of those who either could not afford to bury their loved ones, she created May We Rest in Peace, a nonprofit organization to help bury bodies stacking up at Detroit's Wayne County Morgue.^[4]

Das left Universal Motown in 2009 and launched the company PressReset.me, an Atlanta-based firm that provides entertainment marketing consulting, talent booking, special event planning and life mentoring services.^[5] She is currently co-founder of the live music showcase, ATL LIVE on the Park, a southern version of Das' R&B Live showcase.^[6]

2010s[link]

In August 2010, Das wrote and published the book "The Hip-Hop Professional: A Woman’s Guide to Climbing the Ladder of Success in the Entertainment Business," which chronicles her 20-year career in the music industry.^[7]

Notes[link]

1. ^ Crain's New York 2009 40 Under 40 - Shanti Das
2. ^ uMusic article
3. ^ Crain's New York 2009 40 Under 40 - Shanti Das
4. ^ CNN Money, Nov. 16, 2009: "Charity helps Detroit bury their dead"
5. ^ PressReset.me Official Site
6. ^ ATL Live on the Park Facebook fan page
7. ^ The Hip-Hop Professional official website - Shanti Das