300 Entertainment CEO, Kevin Liles, to Step Down | Business/Employment

Kevin Liles will step down from his position as chairman and CEO of 300 Entertainment on the finish of September, the revered label government introduced on Tuesday (Sept. 17).

In an inside observe to workers obtained by Billboard, Liles stated he can be departing as CEO of the Warner Music-owned label on the finish of the month however staying on as a marketing consultant by means of the 12 months. WMG CEO Robert Kyncl referred to as Liles an “extraordinary brand-builder, artist advocate, and champion of creative expression” and introduced that he has determined not to change the position — including that 300 will proceed to have “first-class leaders” in co-presidents Rayna Bass and Selim Bouab, in addition to Elektra president Gregg Nadel.

Liles, Lyor Cohen, Todd Moscowitz and Roger Gold launched 300 in 2015 and shortly gained recognition and affect for signing and creating future hip-hop superstars together with Megan Thee Stallion, Gunna, Migos, Fetty Wap and Young Thug, amongst others. In 2021, the label was acquired by Warner Music Group, which then included it into the Atlantic Music Group by forming the 300 Elektra Entertainment Group in 2022.

The modifications at 300 observe the departures of WMG’s CEO of recorded music Max Lousada and longtime Atlantic chief Julie Greenwald and the announcement that 10K Projects founder Elliot Grainge will likely be taking on as CEO of the new-look AMG on the finish of this month. WMG has been helmed by Kyncl since Jan. 1, 2023.

Sources have instructed Billboard that different government departures can also be within the works throughout this management transition as nicely.

“The cultural impact we created in 10 years when starting from scratch is simply unmatched in the modern era,” stated Liles. “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.”

Read Liles’ full memo to workers:

A Celebration of Who We Are
 
Team, 
From the beginning, 300 was centered round the concept once you intensely give attention to servicing artists and the tradition, good issues occur. When we mixed that intention with our fearlessness, creativity, and fervour, it unlocked greatness and delivered affect.  Next month, 300 will likely be celebrating its tenth anniversary of greatness and affect. I wished to take a second to specific my gratitude to our group and share some information.

A Decade of Influence
Throughout the previous decade, we stayed true to our unique imaginative and prescient and values. As we created the primary ever label ecosystem within the business, we celebrated Trap Queens, we Dripped Too Hard as a Lifestyle, and it was all the time a Hot Girl Summer, even on our Skis. We have leaders just like the Bad and Boujee Rayna Bass who can swap between Pushin P and being Savage with No Promises aside from excellence. Then there’s the Awwsome Selim Bouab who's Hot no matter whether or not in Japan, The London, or From The D To The A. Our complete group is One of Wun. Our Bread & Butter was saying much less and doing extra – when others talked, we didn’t cease to ask Fukumean, we simply stated Good Morning Gorgeous and proved Boy’s A Liar. Whether Lydia, Kehlani, or 679 of Your Friends, we made followers evangelists. We Mixed Personalities, put in work prefer it’s First Day Out, and ran up Digits that made everybody Pick Up The Phone. 

Then after we grew to become a part of the WMG household and joined forces with Gregg Nadel and different good minds and artists throughout Elektra Music Group, we continued to ship Religiously and Right On Time. As 3EE, we had The Craving to all the time make it Bigger Than The Song, whether or not it felt like we have been on Holiday or between a Rock And A Hard Place. 

The cultural affect we created in 10 years when ranging from scratch is solely unmatched within the fashionable period. We remodeled our worth proposition – “mindset of independent, muscle of a major” – right into a mannequin for the remainder of the business to chase on this new period of music. But if there’s one constant in music and tradition, it’s that change is inevitable.  

As dedicated servants of the tradition, we all know rising and empowering the subsequent technology of leaders is a accountability, and when the time is true, we cross the torch. As I discussed above, at 300 we've two of essentially the most gifted, home-grown younger leaders in your complete music business, Rayna Bass and Selim Bouab. On this tenth anniversary of 300, it’s their flip to lead our 300 group into the subsequent decade of excellence. At the tip of this month, I’ll be stepping apart and departing WMG, though to guarantee a profitable transition, I’ll proceed to seek the advice of with the group by means of the tip of the 12 months.  

300 has by no means been about one individual or one artist. It’s a motion united in perception in our tradition and neighborhood. Personally, I’m trying ahead to my subsequent chapter the place I'll proceed to Listen, Learn, Lead, and Love. Specifically, I will likely be persevering with the battle to finish the criminalization of hip-hop lyrics exemplified by the unjust prosecution of Jeffery Williams. And within the short-term, I’ll be dedicating all my different time to making historical past by electing Kamala Harris as the primary African-American feminine President, in addition to holding the Senate and profitable again the House to make Hakeem Jeffries the primary African-American Speaker. This chapter could also be closing, however all the time keep in mind: #jobnotdone.

I've full religion within the management of Rayna, Selim, and Gregg, and I need to lengthen a honest thanks to Len and the senior leaders at WMG who've empowered our success, significantly Robert, Max, and Julie. 

Thank You and God Bless, 
Kevin