Sylvia Rhone Stepping Down As Motown President

Sylvia Rhone

THE NEW YORK TIMES confirms what ALL ACCESS first tipped you to in early MAY (NET NEWS 5/2) -- UNIVERSAL MOTOWN Pres. SYLVIA RHONE is stepping down. RHONE has held that position since 2004. Previously, the TIMES notes, "She began her career at BUDDHA RECORDS in 1974, and in 1990 she became the first black woman to head a major record company when she took over EAST WEST RECORDS AMERICA, a division of ATLANTIC. In 1994, she became chairman of ELEKTRA RECORDS.

ISLAND DEF JAM/UNIVERSAL MOTOWN GROUP Chairman BARRY WEISS will now oversee MOTOWN.

Earlier ALL ACCESS reports had RHONE staying at UMG to head an entertainment company that would encompass management, recordings, merchandising, touring and endorsements, and would be financed in part or in whole by UNIVERSAL -- like a mini-ROCNATION.

UMG released a statement saying, "We’re thankful to SYLVIA for her contributions. We continue to be in discussions with her on how and where she can best utilize her skills and relationships in the multiple-rights arena within which UMG continues to expand."

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