Sylvia Rhone on Music Business, AI, and Her Exit

After an illustrious five-decade career, veteran music executive Sylvia Rhone is stepping away from the helm of Epic Records. Speaking for the first time since her departure, Rhone offers a candid and somewhat bleak assessment of the music business, particularly in light of emerging technologies like AI and ongoing industry layoffs.

Recently honored with the inaugural Sylvia Rhone Legacy Award at the Femme It Forward gala in Los Angeles, Rhone reflected on the impressive roster of R&B artists recognized that evening. She noted the diversity and talent present, from Ciara and Mariah The Scientist to Kehlani and Normani, calling the curated group “eclectic.”

A Career of Firsts and Lasting Impact

Rhone’s career is a testament to breaking barriers. She rose from assistant to becoming the first woman to lead a major label, Elektra, nurturing artists like Missy Elliott and Tracy Chapman. Her leadership extended to other major companies, including Epic Records and Universal Motown. Her influence is undeniable, with artists frequently thanking her in liner notes and from major stages.

Accepting the award named in her honor, Rhone spoke about the importance of collective power and standing against exclusionary systems. “When I look around this room, I see a constellation of achievers,” she stated. “We stand up to systems that try to exclude us. Yet we are an immovable force when we celebrate our collective power.”

Leaving on Her Own Terms

Rhone, now 73, decided to leave Epic Records on her own timeline, six months before her contract was up. “I left when I wanted to leave,” she stated, emphasizing her commitment to ensuring all upcoming releases were in good hands and that she fulfilled her obligations to artists, staff, and the company. This deliberate exit brought a sense of freedom, a feeling she cherishes.

Reflecting on her extensive career, Rhone expressed pride in her accomplishments and the people and corporations she helped grow. “I’ve been working since I was 16,” she said. “I’ve done things I’m so proud of and put people and corporations in positions to grow. I’m good! I just don’t feel like I can give it the same energy that I’ve given it for all these years.”

A Diminished Business and Existential Threats

Rhone’s assessment of the current music business is stark. She notes a significant reduction in personnel due to layoffs and mergers. “Listen, there’s not a lot of bodies in the business anymore,” she observed. “Thousands of people have lost their jobs, and the companies are continuing to do layoffs… I don’t know if the music business is for anybody. Women and Black folks will always be at the bottom of the list.”

Beyond staff reductions, the rise of AI presents an existential threat unlike any shift she’s witnessed before, from cassettes to streaming. “I’ve been in the business a long time… and I’ve never seen the kind of shift that’s happening. I was never afraid of those things, but now with AI and everything that’s happening across the board in terms of jobs, it presents a whole different game. I just don’t want to work like that.”

A Future Focused on Purpose and Freedom

Looking ahead, Rhone plans to embrace a more controlled and purposeful life. She intends to remain in Los Angeles, travel, read, reconnect with friends, and prioritize her health—both physical and mental—by reducing stress. While she admits to missing the industry at times, she is adjusting to her new routine.

Professionally, Rhone is exploring advisory board roles, potentially outside of music, where she can make a meaningful contribution without the 24/7 demands of running a major label. She’s excited about these new possibilities, seeking freedom and the ability to “pick and choose where I think I could really make a contribution.”

In the music business, as you know, you’re only as good as your last three minutes and 23 seconds. — Sylvia Rhone

Rhone’s vision for her future is guided by a simple ethos: living with purpose. She’s ready to embrace a new chapter, one defined by freedom, contribution, and a life lived on her own terms.