Kevin Liles To Step Down From His Role As Chairman & CEO Of 300 Entertainment

Kevin Liles

Kevin Liles To Step Down From His Role As Chairman & CEO Of 300 Entertainment

Music exec Kevin Liles has announced his pending departure from Warner Music-owned label 300 Entertainment.

In a memo dedicated to his staff, the 56-year-old revealed that he will step down as CEO and Chairman of the music label he founded at the end of the month. He also shared his hopes that the music company would continue to thrive in his absence.

Kevin Liles

Kevin Liles shared the news earlier today (Tuesday, September 17th) writing in a letter addressed to his team:

“From the start, 300 was centered around the idea that when you intensely focus on servicing artists and the culture, good things happen. When we combined that intention with our fearlessness, creativity, and passion, it unlocked greatness and delivered impact.  Next month, 300 will be celebrating its tenth anniversary of greatness and impact. I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to our team and share some news.”

Continuing, Liles celebrated the label’s accomplishments over the years and referenced different artists and projects that 300 was a part of, specifically noting the company’s ties to Lil Baby, Gunna, PinkPantheress, and more. He furthered:

“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.”

Liles launched 300 Entertainment along with partners Lyor Cohen, Todd Moscowitz and Roger Gold in 2014 as an independent label. The group quickly began to see success and grew their influence after signing and developing several of today’s hip-hop stars such as Megan Thee Stallion and Young Thug. The company was acquired by Warner Music in 2021 for $400 million, and was then incorporated into Atlantic Music Group, forming 300 Elektra Entertainment.

Liles will stay on until the end of the year as an advisor to help with his transition out of the company. His departure comes amid several changes in leadership at Warner Music Group and is followed by the exit of WMG’s CEO of recorded music Max Lousada and longtime Atlantic leader Julie Greenwald. The music conglomerate’s current CEO Robert Kyncl hailed Liles as an “extraordinary brand-builder, artist advocate, and champion of creative expression” and revealed that his position with not be replaced. Instead, 300’s co-presidents Rayna Bass and Selim Bouab, as well as Elektra president Gregg Nadel will continue to helm the company.

Reacting to the news, social media users noted the suspicious timing of Liles stepping down. Many suggested that the announcement, which came the same day Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was arrested on trafficking and racketeering charges, is no coincidence, as the two have a long standing friendship and working history.

Others surmised, however, that Liles exit is likely the natural next step as WMG continues to shake up leadership in the company.

[VIA]

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