ROSENBERG:JENNY^ RISHER.CARLESS:^ JOHNNYNUNEZ/WIREIMAGE.CLARK:^ DEFJAMRECORDINGS.^ E
DWARDS:^ ROGER^KISBY/GETTYIMAGES.^ S
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ENDERSON:^ JOHN^CANON.LEBER:^ AUSTIN^HARGRAVE.^ R
OBERSON:COURTESYOF^SUBJECT.^LONDON:^ CADE^WERNER.ROBINSON:^ SHANE^ADAMS.SALEH:^ RAVENB.VARONA.^ M
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LIGE:^ RONGALELLA/GETTYIMAGES.Paul Rosenberg
CHAIRMAN/CEO, DEF JAM RECORDINGS
Steven “Steve-O” Carless
SENIOR VP A&R, DEF JAM RECORDINGS; CO-FOUNDER,
MARATHON AGENCY
Tuo Clark
SENIOR VP A&R, DEF JAM RECORDINGS
Alexander “AE” Edwards
VP A&R, VICTOR VICTOR/DEF JAM RECORDINGS
SUCCESS MEASURED IN BILLIONS In 2018, Def Jam
artists raked in 35 billion total global streams
(16 billion in the United States), according to the
label. Among the highlights were platinum singles
for YK Osiris (“Worth It”), Logic (“Homicide,”
featuring Eminem) and YG (“Go Loko”). After
DaniLeigh appeared in Prince’s 2013 “Breakfast
Can Wait” video, Clark, 39, broke her solo career
with “The Plan” and “Lil Bebe.” The latter track
went to No. 26 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and has
129.8 million streams.
A&R MEANS “ARTISTS AND ROSENBERG” As part of a
major reorganization at Def Jam this year, Rosen-
berg, 47, is doubling down on A&R. “When we
came into the building, we went on a signing frenzy,
and we have a lot of acts now [on which] we need
to drill down,” says Eminem’s longtime manager.
New additions to the roster include Saint Bodhi
(signed by Carless, 38) and Carson Lueders. “He’s
able to work across the board,” says Rosenberg of
Carless, who also manages Nipsey Hussle’s estate.
Edwards, 33, spent his first 18 months at the label
developing YK Osiris and working with new signees
on a rap camp for the Undisputed compilation se-
ries. As part of production duo Da Internz, Clark has
worked with Justin Bieber, Rihanna and Big Sean,
and has sold 40 million records, according to the
company. “When they win, I win,” he says.
Steve Stoute
FOUNDER/CEO, UNITEDMASTERS
MOBILE MOGUL Stoute’s digital distribution and
artist-services platform linked with video game
publisher 2K in July to curate the soundtrack to
NBA 2K20 using UnitedMasters artists. Unit-
edMasters also launched an iOS app — what
Stoute calls a “record label in your pocket” that
lets artists upload their music to digital service
platforms, track their social growth and more.
The New York native says his 2-year-old company
now has over 120,000 registered artists, more
than double the total from six months ago, and
served as a launch pad for NLE Choppa and Lil
Tecca this year.
GAMING THE SYSTEM Stoute, who also founded the
ad agency Translation, is focused on connecting his
artists with brand partnerships in sports and gam-
ing, calling them “the new [Total Request Live].”
MANAGEMENT
Kei Henderson
CO-FOUNDER/HEAD OF MARKETING, SINCE THE 80s
HOUSEHOLD ADDITIONS The Georgia-raised execu-
tive, 35, who managed 21 Savage for five years until
September, founded management company and
record label Since the 80s in 2018 with Barry John-
son and Zekiel Nicholson. She says she’s dedicated
to making the brand “a household name” with such
releases as Savage’s I Am > I Was, which debuted
in January 2019 atop the Billboard 200. Her grow-
ing roster now includes Njomza, a co-writer on
Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings,” and Asiahn, whose “Like
You” peaked at No. 38 on the Mainstream R&B/
Hip-Hop airplay chart.
ALL FOR ONE The Atlanta music community where
Henderson got her start is now “open to making
money together instead of just closing ourselves
off,” she says. “We’re all really talking to each other,
and that has helped propel the entire scene.”
Adam Leber
PARTNER, MAVERICK
Gee Roberson
PARTNER, MAVERICK; CO-CEO, THE BLUEPRINT GROUP
LIL NAS X = BIG SURPRISE Los Angeles-based
Leber, 42, who managed Britney Spears for 15
years, and New York-based Roberson, 45, who
managed Nicki Minaj until April, agree that the
meteoric ascent of their first co-managed artist,
Lil Nas X, is unique. “It’s something I’ve never
experienced in my entire career,” says Roberson
of Lil Nas X’s record 19 weeks at No. 1 on the
Hot 100 with “Old Town Road.” “For this to be his
introduction to the world? It’s nothing less than
remarkable.” Leber and Roberson — who finish
each other’s sentences — helped develop the
20-year-old rapper into a cultural phenomenon
that Leber envisions as a triple-threat: “Obviously
music is the definitive focus right now, but I think
the future is really open for him.”
LABRINTH OF DREAMS Leber and Roberson also
are working with new music from Labrinth — the
British songwriter, rapper and producer Leber
has collaborated with as music supervisor for
HBO’s Euphoria. Labrinth is also one-third of
LSD, with Sia and Diplo. Says Roberson: “Lab is
the best-kept secret that’s right in front of the
world’s face.”
Dre London
FOUNDER, LONDON ENTERTAINMENT
POST’S PROMOTER In September, London’s mar-
quee client, Post Malone (whom he manages
with Austin Rosen), notched his second No. 1 on
the Billboard 200 with Hollywood’s Bleeding, fea-
turing all-star assists. The album already has five
top 10 Hot 100 singles: the Swae Lee team-up
“Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)”
(No. 1), “Wow.” (No. 2), the Young Thug collabo-
ration “Goodbyes” (No. 3), “Circles” (No. 4) and
“Take What You Want,” featuring Ozzy Osbourne
and Travis Scott (No. 8).
A CATEGORY UNTO HIMSELF London (born Andre
Jackson) thinks his face-tattooed, guitar-playing
client is finally getting recognition for his unique
genre-bending style after years of being told to
pick a lane. “Post Malone is a genre,” says London.
Jeff Robinson
FOUNDER/CEO, MBK ENTERTAINMENT
DUAL GRAMMYS FOR H.E.R. Robinson’s manage-
ment client H.E.R. won her first two Grammys this
year — for best R&B performance and best R&B
album — out of five nominations. The 22-year-
old singer-songwriter also curated and headlined
her inaugural Lights On festival in September in
partnership with Live Nation Urban. According to
the promoter, the festival sold out to the tune of
“13,200 fans in 30 minutes.”
LIGHTS ON, R&B’S HOME The Concord, Calif., festival
— where the Bay Area-raised H.E.R. said she had
“many memories of watching shows and dreaming
I would be able to perform there” — boasted an
array of young R&B acts including Daniel Caesar,
Summer Walker, Ari Lennox and Lucky Daye. Proof
positive, says Robinson — who was Alicia Keys’
first manager — that “R&B is alive and well.”
Anthony Saleh
CEO, EMAGEN ENTERTAINMENT GROUP; CO-FOUNDER,
QUEENSBRIDGE VENTURE PARTNERS
PLUTO PAYS OFF Saleh’s investments in internet-
based streaming TV and movie service Pluto TV
and online pharmacy PillPack paid off in 2019.
Viacom acquired the former in January for
$340 million, and Amazon purchased the latter in
May for a reported $753 million.
MONEY’S ON HIS MIND The 33-year-old’s Emagen
artist management firm represents rap stars Nas,
Future and Gunna, but it’s his investment expertise
that recently has earned him so much attention.
He also holds stakes — through his and Nas’
Queensbridge Venture Partners — in Genius, Lyft
and SeatGeek. His clients’ music has performed
admirably too: Future’s two most recent projects,
the Wizrd LP and Save Me EP, became his 11th and
12th top 10 albums on the Billboard 200, respec-
tively. And Nas’ Nasir, which was produced by
Kanye West, debuted at No. 5 on the chart.
ROSENBERG
CARLESS
CLARK
STOUTE
HENDERSON
LEBER
ROBERSON
LONDON
ROBINSON
SALEH
EDWARDS
“I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU/YOU’RE
ALL I NEED TO GET BY”
— METHOD MAN FEATURING MARY J. BLIGE
“They paid homage to
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
while staying true to their
artistry and created a hit.
This song is timeless.”
—KASHON POWELL, RADIO ONE
BEST R&B/HIP-HOP
COLLABORATIONS
60 BILLBOARD • OCTOBER 19, 2019
&
POWER PLAYERS 2019