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CEO Kevin Liles Leaving 300 Ent., New Leadership In Place
300 ENTERTAINMENT Chair/CEO KEVIN LILES will step down at the end of SEPTEMBER. He will remain as a consultant until the end of the year. LILES made the announcement on TUESDAY (9/17).
WARNER MUSIC GROUP (WMG) CEO ROBERT KYNCL praised LILES as a “brand-builder and artist advocate” and said that his position will not be replaced. Co-presidents RAYNA BASS, SELIM BOUAB, and ELEKTRA Pres. GREGG NADEL will continue leading the label.
LILES, along with LYOR COHEN, TODD MOSCOWITZ, and ROGER GOLD, founded 300 in 2014. The label, known for signing artists like MEGAN “THEE STALLION” and GUNNA, was acquired by WARNER MUSIC GROUP in 2021.
The changes at 300 come on the heels of WMG’s RECORDED MUSIC CEO MAX LOUSADA and ATLANTIC leader JULIE GREENWALD exiting. ELLIOT GRAINGE, founder of 10K PROJECTS, will take over as CEO of the new AMG at the end of the month (SWM 8/8.)
LILES sent this memo to his staff about his departure:
Team,
From the start, 300 was centered around the idea that when you focus on servicing artists and the culture, good things happen. When combined with fearlessness, creativity, and passion, it unlocked greatness. Next month, 300 will celebrate its tenth anniversary. I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude and share some news.
A Decade of Influence
Throughout the past decade, we stayed true to our vision. We created the first-ever label ecosystem in the industry. We celebrated Trap Queens, lived the Drip Lifestyle, and made it a Hot Girl Summer. We have leaders like RAYNA BASS, who balanced between “Pushin P” and being “Savage.” Then there’s SELIM BOUAB, who remained “Hot” whether in JAPAN or “From The D To The A.” Our Bread & Butter was saying less and doing more.
When we became part of WMG and joined forces with GREGG NADEL and others at ELEKTRA MUSIC GROUP, we continued to deliver. As 300, we always aimed to make it “Bigger Than The Song.”
The impact we created in 10 years, starting from scratch, is unmatched. We turned our value proposition into a model for the industry. However, change is inevitable.
As committed servants of the culture, we know it is our responsibility to grow and empower the next generation. On this tenth anniversary, it’s RAYNA BASS and SELIM BOUAB’s turn to lead 300 into the next decade. At the end of this month, I’ll be stepping aside and departing WMG. I’ll continue to consult with the team through the end of the year.
300 has never been about one person. It’s a movement united in our culture and community. I look forward to my next chapter, including fighting the criminalization of hip-hop lyrics. In the short term, I will focus on electing KAMALA HARRIS as the first African American female President and making HAKEEM JEFFRIES the first African American Speaker of the House. Remember: #jobnotdone.
I have full faith in the leadership of RAYNA, SELIM, and GREGG. A sincere thank you to LEN, ROBERT, MAX, and JULIE at WMG for empowering our success.
Thank you and GOD Bless,
KEVIN