Choose a leader within a sector that you’d like to work in. Do not pick an athlete, coach, actor, etc. who doesn’t work on the business side of the industry. Research and answer the f

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Music Industry Leaders

Sylvia Rhone, President of Epic Records

The Music Industry Leader I chose to discuss is Sylvia Rhone. She is one of the most renowned industry

professionals becoming the President of Epic Records. Working with a busload of prime-time artists throughout

the years; like Future and Kelly Rowland, she has molded her experience. One of the reasons I chose Sylvia

Rhone is because we have multiple things in common. For example, we are both African- American women in

the industry. Not only are we a minority in the country, but we are also minorities in the industry. Being that

women are the less dominant gender; it is rare for a woman to take a leadership role in a male dominated

industry. We share similarity in that, we are both women willing to exceed social norms. I hold Sylvia Rhone as

an idol because of the way she handles all her responsibilities. Having responsibilities on a magnitude of;

signing/ declining artists, coaching artists, branding them; are major roles to have.

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Sylvia Rhone’s Greatest Accomplishments

It is evident that Rhone’s career started before my generation; and has spiraled into the 21st Century. Sylvia

broke records upon arrival, becoming the first woman spearhead in the industry. In 1990 she was elected

President and CEO of Eastwest Records; the first black woman. Rhone’s work opened the door to several high

profile managerial throughout the years. Rhone received a degree in economics from the Wharton School of

Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. Rhone’s distinguished education gave her the gull and insight needed

to give artists a special, hands on experience. And through her exemplary performance a decade later; she was

admitted to the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.

She also received a Trumpet Award for broadcasting in 2004. These are only examples of how Sylvia Rhone’s

career is spiraling off the charts. She motivates me to believe that people behind-the-camera play equal roles as

the people on camera.

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Sylvia Rhone’s Biggest Business Failures

Granted, Sylvia Rhone has had a marvelous run in this industry. She has had many successes over the years; but

she has also had to overcome a few failures. If we take a step back, we’d realize that nobody is perfect and that

everyone makes mistakes. Being responsible for a person’s career is an enormous job to have. Knowing when

to sign artists and drop them is also a part of her job. What people fail to realize is that it’s not personal, it’s

strictly business. If the artist’s music doesn’t fit the label’s sound, they might not be a good fit. If the artist

doesn’t brand themselves how their label want them to be branded they might not be a good fit. And If the artist

is unwilling to work diligently, they will not be a good fit. Many have vilified Sylvia Rhone for making the

tough decisions. Sometimes employees don’t like the boss because of the hard choices they have to make, but

regardless the boss is still the boss. Rhone finds the talent, keeps them up on trends, leads them in the right

direction and determines the artist’s next move. She could be friendlier and more open-minded when dealing

with careers. But she’s obviously doing something right.

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What have I learned about Sylvia Rhone’s accomplishments/failures?

Throughout my research, I’ve found that Sylvia Rhone is very experienced. She has been in the music/

entertainment industry for 39+ years. Having so many years under her belt, she has made the industry her

footstool. I find it amazing that in generations before mine, she was there paving the way. She’s worked with

artists of my oldest siblings’ time. And as time progresses she moves into the new eras as well. Through her

failures, I learned that it takes a special person to do what she does. Being able to work with superstar

celebrities and being able to deal with them like they’re ordinary people, shows a seasoned professional. Being

able to tell artists what to do, and how to do it; is major. I love the way Sylvia Rhone handles her business. She

is a respected person in the industry; and she is also powerful. She is the ambitious type like myself. And one

challenge doesn’t’ settle her desire; she approaches multiple challenges head on. She teaches me to be confident

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and believe in myself no matter what. She showed me that if you believe in yourself long enough and hard

enough, that doors will began opening.

What leadership qualities does Sylvia Rhone have?

One great leadership skill that Sylvia Rhone has is her ability to be headstrong. Since her early childhood,

Rhone always knew she wanted to play a role in the music business. Growing up she was surrounded by

musicians and music eventually became her passion. She didn’t know this at the time but her determined and

headstrong ways, challenged the social norms. She was already the first woman to take a major position in a

male dominated industry such as this. Every day Sylvia challenged the norms, she even challenged the dress

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code stereotype. This made it difficult for her at first, but people soon began flocking to her when they learned

she wasn’t just a conformist. Small qualities like this make Rhone leader.

Sylvia Rhone’s Perspective Vs. Consumer’s Perspective

I’m sure Sylvia Rhone’s perspective on the music industry would differ from that of a consumer. Rhone is on

the administrative side of the industry. She would mainly be concerned with sales quotas and if they’re being

met. Concerned with the branding of the artist and if that brand matches the label’s idea. It is her job to make

sure the artist is properly marketed as an individual, and as a product. She would also be concerned with if the

artist is appreciating or depreciating in sales value. On the other hand, a consumer’s primary focus would be

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the music. The consumers do not work behind the scenes with the artists; so, they are not concerned with the

logistics. People who buy music two main focuses are; is the music good and does it have a meaning. Although

that doesn’t really matter either, because people still sing along to trash music with no meaning as well.

Everything is contingent on how well the Sylvia Rhone’s of the industry do their jobs.

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APA Citations

Sylvia Rhone at awards [Photograph]. (n.d.).

http://www.lipstickalley.com/showthread.php/321619-Sylvia-Rhone

Sylvia Rhone accomplishment [Photograph]. (n.d.). https://alchetron.com/Doug-Morris-

268438-W

Billboard Staff. (n.d.). Top Women In Music. Retrieved from

http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/women-in-music/6784819/women-in-music-2015-top-

50-list

Sylvia Rhone: Black Entrepreneurs, Black CEO, Black Executive, Black Billionaires,

Entrepreneur Profile. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2017, from

https://www.blackentrepreneurprofile.com/profile-full/article/sylvia-rhone/

Sylvia Rhone Appointed President of Epic. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2017, from

http://prince.org/msg/8/406286?pr

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1. What leader have you chosen to speak about and what companies has he/she worked for?

I picked Damian Pinto, now known as the “Voice of Dance Music” aka VODM. He Studied

Business, Communications, Psychology at Central Connecticut State University. Damian started

out announcing boxing at Croccos in Fort Lauderdale, which then propelled him to work for Don

King Productions and Showtime Boxing. He is the Founder of The Voice of Dance Music

Worldwide, Owner/ President at WorldVision Entertainment and Official Host of Ultra Music

Festival Worldwide at Ultra Music Festival. He is the Official Host and "The Voice" of Ultra Music

Festival Miami – UMF Worldwide. He has held this position with the festival since day one and

has been there ever since (20 Years). He is involved in the core group who has developed and

produced the ULTRA Brand Worldwide every step of the way.

While starting in Miami the ULTRA Brand has now grown into 24 Cities in countries on 5

continents and continues to expand across the globe with expected 30 cities by the end of

2017.

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2. What are some of his/her greatest business achievements?

Damian and I have now started his own apparel company called VODM Merchandise. With his

connections in the music industry to all the top DJ’s in the world and with all the millions and

millions of people (fans) that go to Ultra Music Festivals on 5 continents, he has an easy track

on selling and marketing his own merchandise now on a worldwide stage. When done right.

Last year he signed a multi-million-dollar contract with Sirius XM Radio for his own show two

times a week. Where he will be playing new and exclusive music first but can get any DJ he

wants to for a live interview. Most of the top DJ’s in the world has signed on and told him that

they will do whatever he needs to help him out on making his show unique and exclusive.

This year, Damian has now started VODM TV with an investor. They have 3 full-time films crews

to follow him from festival to festival and to get private one on one interviews with the top DJ’s

and music influencers in the world. Part of VODM TV will be a service that up and coming DJ’s

or bands can pay a fee to have their music uploaded and access to record labels and to people

who make a decision on sign DJ’s or bands to contracts.

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3. What are some of his/her biggest business failures?

Besides from some business failures he has had, one of the biggest failures was a run in with

bad press. This was due to his political beliefs. From meetings, I have had with Damian he has

learned from this mistake. He learned that famous and influential people are easy targets and

need to watch what they say on and off the record. See the reference on miaminewtimes.com

below. We all know there are two sides to every story and it has come out that she did makeup

and embellish on the facts of what really happened. She posted a story to her Facebook page,

and this was done to gain herself some popularity.

Damian has had some business failures over the last 20 years. A great example is a business him

and I are in together now. Setting up and running an apparel company selling his brand. He

bought into people trying to take advantage of him and promising him the world if they let

them run that business. He has learned from this and has waited another 6 years to try it again,

with me. We have a long-time relationship and have built a trust with each other over the

years. And now it has worked out in both our lives and just great timing that we are now

together to launch his brand and market it the way it should be to take advantage of the brand

he has built for himself over the years.

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4. What have you learned from their achievements and failures?

What I have learned from his achievements is that if you do what you love and love doing what

you do, sooner or later good things will happen. Especially when you stick with it through the

ups and downs. Also, knowing who Damian is, and the big heart he has and never asking for

anything from the people in the music industry, this is a huge reason that these top DJ’s in the

world who make over $100 million a year will do anything for him. And I am seeing this first

hand being in business meetings with him and the support that we are getting from these DJ’s.

They all say “Damian anything you need just let me know”. They all want to help him succeed

and none of them want any money to help. In the music industry, this is very rare as everyone

wants a piece of something that they have their hands in or helped in the marketing or growth

in sales.

As far as the failures, I have seen firsthand people taking advantage of him and his heart. This

has led to him losing money and contracts that he felt he didn’t need to sign, the cause of his

relationship with either that person or a corporation. The first thing we both discussed was our

part in the business, who is responsible for what, and everything was in a contract and signed.

We both learned to be open and transparent with our business relationship.

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5. Based on what you saw in the assigned video on Leadership Qualities/Actions, what qualities

do you think your leader exhibits to help reach their success?

Damian is very driving, chromatic and no matter what the situation is, very positive. Makes him

a very effective leader. That just makes his whole team confident in what we are doing for him.

He always takes the good and bad on the same level. Damian will not work with negative

people. The last person in the video talked about behavior and personally, and that’s what

counts. Out of the few examples in the video that one hit the nail on the head about Damian

Pinto. There was one of the examples in the video that I do not see in Damian and I do not

agree with what was said. It was the female that said her leader didn’t just tell them what to do

but explained why. Maybe this works in an office situation, but in our situation, we are in with

Damian, he put together a team. We each have our responsibilities, for example, my part of the

team. I am web and internet marketing, and that’s my role. There really isn’t anyone else on the

team that understands the internet marketing world. Like SEO, it can get very technical and not

many other people understand the technical and coding side of it. He has the trust in me to do

my job as he believes I can do it. And that is true for each of the people that makes up his team

today.

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6. How might your leader’s perspective of media and entertainment products be different from

the average fan or consumer? (Example: An artist may change genres and fans might consider

them “selling out” while their manager/executive of the artist is really thinking more about

reaching a larger audience and making more money.)

In addition to Ultra Music Festival, over the past 20 years, he has also hosted and announced

professional televised music, entertainment, boxing, MMA, and concert events worldwide

including dates all over the USA and Canada, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Poland and

reaching as far as Moscow, and St. Petersburg Russia. He has a perspective of not only the ins

and outs of the music industry but also the production and the operations of the entertainment

industry. From conception to financial to production, and on to the final show or

entertainment product. The main example must be Ultra Music Festival, as Damian has been

there since day 1, when it was just an idea over 20 years ago, to now being the largest music

festival in the world. This has allowed him to sign artist, to market an artist, and make them

internationally known. He sees what it takes from all different angles to put it together and

make it work. We are now working together to profit from this knowledge to sell his brand, in

merchandise, a weekly radio show, live streaming videos and a TV show. And now that he has

put the right team together after all the success and failures he has had over the years, THIS IS

ONLY THE BEGINNING!

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REFERENCES:

https://www.facebook.com/damianpinto

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/music-journalist-says-ultra-host-damian-pinto-harassed-her-

for-voting-hillary-8910509

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4791146/

https://www.2oceansviberadio.com/in-case-you-missed-it-damian-pinto-on-2ovfm/