300 Elektra Entertainment CEO Kevin Liles will leave the label and its parent company Warner Music Group at the end of this month.
The news was confirmed by an internal Liles memo obtained by MBW and another internal memo sent by WMG chief executive Robert Kyncl today (September 17).
Liles will continue to assist 300/WMG in an advisory capacity until the end of the year.
Lyles is not the first WMG executive to announce his departure this summer: Max Lousada (WMG recorded music chief executive) and Julie Greenwald (Atlantic Music Group chairman) both confirmed they were leaving WMG last month.
It is understood Lousada, Greenwald and Liles will all resign from their current full-time roles at the end of September, the end of WMG’s financial year.
Warner Music Group acquired Liles-led 300 Entertainment in the fourth quarter of 2021 for $400 million in cash.
Robert Kyncl said of Lyles in a memo to employees today: “Kevin is a charismatic leader who has been successful in many different roles…artist manager, Record label founder, entrepreneur, executive…he even started out as a DJ and songwriter. This gives him a 360 degree perspective that makes him an extraordinary brand builder, artist advocate and champion of creative expression.
Kyncl added: “I decided not to change [Liles’] We are working thoughtfully on the future of the entire Atlantic Music Group. I know you are all eager to hear more information and we will update you as soon as possible.
You can read Kevin Liles’ full memo to WMG employees below.
celebrate who we are
team,
From the beginning, 300 has been centered around the idea that when you focus on serving artists and culture, great things happen. When we combine this intention with our fearlessness, creativity, and passion, it unlocks greatness and creates impact. Next month, 300 will celebrate ten years of its greatness and influence. I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to our team and share some news.
Ten years of influence
Over the past decade, we have remained true to our original vision and values. We celebrated Trap Queens as we created the industry’s first label ecosystem, we embraced Dripped Too Hard as a lifestyle, and it’s always a hottie summer, even on our skis. We have leaders like Bad and Boujee Rayna Bass who can switch between Pushin P and savagery with no commitment to anything but excellence. There’s also the great Selim Bouab, who’s very popular whether it’s Japan, London or From The D To The A. Our bread and butter is less said and more done – we don’t stop to ask Formian when others are talking, we just say “Good morning, Gorgeous” and prove the boy to be a liar. Whether it’s Lydia, Kehlani or 679 of Your Friends, we are evangelists for our fans. We had different personalities, went into work like it was our first day out, and put out numbers that had everyone picking up the phone.
Then, when we became part of the WMG family and joined forces with Gregg Nadel and other great talents and artists at Elektra Music Group, we continued to provide our services with devotion and punctuality. As 3EE, our desire is always to make it bigger than the song, whether we’re feeling like we’re on vacation or somewhere between rock and roll.
The cultural impact created by the decade we started from scratch is unparalleled in the modern era. We transformed our value proposition – “Independent Mindset, Professional Power” – into a model for the rest of the industry to pursue in this new era of music. But if there’s one consistent thing between music and culture, it’s that change is inevitable.
As committed servants of culture, we know we have a responsibility to develop and empower the next generation of leaders, and when the time comes, we will pass the torch. As I mentioned above, within the 300 we have two of the most talented local young leaders in the entire music industry, Rayna Bass and Selim Bouab. As 300 celebrates its tenth anniversary, it’s their turn to lead our 300 team into the next decade of excellence. At the end of this month, I will be resigning and leaving WMG, but I will continue to consult with the team through the end of the year to ensure a successful transition.
300 was never about one person or one artist. This is a movement united by belief in our culture and community. Personally, I look forward to the next chapter as I continue to listen, learn, lead, and love. Specifically, I will continue to work to end the criminalization of hip-hop lyrics, as exemplified by the unjust prosecution of Jeffrey Williams. In the short term, I will spend all my other time making history by electing Kamala Harris as the first African American female president and taking control of the Senate and winning back the House so that Hakeem Jeffries becomes The first African American female president. This chapter may be coming to an end, but always remember: #jobnotdone.
I have full confidence in the leadership of Rayna, Selim and Gregg, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Len and WMG’s senior leaders who have fueled our success, especially Robert, Max and Julie.
thank you and god bless,
Kevinglobal music business
