Top black executives in the music industry

Ebony, July, 1997 by Lynn Norment

RUSSELL SIMMONS has made an impact on the music industry with his Def Jam Recordings Group, which he started at age 19 with a roster of LL Cool J, Kurtis Blow and Run-DMC, and which today continues to represent top rap acts. His Rush Communications also has television, film, advertising and retail divisions. Simmons co-produced The Nutty Professor, which starred Eddie Murphy and made $125 million in 1996. Simmons' company produces the HBO weekly Def Comedy Jam, and in 1992 Simmons launched Phat Fashions. He is single has residences in L.A. and New York City.

JEAN RIGGINS, president, Black Music, Universal Records, is one of a handful of music industry. In spring 1995, Riggins was appointed head of the label and has hit gold with new artist Erykah Badu, whose debut hit platinum in less than one month. Riggins formerly was with Arista Records, where she worked with Whitney Houston , Aretha Franklin, Toni Braxton, among other artists, and at Capitol Records, where she began her career. The New York-area resident is single and has a son in college.

DENISE J. BROWN, senior vice president, Black Music Division, Warner Brothers, has been behind her company's success with new artists Eric Benet and Sandra St. Victor, as well as established stars such as Curtis Mayfield and Chaka Khan. The native of Buffalo, N.Y., is a classically trained pianist who opted for a career in entertainment law. After earning a law degree, she built an impressive roster of clients that included recording artists, songwriters and record producers. The Los Angeles-area resident is single and the mother of a toddler son.

MICHAEL MAULDIN senior vice president, Columbia Records Group, and executive vice president of the Black Music Division at Columbia Records, was appointed to his positions in 1995. Under his leadership, Columbia has experienced strong earnings for Black music. Among the artists on the roster are the Fugees, whose The Score CD has sold more than 12 million records, Nas, Maxwell and Kenny Lattimore. He also works with Columbia's affiliated labels and has responsibility for singing and developing new artists.

HIRIAM HICKS is president of Island Black Music Division, which is part of the giant PolyGram music conglomerate. At Island, Hicks uses his experience in the industry to maintain Island's niche as an innovative music company. He is responsible for introducing Dru Hill, whose debut is gold, and for orchestrating The Isley Brothers' huge comeback with the platinum Mission To Please. Hicks began his career as a photographer.

LIONEL RIDENOUR, senior vice president, Black Music, Arista Records, is responsible for the direction and supervision of R&B promotion. He also plays a role in marketing and sales of artists with Arista's joint ventures. Ridenour joined Arista in 1993 as senior director of R&B promotion and in 1995 was promoted to vice president. Prior to joining Arista, he worked for Capitol Records and co-owned an independent record label.

RONALD E. SWEENEY is executive vice president, Black Music, for Epic Records. Thanks to Sweeney's leadership, Epic has experienced success with a roster that includes Michael Jackson, Babyface, Luther Vandross, Brownstone and Sade. An attorney trained at USC, Sweeney's law firm represented leading figures in the music industry, including Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Queen Latifah, Puffy Combs and others. Sweeney also serves as senior vice president, Sony Music Entertainment.