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{{short description|American music industry executive}}
{{articleissues
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2016}}
|BLP sources=January 2008
{{Infobox person
|peacock=June 2010}}
| name = Lyor Cohen

| image = Lyor Cohen Headshot.jpg
{{Infobox Person
| name = Liar Cohen | caption = Cohen in 2011
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|10|3}}
| image =
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| image_size = 200px
| occupation = ] of ]<br>Global Head of Music at ]
| caption = Liar Cohen
| organization =
| birth_date = Last Thursday
| alma_mater = ] (])
| birth_place = ]
| years_active = 1980–present
| nationality = ]/]
| signature = Lyor Cohen signature, Billboard Open Letter 2016.png
| occupation = ]
}} }}
'''Liar Cohen''' ({{lang-he|ליאור כהן}}; born October 3, 1959) is the ] ] and ] of Recorded Music for ] (WMG). He has been a pioneer in the development of ] music and influential in the development of hip hop music acts, including ], ], ], ], ], ] and others.{{cn|date=June 2010}}


'''Lyor Cohen''' (born October 3, 1959) is an American music industry executive and entrepreneur. He has been actively involved in ] at various record labels for more than 30 years. He started by managing rappers for Rush Productions, then led ].<ref name="Roberts">Roberts, Johnnie L., , The Daily Beast, ''Newsweek'', January 31, 2000</ref> After Def Jam, Cohen took on a leadership role at ]. In September 2012, Cohen resigned from Warner and started his own independent label, ]. On September 28, 2016, Cohen was named ]'s Global Head of Music.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7525695/lyor-cohen-named-youtube-global-head-of-music|title=Lyor Cohen Named YouTube's Global Head of Music|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-01-06}}</ref>
In addition, he has done various promotional work on behalf of cock musician ] and the heavy metal band ], pop music singer ] and hip hop artists ] and ].


==Early life and education==
Cohen joined the company shortly after ]'s sale of WMG to an investor group led by ]. Prior to his current role with Warner Music, he worked with ], where he led the growth of its roster of artists and record labels, including ], ], ], and ]. At WMG, in 2007, his division brought the company its highest U.S. album share in a decade and was credited with delivering the "most improved performance of a major music company" by the '']''.<ref name="Garrity">Garrity, Brian. (January 20, 2008) [http://www.nypost.com/seven/01202008/business/musical_marvel_429734.htm?page=0. Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref>
Cohen was born in ], in 1959, to ] immigrants. He grew up in ]. In 1981, he earned a degree in global marketing and finance from the ] at the ].<ref>, ''Business Miami magazine'', Winter 2007.</ref>


After graduating from the University of Miami, he worked briefly in the ] office of ].<ref> Beastiemania.com</ref>
According to '']'', Cohen devised the now-standard record industry strategy of offering new releases at reduced price for the first week to boost sales on new albums.<ref>Holloway, Lynette. (May 10, 2003) ''The New York Times''. Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref>


==Early life== ==Music career==
===Rush Productions / Rush Artist Management===
Cohen was born in ], one of two sons of ]i immigrants and the grandson of an ] general. Although born in ], he spent little time there until later in life when he returned to ] for good in his mid-20s to work with ]' ]. Cohen was raised in the affluent ] community of ] after divorce led his mother to relocate there. He graduated from ] in Los Angeles and then the ]'s School of Business, in ], where he majored in business.
Late in 1984, after promoting a pair of rock and rap shows at The Mix Club in Hollywood (one featured ], the other featured ]), Cohen moved to New York to take a job at Simmons' Rush Productions (later called ]). Beginning as Run-DMC's road manager, Cohen quickly began taking on additional responsibilities, working on behalf of an artist roster that included ], Whodini, Run-DMC, ], the ], and ]. By 1987, Cohen himself was signing artists to Rush. These acts included ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].


Cohen credits ] with teaching him the basics of the music business. " showed me how to settle shows and fulfill my responsibilities to the group," Cohen told ''Vibe'' magazine. "It's those lessons that I rely on daily to do what I do now." Before long, according to ''Rolling Stone'', Cohen "became known for his no-nonsense approach to business, his negotiating skill, his ability to forward the plot".<ref>Cohen, Rich, , ''Rolling Stone'', June 21, 2001,</ref> It was Cohen who brokered Run-DMC's endorsement deal with Adidas, "one of the first big commercial deals for a rap group".<ref name="Roberts"/> This deal was followed by others that paired up Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince with ], LL Cool J with Troop sportswear, and Run-DMC with ].
Cohen has two half-brothers on his mother's side who have worked for Liar at some point; both are also record label executives.


By 1989, Rush—under Cohen's leadership—was recognized as "the premier management operation" in the Rap field.<ref>Nathan, David, "Lyor Cohen: Breaking Corporate Barriers at Rush", ''Black Radio Exclusive'', January 27, 1989.</ref> ], in ''The Tanning of America'', credits Cohen with " early on in the cultural melting pot that was being brewed for and by the younger generation".<ref>P. 21, ''The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy'' by Steve Stoute, Gotham; Reprint edition 2012</ref> In his own words, Lyor Cohen has said, "I was determined to prove people wrong, to prove to the gatekeepers of the industry that we had a place here and we weren't going to relinquish our opportunity."<ref>Kondo, Toshitaka, "Lyor Cohen", ''Complex'' magazine, June 1, 2010, </ref>
==Hip-hop music career==
===Run-D.M.C.===
Cohen entered the ] music business in the mid-1980s after booking a performance by seminal rappers ] at a club Cohen was running in Los Angeles. He soon became the group's road manager, sharing a room with MC ] (aka DMC) on the road. He began working in New York City for Def Jam's co-founder, Russell Simmons, in the early part of 1985, spearheading Rush Artist Management, the management division of Simmons' Def Jam/Rush operations and bringing a semblance of order to the often chaotic office shared by both the label and management. He did this to corrupt innocent white people and to destroy white culture and inundate it with nigger culture.


====From artist development to label executive====
Meanwhile, Cohen continued to act as ]'s day-to-day and road and tour manager. He managed such tours as the 1986 ] Tour, (featuring ], ], ], the ] and various guests such as ]) and the 1987 Together Forever Tour (featuring ], the ] and occasional guests such as ]).
Cohen began transitioning from artist management to the label side of the music business in 1989, when he and Simmons formed Rush Associated Labels. The goal was to capitalize on the ability of established recording artists to sniff out new talent by signing boutique label deals with them. It paid off most notably with Jam Master Jay's ], which brought ] to Def Jam in 1992 and ] in 1994. By then Cohen was starting to groom a new generation of executives, notably ], Julie Greenwald, ],<ref>"My mentor, Lyor Cohen ...," p. 6, ''Make it Happen: the Hip-Hop Generation Guide to Success'', by Kevin Liles with Samantha Marshall, Atria Books, 2005</ref> ], and Mike Kyser.


In 1994 Cohen teamed up with Simmons to negotiate Def Jam's departure from ]<ref name="Adler">{{Cite book
===Def Jam Records===
| last = Adler
Cohen's first real public impact came with his creation of Rush Associated Labels in 1990. The label mostly served as an outlet for side-projects of Rush-managed acts like ]'s ], but it also served a label for "baby bands"—acts that needed more time to develop than ] would be able to afford them—to organically grow at their own pace.
| first = and Charnas
| title = Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label
| publisher = Rizzoli
| year = 2011
| url =
| isbn =978-0847833719 }}</ref>{{rp|142}} (which had been distributing Def Jam since 1985) for a new home at ]. By then, having become Simmons's partner in the label several years earlier, Cohen was running Def Jam day-to-day.<ref name="Adler"/>{{rp|134}} (], Def Jam's founder, had left Def Jam in 1988.<ref>"Rubin Quits", ''New Musical Express'', August 27, 1988.</ref>)


====Def Jam under PolyGram and Universal====
Over the years Cohen's influence grew, to the point where he personally earned $100 million from the sale of Def Jam Records to the ] (UMG) in 1999. He was then made head of a key part of UMG subsidiary, ], where he led the growth of its roster of artists and record labels, including ], ], ], ], ], ], and Def Soul (including Def Soul Classics and Roadrunner records) whose releases earned almost $700 million a year.
Under ] and Cohen's leadership, Def Jam prospered.<ref name=golus>{{cite book|last=Golus|first=Carrie|title=Russell Simmons: From Def Jam to Super Rich|year=2012|publisher=Twenty-First Century Books|page=73|isbn=9780761388586|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tC4qVYAiBy0C&pg=PA73}}</ref> Cohen worked with a brand-new roster of successful rappers, like ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Concurrently, Cohen oversaw custom label deals with ], ], ], and others.

In 1998, PolyGram was purchased by ], and merged into ].{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

====The Island Def Jam Music Group====
In June 1998, after PolyGram's merger with Universal Music and its ]-related label group, ], ], and Def Jam were merged into a new unit called the ]. Cohen was named co-president. In the process, he became (as he himself noted) "the first Hip-Hop president in charge of a major label".<ref>Zimmerman, Kevin, "Cohen & Caparro: From Rap to Rock with the Def Jam Duo", ''Music Business International'', June 2000.</ref>

This promotion required Cohen to expand his portfolio to include artists who didn't rap, among them ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. In 2001, Cohen was involved in Island Def Jam's purchase of ], a heavy-metal label, as well as the deal to distribute Rick Rubin's ]. In 2002, American released ]'s '']''. The last album released by Cash before his death, it included Cash's hit version of ]'s "]".


===Warner Music Group=== ===Warner Music Group===
Cohen left IDJ/UMG in January 2004 for a position with the ] investor group-financed Warner Music Group, which was subsequently spun off from Time Warner. Joining Cohen at Warner are his former co-workers at ], ] and ], as well as older industry figures including ] founder ] and ]' ]. In January 2004, Cohen left Island Def Jam for a position with the ] investor group-financed Warner, which was subsequently spun off from ]. Ultimately, Cohen was named WMG's chairman and chief executive.<ref>Smith, Ethan, "Warner Music Lures Rap Chief From Universal to Fill New Post", '']'', January 26, 2004.</ref>


By 2006, the positive effects of Cohen's leadership were encapsulated in a story for '']'', which reported that, "Under Cohen, Warner Music has thrived, due in part to the executive's innovative initiatives, such as an incubator program that builds relationships with independent label executives the company aspires to hire."<ref name="Duhigg">Duhigg, Charles, , ''Los Angeles Times'', August 28, 2006.</ref> Warner's success with ] and the rock band ] both grew out of the incubator program.


At Warner, Cohen oversaw the merger of the ] and ] labels into ], and placed ], his protégée, into a top executive position there. In 2009, Cohen elevated Greenwald to chairman and chief operating officer of Atlantic, a promotion that established Greenwald as the highest-ranking woman executive at an American record company.<ref>, ''Billboard''</ref> Greenwald's successes at Atlantic have included ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. He resigned from Warner in September 2012. <ref>{{cite news |last=Sisario |first=Ben |date=September 24, 2012 |title=Lyor Cohen Resigns From Warner Music |url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/24/lyor-cohen-resigns-from-warner-music/ |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>
==Controversy==
===Murder Inc. Records raid===
In 2001, Cohen was given the nickname "Lansky" (after the notorious Jewish gangster ]) by ] in recognition for his partnership and place on the board of directors when the two went into business together forming ] (named after the original ]).<ref name="Hays">Hays, Tom. (December 3, 2003) . music.yahoo.com. Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref><ref>Friedman, Roger. (November 29, 2004) Fox News. Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref> Cohen's ] label provided Gotti $2 million in "seed" money to start operations and the label with office space in his ] Manhattan headquarters.<ref name="Hays"/> This later came under the scrutiny of federal authorities when ] at ] was raided by a joint task force of the ] and the ] as part of a federal probe of label founder ]'s ties to drug lord ], alleged ], ], and gang activities.<ref>Oh, Minya. (January 16 2003) MTV. Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref> Of particular interest to authorities was an Island Def Jam payment of $500,000 to a company fronted by McGriff called Picture Perfect Entertainment, ostensibly for the soundtrack (that was never delivered) to McGriff's film adaptation of ]' ''Crime Partners'' which he had ].<ref>Wilson, Michael and Lynette Holloway. (January 26, 2003). . ''New York Times''. Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref>


====YouTube and Spotify====
Cohen was eventually absolved of any involvement in the scandal, even after he claimed under oath that he couldn’t identify his position with Murder Inc. Records. When asked if he sat with Gotti on the executive board of Murder Inc., Cohen replied, “I’m not sure.”<ref name="Hays"/> Gotti, also since absolved of allegations,<ref>Rashbaum, William K. and Matthew Sweeney. (December 3, 2005). . ''The New York Times''. Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref> declined Cohen's offer to join him at Warner Music Group.<ref>Leeds, Jeff. (August 22, 2006). . ''The New York Times''. Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref>
In September 2006, Cohen oversaw an agreement with ] that allowed the site to show videos by Warner artists in exchange for a share of YouTube's advertising revenue. According to ''The New York Times'', the deal marked "the first time a major record company licensed content to YouTube".<ref>{{cite news |title=Warner Music Makes Licensing Deal With YouTube |first=Jeff |last=Leeds |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 19, 2006 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/business/media/19tube.html}}</ref> In 2011, Cohen oversaw an agreement on behalf of the Warner roster with ], the digital music service.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Service Offers Music in Quantity, Not by Song |first=Ben |last=Sisario |newspaper=The New York Times |page=B1 |date=July 14, 2011 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/technology/spotify-music-streaming-service-comes-to-us.html?pagewanted=all}}</ref> Eventually, Cohen oversaw all of Warner's digital initiatives.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}


===TVT Records lawsuit=== ===Future ventures and 300===
There was much speculation about Cohen's next move.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lyor Cohen resigns as CEO of Warner Music Group to develop talent management company |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=September 26, 2012 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/confidential/lyor-cohen-leaves-warner-music-group-new-track-firm-article-1.1169129}}</ref><ref>, Keenan Higgins, ''Vibe'' December 20, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Report: Lyor Cohen Looking to Launch New Label |publisher=All Access Music Group |date=March 18, 2013 |url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/116456/report-lyor-cohen-looking-to-launch-new-label}}</ref> Cohen's own assessment of his career was broadly predictive. "I've been an outsider in the traditional record industry for more than 25 years," he told the ''Los Angeles Times''. "I'm an entrepreneur, so I encourage risk-taking. And the only way to encourage risk-taking is to take risks yourself, which means sometimes you'll fail, or people will say you are too aggressive or controversial. But someone needs to jump into the pool first for a party to get really great. I've always been willing to be that guy."<ref name="Duhigg" /> In November 2013, Cohen revealed he was starting a new company named "]", after the ] who fought the famous war against the Persians seen in the movie ]. He stated the company would be part record label, part marketing company, part distributor, with major backing from ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|title=The 9 Biggest Hip-Hop Business Moves Of 2013|date=December 30, 2013|first=Dan|last=Rys|work=]|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/12/9-biggest-hip-hop-business-moves-2013/4/}}</ref>
In 2002, Cohen was personally sued for fraud, tortuous interference, breach of contract and copyright infringement by ] as part of a larger action against ] and ] alleging that Cohen tried to hinder the production and release of an album by ]'s group, the ] (a.k.a. CMC).<ref name>Reid, Shaheem. (March 25, 2003). . MTV. Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref> The defendants were initially ordered to pay TVT $132 million in compensatory and punitive damages, with $56 million due personally from Cohen, but on appeal that figure was reduced to $53 million, with $3 million due personally from Cohen.<ref name="Hays"/> The U.S. District Court Judge who reduced the damages, Victor Marrero, commented that the defendants were "morally reprehensible" and noted "inconsistencies" in Cohen's testimony.<ref name="Hays"/> However, in 2005 the jury's decision against Cohen and Def Jam was overturned by a federal appeals court panel of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that the allegations by TVT "lacked 'legally sufficient' evidence".<ref name="spared">Leeds, Jeff. (June 15, 2005). . ''The New York Times''. Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref> While TVT lawyers announced intentions to pursue the matter further, Cohen's lawyer noted, "In reversing the finding of liability, fraud and the related damages, the court has specifically found that there was no credible evidence to support the outrageous claims against Mr. Cohen."<ref name="spared"/>


===YouTube===
During the course of the appeals, additional controversy arose with the sale of the ] clothing company. Cohen was partners with ] with a 16.6% stake in Phat Farm, which he had valued at $5.5 million in a financial statement during the TVT lawsuit.<ref name="Billboard">Garrity, Brian. (April 3, 2004) "How Phat this cat?" ''Billboard Magazine''.</ref> When the company sold for $140 million,<ref name="Hype">Leeds, Jeff. (May 16, 2005) . ''New York Times''. Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref> Cohen reportedly received more than $20 million for his share, prompting allegations by TVT lawyers that he had intentionally misrepresented his net worth to reduce his damages owed.<ref name="Billboard"/> Simmons testified at deposition on Cohen's behalf that Cohen was not aware at the time he assessed his financial worth of the potential sale.<ref name="Hype"/>
In September 2016, Google's YouTube announced Cohen would be joining the organization as Global Head of Music. He officially joined the company in December 2016. He wrote a public letter stating some of his goals and aspirations for his new role. <ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Rys|first1=Dan|title=Lyor Cohen Named YouTube's Global Head of Music|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7525695/lyor-cohen-named-youtube-global-head-of-music|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>


==Philanthropy and leadership==
TVT was awarded $126,720 for a breach of contract claim that IDMG and Cohen did not appeal.<ref name="spared"/>
Cohen is currently on the board of the ], and is an acting Director for the New York-based charitable organization ].{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}


===P. Diddy=== ==Personal life==
Some of Cohen's closest associates have included his longtime friend and business partner ],<ref>"Lyor Cohen has been with me since the early 80s as a friend and partner," p. 222, ''Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money, and God'' by Russell Simmons with Nelson George, Three Rivers Press, 2001</ref> ],<ref>"Lyor Cohen, who I consider my mentor ...," p. 221, ''Decoded'', by Jay-Z, Spiegel & Grau, 2011</ref> music executive ],<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Julie Greenwald: Chairman/COO, Atlantic Records Group |first=Yinka |last=Adegoke |magazine=Billboard |date=November 30, 2012 |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1082927/julie-greenwald |quote=My mentor: Lyor Cohen ...}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite news |title=Talking Trash, Making Cash, And Still Able to Sign Mariah |first=Laura M. |last=Holson |work=] |date=May 28, 2002 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/28/business/talking-trash-making-cash-and-still-able-to-sign-mariah.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |quote=He has a much bigger vision than most of his peers}}</ref> and ], who dubbed himself "the Lyor Cohen of Dior Homme" on a 2010 recording ].{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}
In 2002, ] accused Cohen of "attempting to steal" best-selling R&B artists ] from his ] label, stating that he was "shocked" by such a move from "someone who I considered a close friend for 15 years".<ref>Reid, Shaheem. (February 28, 2002) MTV Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref> In 2003, Combs and Cohen announced a joint venture to handle 112 and ].<ref name="Reid">Reid, Shaheem. (February 20 2003]) . MTV. Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref> At that time, Combs said that his personal relationship with Cohen mattered more "than a minor business dispute".<ref name="Reid"/> In 2005, Combs and Cohen entered into a working relationship at ].<ref>Warner Music Group. (2005) . WMG.com Retrieved 23-01-08.</ref>

Cohen met his first wife, E.K. Smith, during the recording of the music video for "]" by the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Fight For Your Right Who's Who |url=https://www.beastiemania.com/qa/ffyrtp02.php}}</ref> Cohen's marriage to his second wife, Amy, ended in divorce in 2006. They have a daughter, Bea, and a son, Az.<ref>{{cite news |title=Family and Football, With a Few Audibles, for Music Executive |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 3, 2014 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/nyregion/family-and-football-with-a-few-audibles-for-music-executive.html?_r=0 |last1=Sisario |first1=Ben }}</ref> Cohen credits Az, along with a personal friend, with saving his life when Cohen experienced a pulmonary embolism during ]'s induction into the ] at Brooklyn's ] in April 2016.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Lyor Cohen Was Hospitalized Over the Weekend |magazine=Complex |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2016/04/lyor-cohen-hospitalized-the-weekend}}</ref>

In August 2016, Cohen remarried, wedding art world personality Xin Li, a Chinese former basketball player and model who is currently the deputy chairman of ] Asia.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Lyor Cohen Marrying Christie's Exec Xin Li at Hamptons Home |magazine=Billboard |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7460948/lyor-cohen-xin-li-wedding}}</ref>

==Controversy==
===Murder Inc. Records raid===
In January 2003 the offices of ] at Island Def Jam were raided by a joint task force of the ] and the ] as part of a federal probe of label founder ] ties to drug lord ]<ref>”Murder Inc. Offices Raided By Feds,” MTV News, January 4, 2003, </ref> Of particular interest to authorities was an Island Def Jam payment of $500,000 to a company fronted by McGriff. In 2005, Gotti was acquitted of all charges, as was Cohen, who had also testified.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Murder Inc rap moguls cleared |newspaper=] |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/murder-inc-rap-moguls-cleared-vhx7fwgwrq6 |access-date=2023-02-24 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

===TVT Records lawsuit===

In 2002, Cohen was personally sued for fraud, tortious interference, breach of contract and copyright infringement by ] as part of a larger action against Island Def Jam Music Group and Universal Music Group. The suit alleged that Cohen tried to hinder the production and release of an album by Ja Rule's group, the Cash Money Click. Initially, the defendants were ordered to pay TVT $132 million in compensatory and punitive damages, with $56 million due personally from Cohen.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holloway |first=Lynette |date=2003-05-07 |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Record Label And Its Chief Told to Pay $132 Million |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/07/business/the-media-business-record-label-and-its-chief-told-to-pay-132-million.html |access-date=2023-02-24 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> On appeal that figure was substantially reduced. Ultimately, TVT was awarded $126,720 for a breach of contract claim.<ref>Leeds, Jeff, “Rap Label Is Spared Millions After Appeal on Fraud Case,” New York Times, June 15, 2005</ref>


==Further reading== ==Further reading==
*. Profile at '']'' *. Profile at '']''
* '']''


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|2}} {{Reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*.
* at ]
*
* {{imdb name|id=0169567}} *{{IMDb name|0169567}}

{{Warner Music Group}} {{Warner Music Group}}
{{portal bar|Israel|New York City|United States}}
{{Authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 08:20, 15 December 2024

American music industry executive

Lyor Cohen
Cohen in 2011
Born (1959-10-03) October 3, 1959 (age 65)
New York City, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Miami (BBA)
Occupation(s)Co-founder of 300 Entertainment
Global Head of Music at YouTube
Years active1980–present
Signature

Lyor Cohen (born October 3, 1959) is an American music industry executive and entrepreneur. He has been actively involved in hip hop at various record labels for more than 30 years. He started by managing rappers for Rush Productions, then led Def Jam. After Def Jam, Cohen took on a leadership role at Warner Music Group. In September 2012, Cohen resigned from Warner and started his own independent label, 300 Entertainment. On September 28, 2016, Cohen was named YouTube's Global Head of Music.

Early life and education

Cohen was born in New York City, in 1959, to Israeli immigrants. He grew up in Los Angeles. In 1981, he earned a degree in global marketing and finance from the University of Miami School of Business at the University of Miami.

After graduating from the University of Miami, he worked briefly in the Beverly Hills office of Bank Leumi.

Music career

Rush Productions / Rush Artist Management

Late in 1984, after promoting a pair of rock and rap shows at The Mix Club in Hollywood (one featured Run-DMC, the other featured Whodini), Cohen moved to New York to take a job at Simmons' Rush Productions (later called Rush Artist Management). Beginning as Run-DMC's road manager, Cohen quickly began taking on additional responsibilities, working on behalf of an artist roster that included Kurtis Blow, Whodini, Run-DMC, LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy. By 1987, Cohen himself was signing artists to Rush. These acts included Slick Rick, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Eric B. & Rakim, EPMD, Stetsasonic, De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest.

Cohen credits Jam Master Jay with teaching him the basics of the music business. " showed me how to settle shows and fulfill my responsibilities to the group," Cohen told Vibe magazine. "It's those lessons that I rely on daily to do what I do now." Before long, according to Rolling Stone, Cohen "became known for his no-nonsense approach to business, his negotiating skill, his ability to forward the plot". It was Cohen who brokered Run-DMC's endorsement deal with Adidas, "one of the first big commercial deals for a rap group". This deal was followed by others that paired up Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince with Le Coq Sportif, LL Cool J with Troop sportswear, and Run-DMC with New Coke.

By 1989, Rush—under Cohen's leadership—was recognized as "the premier management operation" in the Rap field. Steve Stoute, in The Tanning of America, credits Cohen with " early on in the cultural melting pot that was being brewed for and by the younger generation". In his own words, Lyor Cohen has said, "I was determined to prove people wrong, to prove to the gatekeepers of the industry that we had a place here and we weren't going to relinquish our opportunity."

From artist development to label executive

Cohen began transitioning from artist management to the label side of the music business in 1989, when he and Simmons formed Rush Associated Labels. The goal was to capitalize on the ability of established recording artists to sniff out new talent by signing boutique label deals with them. It paid off most notably with Jam Master Jay's JMJ Records, which brought Onyx to Def Jam in 1992 and Jayo Felony in 1994. By then Cohen was starting to groom a new generation of executives, notably Chris Lighty, Julie Greenwald, Kevin Liles, Todd Moscowitz, and Mike Kyser.

In 1994 Cohen teamed up with Simmons to negotiate Def Jam's departure from Sony (which had been distributing Def Jam since 1985) for a new home at PolyGram. By then, having become Simmons's partner in the label several years earlier, Cohen was running Def Jam day-to-day. (Rick Rubin, Def Jam's founder, had left Def Jam in 1988.)

Def Jam under PolyGram and Universal

Under PolyGram and Cohen's leadership, Def Jam prospered. Cohen worked with a brand-new roster of successful rappers, like Redman, Method Man, Jay-Z, DMX, Ja Rule and Ludacris. Concurrently, Cohen oversaw custom label deals with Roc-A-Fella Records, Murder Inc., Disturbing Tha Peace, and others.

In 1998, PolyGram was purchased by Seagram, and merged into Universal.

The Island Def Jam Music Group

In June 1998, after PolyGram's merger with Universal Music and its MCA-related label group, Island, Mercury, and Def Jam were merged into a new unit called the Island Def Jam Music Group. Cohen was named co-president. In the process, he became (as he himself noted) "the first Hip-Hop president in charge of a major label".

This promotion required Cohen to expand his portfolio to include artists who didn't rap, among them Bon Jovi, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Elvis Costello, Ashanti, Nickelback, Slipknot, Sum 41, The Killers, and Slayer. In 2001, Cohen was involved in Island Def Jam's purchase of Roadrunner, a heavy-metal label, as well as the deal to distribute Rick Rubin's American. In 2002, American released Johnny Cash's American IV: The Man Comes Around. The last album released by Cash before his death, it included Cash's hit version of Trent Reznor's "Hurt".

Warner Music Group

In January 2004, Cohen left Island Def Jam for a position with the Edgar Bronfman Jr. investor group-financed Warner, which was subsequently spun off from Time Warner. Ultimately, Cohen was named WMG's chairman and chief executive.

By 2006, the positive effects of Cohen's leadership were encapsulated in a story for The Los Angeles Times, which reported that, "Under Cohen, Warner Music has thrived, due in part to the executive's innovative initiatives, such as an incubator program that builds relationships with independent label executives the company aspires to hire." Warner's success with Mike Jones and the rock band Paramore both grew out of the incubator program.

At Warner, Cohen oversaw the merger of the Atlantic and Elektra labels into Atlantic, and placed Julie Greenwald, his protégée, into a top executive position there. In 2009, Cohen elevated Greenwald to chairman and chief operating officer of Atlantic, a promotion that established Greenwald as the highest-ranking woman executive at an American record company. Greenwald's successes at Atlantic have included The Black Keys, Bruno Mars, Death Cab for Cutie, Jason Mraz, Kid Rock, Lupe Fiasco, Plies, T.I., and Wiz Khalifa. He resigned from Warner in September 2012.

YouTube and Spotify

In September 2006, Cohen oversaw an agreement with YouTube that allowed the site to show videos by Warner artists in exchange for a share of YouTube's advertising revenue. According to The New York Times, the deal marked "the first time a major record company licensed content to YouTube". In 2011, Cohen oversaw an agreement on behalf of the Warner roster with Spotify, the digital music service. Eventually, Cohen oversaw all of Warner's digital initiatives.

Future ventures and 300

There was much speculation about Cohen's next move. Cohen's own assessment of his career was broadly predictive. "I've been an outsider in the traditional record industry for more than 25 years," he told the Los Angeles Times. "I'm an entrepreneur, so I encourage risk-taking. And the only way to encourage risk-taking is to take risks yourself, which means sometimes you'll fail, or people will say you are too aggressive or controversial. But someone needs to jump into the pool first for a party to get really great. I've always been willing to be that guy." In November 2013, Cohen revealed he was starting a new company named "300", after the 300 Spartan Warriors who fought the famous war against the Persians seen in the movie 300. He stated the company would be part record label, part marketing company, part distributor, with major backing from Google and Atlantic.

YouTube

In September 2016, Google's YouTube announced Cohen would be joining the organization as Global Head of Music. He officially joined the company in December 2016. He wrote a public letter stating some of his goals and aspirations for his new role.

Philanthropy and leadership

Cohen is currently on the board of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and is an acting Director for the New York-based charitable organization Boys & Girls Harbor.

Personal life

Some of Cohen's closest associates have included his longtime friend and business partner Russell Simmons, Jay Z, music executive Julie Greenwald, Jon Bon Jovi, and Kanye West, who dubbed himself "the Lyor Cohen of Dior Homme" on a 2010 recording Devil in a New Dress.

Cohen met his first wife, E.K. Smith, during the recording of the music video for "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" by the Beastie Boys. Cohen's marriage to his second wife, Amy, ended in divorce in 2006. They have a daughter, Bea, and a son, Az. Cohen credits Az, along with a personal friend, with saving his life when Cohen experienced a pulmonary embolism during N.W.A's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at Brooklyn's Barclays Center in April 2016.

In August 2016, Cohen remarried, wedding art world personality Xin Li, a Chinese former basketball player and model who is currently the deputy chairman of Christie's Asia.

Controversy

Murder Inc. Records raid

In January 2003 the offices of Murder Inc. Records at Island Def Jam were raided by a joint task force of the NYPD and the FBI as part of a federal probe of label founder Irv Gotti's ties to drug lord Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff. Of particular interest to authorities was an Island Def Jam payment of $500,000 to a company fronted by McGriff. In 2005, Gotti was acquitted of all charges, as was Cohen, who had also testified.

TVT Records lawsuit

In 2002, Cohen was personally sued for fraud, tortious interference, breach of contract and copyright infringement by TVT Records as part of a larger action against Island Def Jam Music Group and Universal Music Group. The suit alleged that Cohen tried to hinder the production and release of an album by Ja Rule's group, the Cash Money Click. Initially, the defendants were ordered to pay TVT $132 million in compensatory and punitive damages, with $56 million due personally from Cohen. On appeal that figure was substantially reduced. Ultimately, TVT was awarded $126,720 for a breach of contract claim.

Further reading

References

  1. ^ Roberts, Johnnie L., "Rap's Unlikely King", The Daily Beast, Newsweek, January 31, 2000
  2. "Lyor Cohen Named YouTube's Global Head of Music". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  3. "Music Industry Leader Shares Career Advice", Business Miami magazine, Winter 2007.
  4. Lyor Cohen Beastiemania.com
  5. Cohen, Rich, Rolling Stone, "The Story of Lyor Cohen: Little Lansky and the Big Check", Rolling Stone, June 21, 2001,
  6. Nathan, David, "Lyor Cohen: Breaking Corporate Barriers at Rush", Black Radio Exclusive, January 27, 1989.
  7. P. 21, The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy by Steve Stoute, Gotham; Reprint edition 2012
  8. Kondo, Toshitaka, "Lyor Cohen", Complex magazine, June 1, 2010, Complex.com
  9. "My mentor, Lyor Cohen ...," p. 6, Make it Happen: the Hip-Hop Generation Guide to Success, by Kevin Liles with Samantha Marshall, Atria Books, 2005
  10. ^ Adler, and Charnas (2011). Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label. Rizzoli. ISBN 978-0847833719.
  11. "Rubin Quits", New Musical Express, August 27, 1988.
  12. Golus, Carrie (2012). Russell Simmons: From Def Jam to Super Rich. Twenty-First Century Books. p. 73. ISBN 9780761388586.
  13. Zimmerman, Kevin, "Cohen & Caparro: From Rap to Rock with the Def Jam Duo", Music Business International, June 2000.
  14. Smith, Ethan, "Warner Music Lures Rap Chief From Universal to Fill New Post", The Wall Street Journal, January 26, 2004.
  15. ^ Duhigg, Charles, "Getting Warner Music More Upbeat: U.S. CEO Lyor Cohen is Heading a Turnaround that Includes a Recent Boost in Market Share", Los Angeles Times, August 28, 2006.
  16. "Women in Music 2011: No.1 Julie Greenwald", Billboard
  17. Sisario, Ben (September 24, 2012). "Lyor Cohen Resigns From Warner Music". The New York Times.
  18. Leeds, Jeff (September 19, 2006). "Warner Music Makes Licensing Deal With YouTube". The New York Times.
  19. Sisario, Ben (July 14, 2011). "New Service Offers Music in Quantity, Not by Song". The New York Times. p. B1.
  20. "Lyor Cohen resigns as CEO of Warner Music Group to develop talent management company". New York Daily News. September 26, 2012.
  21. "Are Lyor Cohen and Irv Gotti Forming a New Company?", Keenan Higgins, Vibe December 20, 2012.
  22. "Report: Lyor Cohen Looking to Launch New Label". All Access Music Group. March 18, 2013.
  23. Rys, Dan (December 30, 2013). "The 9 Biggest Hip-Hop Business Moves Of 2013". XXL.
  24. Rys, Dan. "Lyor Cohen Named YouTube's Global Head of Music". Billboard.
  25. "Lyor Cohen has been with me since the early 80s as a friend and partner," p. 222, Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money, and God by Russell Simmons with Nelson George, Three Rivers Press, 2001
  26. "Lyor Cohen, who I consider my mentor ...," p. 221, Decoded, by Jay-Z, Spiegel & Grau, 2011
  27. Adegoke, Yinka (November 30, 2012). "Julie Greenwald: Chairman/COO, Atlantic Records Group". Billboard. My mentor: Lyor Cohen ...
  28. Holson, Laura M. (May 28, 2002). "Talking Trash, Making Cash, And Still Able to Sign Mariah". The New York Times. He has a much bigger vision than most of his peers
  29. "Fight For Your Right Who's Who".
  30. Sisario, Ben (January 3, 2014). "Family and Football, With a Few Audibles, for Music Executive". The New York Times.
  31. "Lyor Cohen Was Hospitalized Over the Weekend". Complex.
  32. "Lyor Cohen Marrying Christie's Exec Xin Li at Hamptons Home". Billboard.
  33. ”Murder Inc. Offices Raided By Feds,” MTV News, January 4, 2003,
  34. "Murder Inc rap moguls cleared". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  35. Holloway, Lynette (May 7, 2003). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Record Label And Its Chief Told to Pay $132 Million". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  36. Leeds, Jeff, “Rap Label Is Spared Millions After Appeal on Fraud Case,” New York Times, June 15, 2005

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