The industry is currently buzzing from Billboard’s latest reports stating that Sylvia Rhone, the trail-blazing music executive, has left her position as president of Universal Motown.

This move comes as a surprise to some who have affiliated the talent spotter with the label since 2004, when she took it over. The house that Rhone maintained is also the label home to Lil Wayne, Drake and Soulja Boy, so it’ll be interesting to see if her absence affects these talents in any way. While the company figures out her replacement, it seems Rhone may not leave the Universal family altogether, as Variety reports she’s in talks to anchor another executive position within the music conglomerate. 

For over a decade, Rhone has been seen as one of the most powerful African-American female execs and top music leaders. As president of Motown Records and executive vice president of Universal Records, Rhone oversaw the success of superstar performers like Stevie Wonder and Erykah Badu.

(Photo: Fernando Leon/PictureGroup)