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Steve Stoute | |
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 Stoute in 2014 | |
| Born | (1970-06-26)June 26, 1970 (age 55) |
| Other names | The Commissioner |
| Occupations |
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| Website | translationllc |
Steve Stoute (born June 26, 1970) is an Americanrecord executive who concurrently was Executive Vice President ofInterscope Geffen A&M Records and President of Urban Music atSony Music from 1999 to 2009. In 2017, he founded the music distribution platformUnitedMasters, for which he ischief executive officer (CEO). He also founded Translation, a music marketing agency, in 2004.[2]
With singerMary J. Blige, he co-founded the non-profit, Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN) in 2008.[3] In 2011, he released a book,The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy.
From 1990 to 1999, Stoute was an executive at several labels in the music industry.[4] AtInterscope Geffen A&M Records, Stoute was President of the Urban Music division and executive vice president.[5] Prior to joining Interscope, Stoute was president of Urban Music forSony Music Entertainment, where he played a role in launching the music career ofWill Smith.[6] Stoute is the former manager ofNas,Trackmasters andMary J. Blige.[7]
In April 1999, rapperSean Combs assaulted Stoute in his office with achampagne bottle over Combs' demand to not air a Nas video he appeared in.[8] In June 1999, Stoute sued, resulting in a $500,000 out-of-court settlement from Combs.[9]
In 2003, Stoute was part of an unsuccessful pitch to convinceLeBron James to sign a $10 million contract with Reebok.[10][11] That same year, Stoute recruited rapperPusha T to writeI'm Lovin' It (song) forMcDonald's.[12]
In 2009, Stoute was inducted into theAmerican Advertising Federation's Advertising Hall of Achievement, an award for outstandingadvertising professionals age 40 and under.[13] In 2010, Stoute was recognized as "Innovator of the Year" by the ADCOLOR Industry Coalition, an initiative to promote increased diversity in the advertising, marketing, and media industries. In 2013, Stoute was named "Executive of the Year" by Ad Age, a leading publication for the advertising and marketing industries.[14]
In 2005, Stoute became the managing director and CEO ofCarol's Daughter, a multi-cultural beauty brand. He brought together a board of investors includingJada Pinkett Smith,Will Smith,Jay-Z,Mary J. Blige,Jimmy Iovine,Tommy Mottola, andThalía. Spokeswomen for the line have includedMary J. Blige,[15]Solange Knowles,Cassie Ventura,Selita Ebanks,Kim Fields, and Jada Pinkett Smith.[16][17] The company grew and sought partnerships withDisney'sThe Princess and the Frog via a collection of hair and body products for children and with HSN via an exclusive fragrance launch with Mary J. Blige.[18][19] He has appeared in theHBO seriesThe Black List Project that features interviews and portraits with leading African American figures on being Black in America.[20]
Stoute released his first book,The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy, in 2011 through Gotham Books.[21] In the book, Stoute draws from his background in the music industry and brand marketing to chronicle how hip-hop came to define urban culture as the new embodiment of cool.[22]
In February 2014, the book was made into a four-partVH1 documentary, "The Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip-Hop."[23] In April 2014, the book was released as an audiobook narrated byKerry Washington.[24]
Stoute has been a keynote or featured speaker at many events including the International Consumer Electronics Show,[25] the Sundance Film Festival,[26] South by Southwest (SXSW),[27] Fast Company Innovation Uncensored,[28] and AAF's ADMERICA.[29] He appeared on the main stage at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity withSean Combs in 2013,[30] and again withKanye West and Venture CapitalistBen Horowitz in 2014.[31]
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