Steve Stoute

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Steve Stoute
Born (1970-06-26) June 26, 1970 (age 53)
New York City, U.S.[1]
Other namesThe Commissioner
Occupations
Websitetranslationllc.com

Steve Stoute (born June 26, 1970) is an American record executive. He concurrently served as Executive Vice President of Interscope Geffen A&M Records and President of Urban Music at Sony Music from 1999 to 2009. In 2017, he founded the music distribution platform UnitedMasters, where he has served as chief executive officer (CEO). He founded Translation, a music marketing agency, in 2004.[2] He co-founded the non-profit, Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN) with R&B singer Mary J. Blige 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.

Career[edit]

Music[edit]

From 1990 to 1999, Stoute was an executive at several labels in the music industry.[4] At Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Stoute served as President of the Urban Music division and executive vice president.[5] Prior to joining Interscope, Stoute was president of Urban Music for Sony Music Entertainment, where he played a role in launching the music career of Will Smith.[6] Stoute is the former manager of Nas, Trackmasters and Mary J. Blige.[7]

In April 1999, rapper Sean Combs assaulted Stoute in his office with a champagne 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]

Advertising[edit]

In 2003, Stoute was part of an unsuccessful pitch to convince LeBron James to sign a $10 million contract with Reebok.[10] [11] That same year, Stoute recruited rapper Pusha T to write I'm Lovin' It (song) for McDonald's.[12]

In 2009, Stoute was inducted into the American Advertising Federation'sAdvertising Hall of Achievement, an award for outstanding advertising 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]

Entrepreneur[edit]

In 2005, Stoute became the managing director and CEO of Carol's Daughter, a multi-cultural beauty brand. He brought together a board of investors including Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Jimmy Iovine, Tommy Mottola, and Thalía. Spokeswomen for the line have included Mary J. Blige,[15] Solange Knowles, Cassie Ventura, Selita Ebanks, Kim Fields, and Jada Pinkett Smith.[16][17] The company grew and sought partnerships with Disney's The 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 the HBO series The Black List Project that features interviews and portraits with leading African American figures on being Black in America.[20]

Author[edit]

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-part VH1 documentary, "The Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip-Hop."[23] In April 2014, the book was released as an audiobook narrated by Kerry Washington.[24]

Stoute has been the keynote or featured speaker at many notable 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 also appeared on the main stage at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity with Sean Combs in 2013,[30] and again with Kanye West and Venture Capitalist Ben Horowitz in 2014.[31]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Williams, Jay (July 15, 2022). "Translation CEO Steve Stoute on vision in advertising and music The Limits with Jay Williams NPR". NPR. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  2. ^ "Can Steve Stoute's UnitedMasters Produce Another Music Business Success?". Forbes.com.
  3. ^ Wolfe, Roman (October 2009). "Mary J. Blige's Center for Women Opens in Yonkers". All Hip Hop. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  4. ^ Williams, Jay. "Meet the mogul behind the rise of Mariah Carey, Will Smith and Nas". The Limits with Jay Williams (Podcast). NPR. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  5. ^ "Genius Appoints Translation Founder Steve Stoute to Board of Directors". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  6. ^ Leeds, Jeff (September 22, 2004). "Bridging Hip-Hop Consumers and Suits". The New York Times. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  7. ^ "Meet Steve Stoute, The Go-To Adman For Lady Gaga And Jay-Z". Business Insider. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  8. ^ O'Connor, Christopher (September 8, 1999). "Puff Daddy Pleads Guilty To Reduced Charge In 'Hate Me Now' Case". Sonicnet. Archived from the original on January 15, 2000. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  9. ^ Frankel, Daniel (June 17, 1999). "Puffy Settles with Battered Record Exec". E! Online. Archived from the original on November 3, 1999. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  10. ^ Kathleen, Elkins (July 24, 2017). "Why LeBron James turned down $10 million when he was 18 and still living in the projects".
  11. ^ Shannon Sharpe At New York City Projects w/ Steve Stoute, FaceTimes Nas & Untold Kobe+LeBron Stories. March 6, 2024. Event occurs at 20:10 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ Hale, Kori (November 8, 2021). "Steve Stoute's UnitedMasters Music Platform Reaches $550 Million Valuation". Forbes.
  13. ^ "Steve Stoute Advertising Hall of Achievement Induction Video". AAFChannel Youtube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  14. ^ "ADCOLOR Honors Steve Stoute, Queen Latifah". Atlanta Post. November 12, 2010. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  15. ^ "Mary J. Representing Carol's Daughter – Brown Sista". August 24, 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  16. ^ Smith[dead link]
  17. ^ "Will Smith, Jay-Z back beauty line". CNN Money. May 2005. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  18. ^ Naughton, Julie (August 2009). "Carol's Daughter Inks Disney Deal". WWD. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  19. ^ "Mary J. Blige Breaks Record at HSN with 'My Life' Perfume". H Listed. August 2010. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  20. ^ "HBO Black List Project". HBO. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  21. ^ "About the Book". Tanning of America website. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  22. ^ Spitz, Marc (September 13, 2011). "Q&A: Steve Stoute on Kanye West, Justin Bieber, and Music as "Culture's Trojan Horse"". Vanity Fair. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  23. ^ "The Tanning of America". VH1. Archived from the original on January 22, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  24. ^ Workneh, Lilly (April 16, 2014). "Kerry Washington to narrate audiobook for Steve Stoute's 'The Tanning of America'". The Grio. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  25. ^ "Diversity, Tech and Leadership". Splash. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  26. ^ "The Making of The Tanning of America". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  27. ^ "SXSW Interview: Nas and Steve Stoute". SXSW. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  28. ^ "Fast Company Innovation Uncensored – "Something New From The Sandbox" – New York – April 23, 2013". BuzzFeed. April 3, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  29. ^ Shropshire, Terry (June 2011). "Steve Stoute to Discuss State Farm Campaign at AAF in San Diego". Rolling Out. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  30. ^ "Steve Stoute and Sean 'Diddy' Combs". Forbes. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  31. ^ Kaz. "Kanye West, Steve Stoute and Ben Horowitz at Cannes Lions [VIDEO]". STASHED. Archived from the original on August 22, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
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