Lisa Ellis Promoted To President, Sony Urban Music
Lisa Ellis has been promoted to President, Sony Urban Music, it was
announced by Don Ienner, Chief Executive Officer and Michele Anthony,
President and Chief Operating Officer, Sony Music Label Group U.S. Most
recently, Ms. Ellis served as General Manager, Sony Urban Music. She
will report to both Mr. Ienner and Ms. Anthony and is based in New York.
In this role Ms. Ellis will be responsible for the overall management of Sony Urban Music.
“Since Lisa joined Columbia nearly ten years ago, I have watched her
grow through different jobs and become one of the most effective
executives in the industry,” commented Don Ienner. “When I needed to
name a new head of Urban, there was no one else I even considered. She
completely turned around the division in just 18 months, and built it
into a powerhouse that works closely with both Columbia and Epic.”
“Since taking the leadership role at Sony Urban, Lisa’s leadership,
creativity, energy and passion have made her a major force in both the
company and the industry,” said Ms. Anthony. “This is a well-deserved
promotion for all that she has accomplished in such a brief period of
time. She has an amazing rapport with her artists, as well as with her
team, and the results speak for themselves.”
“Don and Michele have created an environment in which we are all
encouraged to contribute, team work is highly valued, and results are
rewarded,” commented Ms. Ellis. “This is an organization that has all
of the creative resources to help artists realize their goals. I am
gratified for the opportunity to grow and develop the Urban division
and to continue our collaboration with Columbia and Epic.”
Since 2004, Ms. Ellis served as General Manager, Sony Urban Music.
Prior to that, she was Senior Vice President, Strategic Marketing and
Music Licensing, Sony Music, where she worked with Columbia Records
Group, Epic Records, Sony Music Nashville and Legacy Recordings to
create licensing campaigns for a wide array of artists and projects.
From 2002 to 2003, Ms. Ellis served as Senior Vice President,
R&B/Rhythm-Crossover Promotion, Columbia Records where she led the
R&B/Rhythm-Crossover team in securing airplay at multiple radio
formats for a range of Columbia artists. She also oversaw the
development and execution of national promotion opportunities and
implemented creative methods of exposure for the label’s roster at
R&B/Rhythm-Crossover radio. In addition, Ms. Ellis oversaw the
label’s street marketing team and Rap Mix Show Department.
From 2000 to 2002 Ms. Ellis served as Vice President, National
Promotion (West Coast) and Vice President, Crossover Promotion,
Columbia Records. She joined the Columbia Records family in 1995 as a
Local Promotion Manager and was named National Director, Crossover
Promotion in 1998. From 1990-1992, Ms. Ellis worked at the Pepsi-Cola
Company as Marketing Manager. In 1992, she was hired by CBS Radio (WPGC
in Washington, DC) as Promotions and Marketing Director, a position she
held until becoming Sports Marketing Manager for Reebok International
in 1994.
The recipient of numerous industry awards, Ms. Ellis was named the
Street Information Network’s (S.I.N.) Local Promotion Manager of the
Year (1997) and Crossover Executive of the Year (1998, 1999); R&R’s
Crossover Executive of the Year (1998) and Rhythm-Crossover Executive
of the Year (1999); Gavin’s Crossover Executive of the Year (1998,
1999); and FMQB’s Crossover Executive of the Year (1999). In 2000, Ms.
Ellis was given the Radio Music Award for Crossover Executive of the
Year. Currently Sony Urban Music is nominated for Urban Label of the
Year for the 2005 Billboard Music Awards.
Ms. Ellis received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Maryland in 1991.