Lyor Cohen
Chairman and CEO of U.S. Recorded Music, Warner Music Group

Lyor Cohen, Warner Music Group's (WMG) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of U.S. Recorded Music, is responsible for all aspects of WMG's U.S. recorded-music operations, including the U.S. labels groups -- The Atlantic Records Group and Warner Bros. Records; WEA Corp., the U.S. distribution company; and Warner Strategic Marketing, WMG's catalog-marketing division. Mr. Cohen joined the company shortly after Time Warner's sale of WMG to an investor group led by Edgar Bronfman, Jr.

Prior to joining WMG, Mr. Cohen was head of Island Def Jam, where he led the growth and cultivation of its world-class roster of artists and record labels, including Def Jam, Island Records, Roc-A-Fella, Lost Highway, The Inc, American, Def Soul, Def Soul Classics to Roadrunner records which produced the multi-platinum Nickelback.

Known for developing and guiding the careers of many early pioneers of rap music, including LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Run DMC, Kurtis Blow and the Beastie Boys, Cohen is widely credited with expanding Island Def Jam beyond its hip-hop roots to include a wider range of musical genres. These top artists include Melissa Etheridge, Elvis Costello, Bon Jovi, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Ashanti, Everlast, Ryan Adams, Nickelback, Slipknot, Hoobastank, Sum 41 and Slayer.

Prior to Def Jam, Mr. Cohen led the day-to-day operations at Rush Management, one of the most innovative and powerful rap and hip-hop management companies, which he founded with partner Russell Simmons. Mr. Cohen and Simmons were also partners in clothing enterprise Phat Farm.

Mr. Cohen first became involved in the music business nearly two decades ago as a rap pioneer and concert promoter in Los Angeles, where he was one of the first to book and promote such acts as Social Distortion, Fear, Fishbone, Circle Jerks, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Run DMC.