Rob Stevenson is an American music executive and currently Partner at the New York, New York–based 300 Entertainment.[1] Over the course of his career, he has been involved in the development of artists including The Killers, Katy Perry, The Decemberists, Gotye, Post Malone, and others.
Rob Stevenson | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert Louis Stevenson |
| Born | September 20, 1970 Teaneck, New Jersey |
| Origin | New York, New York |
| Occupation(s) | Music Executive, Partner 300 Entertainment |
| Website | 300ent |
Advanced Alternative Media and The Sunday Service
editAfter leaving the corporate advertising world as an account manager at Ogilvy & Mather,[2] Stevenson joined Advanced Alternative Media as the Head of College Marketing. Envisioning and launching the first-ever independent music distribution network for college radio, he quickly immersed himself within the fabric of the business. His distribution network, The Sunday Service still exists today.[3]
Island Def Jam
editIn 1998, Stevenson began a nine-year stint at Island Def Jam Music Group in A&R. While at Island Def Jam, he found, signed, and guided the careers of some of the biggest names in rock, alternative, and pop including The Killers, Fall Out Boy, Sum 41, and more.[4] He also orchestrated the label's partnership with Sony Pictures for the successful Spider-Man soundtrack in 2002. He oversaw and helped deliver seven multiplatinum and five gold albums that notched a total of 9 Grammy nominations, 15 MTV VMA nominations with 5 wins, 2 American Music Award nominations with 1 win. Entertainment Weekly dubbed him the "Must A&R Guy" on the magazine's 2006 "Must List", while New York Magazine awarded him “The Industry Award” in their 2005 Pop Culture Awards Issue.[5]
Notable artists
editVirgin Records America
editVirgin Records America sought him out in 2008 and brought him on board as President of A&R. While overseeing Artist & Repertoire operations at Virgin, he signed the resurrected Seattle legends Alice In Chains, paving the way for their gold-selling comeback Black Gives Way to Blue. While in the EMI Group, he, along the A&R team,[6] worked on Katy Perry's multi-platinum-selling Teenage Dream, which produced a record-setting five #1 singles. Other notable projects included Beastie Boys' final studio effort Hot Sauce Committee Parts 1 & 2, and releases from Thirty Seconds to Mars and The Decemberists.
Notable artists
editRepublic Records
editAttracted to the cutting-edge ethos of Republic Records, he became a part of the label's family in 2011 as Executive Vice President of A&R. Stevenson signed Gotye, whose "Somebody That I Used to Know" [featuring Kimbra] became the top-selling song of 2012, selling over 6.8 million digital downloads.[7] “Somebody That I Used to Know” then went on to receive Grammy Awards for Best Pop Song by a Duo or Group and Record of the Year. The album Making Mirrors won the Grammy for Best Alternative album.[8]
Stevenson spearheaded label efforts to bring Iceland’s Of Monsters and Men and Canada’s The Weeknd to the label. Of Monster and Men's debut album is platinum-certified and the "Little Talks" digital single went platinum in 2012.[9] The Weeknd’s debut, Trilogy, is triple platinum[10] and the single “Wicked Games” also sold over three million.[11][12]
In 2016, Stevenson, along with A&R team member Tyler Arnold [13] signed Post Malone to Republic.[14] Post Malone’s Stoney went on to sell three million copies, and Beerbongs & Bentleys has sold two million. His singles, “Rockstar” and “Better Now” had over a billion-plus streams, with the latter reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and “Psycho” hitting #1 on that chart.[15]
Notable Artists
editCasablanca Records
editIn addition to attracting new artists to Republic, Stevenson oversaw the re-launch and reinvention of Casablanca Records. Known as the soundtrack to nightlife in the 1970s, the label quickly was established as the soundtrack to club life in the 2010s with a roster that included Tiesto,[17] Avicii,[18] Alesso,[19] Martin Garrix,[20] C2C,[21] Kavinsky,[22] Bingo Players and Duck Sauce.[23]
300 Entertainment
editIn December 2020, Stevenson joined 300 Entertainment as Partner, reuniting with his former Island Def Jam Music Group associates, who created the company. This included co-founder and CEO Kevin Liles, as well as Lyor Cohen (the latter leaving the company to become YouTube’s Global Head of Music).[1] At 300 Entertainment, an independent company with a focus on digital and streaming distribution, Stevenson oversees development of the artist roster, digital distribution, and publishing.[24]
Education
editStevenson received his bachelor's degree in marketing from the Fairfield University Dolan School of Business in 1992. [citation needed]
References
edit- ^ a b Rys, Don (December 10, 2020). "Rob Stevenson Joines 300 Entertainment as Partner: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ Szalai, George (August 8, 2011). "Universal Music's Universal Republic Records Names Rob Stevenson Executive VP, A&R". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ "STEVENSON NABS ISLAND A&R TREASURE, NEW LABEL". Hits Daily Double. February 22, 2006. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ Interview with ROBERT STEVENSON, VP of A&R at Island/Def Jam - Dec 4, 2006
- ^ The Best in Pop Music - New York Magazine Culture Awards 2005
- ^ "Katy Perry Teenage Dream". allmusic.com. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ Ganz, Jacob (September 4, 2012). "Requiem For A Monster Hit". NPR. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Gotye". grammy.com. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "GOLD & PLATINUM". riaa.com. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum". riaa.com. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum". riaa.com.
- ^ Trakin, Roy (June 9, 2014). "Rob Stevenson on the Rise at Republic, Named EVP". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ Warman, Zane (November 8, 2017). "Republic Records Promotes Tyler Arnold to Vice President of A&R". Billboard. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ Wood, Mikael (December 16, 2016). "Why Post Malone has been called 'the Donald Trump of hip-hop'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (July 25, 2020). "SUCCESS STORY JULY 25, 2018 What If Post Malone Is Here Forever?". Vulture New York magazine. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ Caramanica, Jon (July 27, 2017). "Meet Aminé, a Joyful Rapper With an Eye on Politics". New York Times. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Billboard Dance Power Players 2018: The Managers, Live Leaders & Tastemakers Shaping the Genre By Billboard Staff". Billboard. March 28, 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ Stone, Katie (December 13, 2019). "TIËSTO DEBUTS MELODIC NEW TRACK "BLUE" FT. STEVIE APPLETON". EDM. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Casablanca/Republic to release 'Years' by EDM stalwart Alesso on 12 February". umusicpub.com. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ Trakin, Roy (June 9, 2014). "Rob Stevenson on the Rise at Republic, Named EVP". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ Fekadu, Mesfin (February 26, 2013). "Music Review: French turntable group C2C has great energy on debut 'Tetra'". Times Colonist. No. Associated Press. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Shaan Is Now Signed to Casablanca/Republic Records". Rolling Stone India. December 13, 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ Kennedy, John (June 3, 2014). "Premiere: Angel Haze Feat. Ludacris '22 Jump Street'". Vibe magazine. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ Ingham, Tim (December 10, 2020). "ROB STEVENSON JOINS 300 ENTERTAINMENT AS PARTNER, AS KEVIN LILES-LED COMPANY FOCUSES ON 'COMPETING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL'". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 9 February 2021.