Epic Records president Ezekiel Lewis has been promoted to CEO and chairman of the record label, parent company Sony Music Entertainment announced Monday. Lewis will report to Sony Music Group President Rob Stringer.
The move comes about six months after former Epic CEO Sylvia Rone stepped down from her position, after first joining as president in 2014 and being named CEO herself in 2019. Having been one of the longest-serving CEOs of the major brand, Rone’s retirement has been a frequent area of speculation among industry insiders, and many have seen Lewis as a natural successor at the brand given how pivotal a role he has played at the label for years. He has run Epic’s A&R department since 2018, and was named Head of Brand in 2023. During his tenure at Epic, he has worked with a wide range of acts including Meghan Trainor, Madison Beer, 21 Savage, Future, Zara Larsson, Tyla and more.
“I am truly humbled by the trust Rob has placed in me to lead this amazing brand,” Lewis said in a statement. “Music has always been about the artist, their vision, their voice and their story. Everything we build here begins and ends with that belief. My focus, from day one, has been to make this the best place to record artists anywhere in the world. In a digital-first landscape full of noise and distraction, we have an opportunity to break through and give creatives something rare: a place where they are seen, supported and set up for success. That’s the mission, and I don’t take it lightly.”
With his appointment, Lewis now becomes the second black executive in the major label system, joining Def Jam’s Tunji Balogun. Prior to joining Epic, Lewis was Senior Vice President of A&R at Motown Records, where he worked with acts including Ne-Yo, Erykah Badu, Migos and others.
“With his experience and knowledge in a senior creative capacity at Epic over the past eight years, Zeke is eminently qualified to move the brand forward as its leader,” Stringer said in a statement. “Not only am I thrilled to make an appointment like this based on the executive growth of an internal candidate, but also because Zeke is highly respected and trusted by the artists and employees at Sony Music. I look forward to working with him and his team on amplifying the musical vision for Epic Records.”
