Kevin Liles

Kevin Liles is a prominent American music executive known for his significant contributions to the music industry. Born on February 27, 1968, Liles grew up near Baltimore, Maryland, and initially pursued an engineering degree at Morgan State University before leaving to focus on a career in music.3

Career Highlights

• Early Career: Kevin Liles began his music career as a member of the DJ crew Numarx, which co-wrote "Girl You Know It's True," later popularized by Milli Vanilli.3
• Def Jam Recordings: He joined Island Def Jam Music Group in 1991 and rose through the ranks to become President of Def Jam Recordings and Executive Vice President of Island Def Jam Music Group by 1999. During his tenure, he was instrumental in expanding the global presence of Def Jam and diversifying its business ventures.23
• Warner Music Group: In 2004, Liles became Executive Vice President at Warner Music Group, where he focused on reversing declining profits and innovating business models.24
• KWL Enterprises: In 2009, he founded KWL Enterprises, a brand management company for artists and celebrities.23

300 Entertainment

In 2012, Kevin Liles co-founded 300 Entertainment alongside Lyor Cohen, Roger Gold, and Todd Moscowitz. The label has been successful with artists like Migos, Megan Thee Stallion, and Young Thug.23 Under his leadership, 300 Entertainment was acquired by Warner Music Group for $400 million in 2021.2

Recent Developments

Kevin Liles recently announced that he will be stepping down as Chairman and CEO of 300 Entertainment at the end of September 2024. He will continue as a consultant until the end of the year. His future plans include focusing on activism against the criminalization of hip-hop lyrics and supporting political campaigns.15