Lyor Cohen

Lyor Cohen (born October 3, 1959) is an American record executive. He serves as global head of music at YouTube. Cohen began his career in the 1980s working with Russell Simmons at Rush Artist Management and later became president of Def Jam Recordings. He subsequently held senior leadership roles at The Island Def Jam Music Group and Warner Music Group, and later founded the music company 300 Entertainment.

Early life and education

Cohen was born in New York City in 1959 to Israeli immigrant parents who had moved to the United States in 1955.

He attended John Marshall High School in Los Feliz, Los Angeles.

After graduating, he briefly worked in the Beverly Hills office of Bank Leumi.

Career

Rush Artist Management and Def Jam

In the early 1980s Cohen promoted concerts at The Mix Club in Hollywood, including shows featuring Run-DMC and Whodini. He later moved to New York and joined Russell Simmons' company Rush Productions, later known as Rush Artist Management. Beginning as road manager for Run-DMC, Cohen later worked with artists including Kurtis Blow, Whodini, Run-DMC, LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy.

Cohen was involved in the development and signing of artists including Slick Rick, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Eric B. & Rakim, EPMD, Stetsasonic, De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest. He was mentored by Jam Master Jay.

In 1986 Cohen helped broker an endorsement deal between Run-DMC and Adidas, one of the earliest marketing partnerships between a hip-hop artist and an athletic company.

In 1988 he became president of Def Jam Recordings, which had been founded by Simmons and Rick Rubin in 1984.

After PolyGram merged with Universal Music Group in 1998, Def Jam was combined with Island Records, Mercury Records, and other labels to form The Island Def Jam Music Group. Cohen was appointed co-president.

During his tenure the company expanded beyond hip-hop and released music by artists including Bon Jovi, Mariah Carey, Ashanti, Nickelback, Slipknot, Sum 41, The Killers, Shania Twain, and Elvis Costello.

During his tenure he oversaw the merger of Atlantic Records and Elektra Records into the Atlantic Records Group and promoted executive Julie Greenwald, who later became chairman and chief operating officer of Atlantic.

Cohen resigned from Warner Music Group in September 2012.

300 Entertainment

In 2013 Cohen co-founded 300 Entertainment, a music company combining label, marketing, and distribution functions. The company received backing from investors including Google and Atlantic Records.

YouTube

In September 2016 YouTube announced that Cohen would join the company as global head of music. He officially began the role in December 2016.

Controversy

Murder Inc. Records raid

In January 2003 the offices of Murder Inc. Records at Island Def Jam were raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department as part of an investigation into alleged ties between label founder Irv Gotti and drug trafficker Kenneth McGriff.

In 2005 Gotti and Cohen were acquitted of all charges related to the investigation.

TVT Records lawsuit

In 2002 TVT Records filed a lawsuit against Cohen, The Island Def Jam Music Group, and Universal Music Group alleging fraud, tortious interference, breach of contract, and copyright infringement.

An initial jury award of $132 million was later overturned on appeal. TVT ultimately recovered $126,720 for breach of contract.

Personal life Cohen and his wife, art consultant Xin Li, were married in 2016. She serves as deputy chairman of Christie's Asia.

Cohen serves on the boards of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Independent Venue Association.