Shealey upped at Def Jam

MO' PROMO: Rodney Shealey has been upped to EVP Urban Promotion at Def Jam, reporting to CEO Steve Bartels. In his elevated post, he’ll oversee all of the label’s Urban promo activites, liase with department heads and teach Bartels to twerk. Noted the label chief, “In the time Rodney has led the department, he and his team have been responsible for 15 #1 chart-toppers, as well as championing and breaking new artists.” For his part, the veteran promo man hailed Bartels’ leadership and his ongoing collaboration with the label's Shawn ‘Pecas’ Costner and Rick Sackheim. Shealey became SVP Promo at the former Island Def Jam in 2011; he previously served at Virgin and Epic. (7/28a)