COLUMBIA'S URBAN UNIT GETS 2 CHIEFS

Ron Perry has decided two heads are better than one in urban music, handing the title of Co-Head, Urban Music, Columbia Records, to Shawn Holiday and Phylicia Fant.

Holiday was most recently Columbia’s SVP of Urban A&R; Fant comes over from Warner Bros. Records where she was SVP of Publicity and Special Projects.

“Shawn’s skill for finding and developing talent and Phylicia’s abilities in lifestyle, marketing, and branding will extend the reach of our hip-hop and R&B roster,” said Perry, Columbia’s Chairman and CEO.

Holiday has played a key role in the label’s music partnership with the Fox TV series Empire. He also oversaw the release of Solange’s A Seat at the Table, and brought T.I. to Columbia in 2014. Prior to joining Columbia, Holiday was Senior Vice President/Head of Urban A&R at Interscope and SVP of A&R at RCA.

“I’m excited about the direction Ron is taking the label,” Holiday said. “I look forward to working with Phylicia, furthering our urban roster’s impact as we continue to bring groundbreaking artists to Columbia Records.”

Fant joined Warner Bros. in 2011 after starting at Motown-Universal. She is also founder and CEO of the public relations and lifestyle-marketing firm the Purple Agency.

She noted, “I’ve known Shawn since my earliest days in the business and I’m excited to partner with him. Identifying lifestyle and entrepreneurial initiatives at such a dynamic renaissance period for black culture will create breakthrough opportunities for Columbia artists across all platforms.”