Warner Music Group Executive VP Kevin Liles steps down from the label and subsidiary 300 Elektra Entertainment

Kevin Liles, executive vice president at Warner Music Group, announced Tuesday that he is leaving the record label conglomerate.

The 56-year-old executive announced his news in an internal memo that he later shared on X (formerly Twitter).

Liles, who rose to the top of the music industry after starting out as a DJ, also announced that he would be leaving Warner’s subsidiary 300 Elektra Entertainment.

He was chairman and CEO of the label, which grew out of 300 Entertainment, which he founded in 2012 with Lyor Cohen, Roger Gold and Todd Moscowitz.

Although Liles said his “short-term goals” after retirement were to help elect Kamala Harris “as the first African-American woman president” and to support Democratic candidates in the House and Senate, he gave no further reason for his departure.

Liles was executive vice president for Warner Music Group, and chairman and CEO of subsidiary label 300 Elektra Music. He joined Warner in 2022 after it acquired 300 Entertainment

Liles’ departure comes as Warner Music Group is in the midst of a major shakeup of its leadership team.

It was previously announced that Max Lousada, CEO of Warner’s recorded music division, and Julie Greenwald, president of Atlantic Recording Group, would step down from their positions (Atlantic is a major subsidiary of Warner Music Group).

Warner Music CEO Robert Kyncl shared this in his own internal memo, obtained by Varietythat at that time there was no one who would take over Liles’ role at 300 Elektra Entertainment.

Instead, current 300 executives Rayna Bass and Selim Bouab will take charge, although they will report directly to Kyncl.

Liles said in his own memo that he will still be part of the transition. He announced that he would step down at the end of September, but he will continue to serve as an advisor to Warner Music Group and 300 Elektra Entertainment through the end of the year.

Kyncl also noted in its memo that 10K Projects founder Elliot Grainge, who married Sofia Richie last year, would replace outgoing Atlantic CEO Greenwald and would also report directly to Kyncl.

Liles joined Warner Music Group in 2022 after the conglomerate acquired 300 Entertainment for $400 million.

In an internal memo and an X-post, Liles said he would leave at the end of September but plans to stay on as a consultant to Warner through the end of the year.

Liles co-founded 300 Entertainment in 2012 and a year later the company signed a distribution deal with Warner subsidiary Atlantic Records; pictured on September 13 in Washington, DC

Liles’s 300 Elektra Entertainment has represented artists such as Megan Thee Stallion (pictured Sept. 11 at the MTV VMAs), Young Thug, Migos, Gunna and Mary J. Blige

The formerly independent label has managed to sign an impressive list of hitmakers, including embattled rapper Young Thug, Megan Thee Stallion, Mary J. Blige, Metro Boomin and Fetty Wap.

Gunna and Migos have also been represented in the past, while Megan Thee Stallion also has another deal directly with Warner.

In his memo, Liles introduced his successors, saying, “As dedicated servants of the culture, we know that developing and empowering the next generation of leaders is a responsibility, and when the time is right, we will pass the torch.”

In Kyncl’s memo, the Warner CEO praised Liles’ “positive energy” and called him a charismatic leader who has been successful in many different roles… artist manager, record label founder, entrepreneur, senior executive… he even got his start as a DJ and songwriter.