Enjoy a round of golf and an outdoor dinner with Kevin Liles, co-founder and CEO of 300 Entertainment, at the Alpine Golf Course in Demarest, New Jersey.
Kevin Liles doesn’t just welcome change; he embraces it with open arms.
That mindset has ensured his place in music history as one of the industry’s most consistent game-changers. Not only has he pushed 300 Entertainment to the forefront of streaming as a co-founder and C.E.O., but he also architected Def Jam’s expansion into video games and television in the late nineties and introduced Artist Services to Warner Music Group during the aughts. Whether heading the preeminent American independent record label, running his own KWL Management Company, or overseeing charities such as Kevin Liles For a Better Baltimore and The Make It Happen Foundation, he always remains on the cutting edge. His ability to create, build and lead some of the most biggest and culturally relevant brands over the past 30 years cements his place in cultural history.
Kevin holds a place on the Billboard annual “Power 100,” received France’s highest honor the “Médaille de la Ville de Paris Award,” and authored the New York Times best-seller Make It Happen: The Hip Generation Guide to Success. He has also become a hometown hero with both his Baltimore area high school stadium and a street named after him and been recognized as “one of the keenest minds in music” by Forbes.
At the helm of 300 Entertainment, he pioneered the concept of a digital-conscious label. Its accolades encompass over 100 RIAA gold, platinum and multiplatinum-certified singles and over 16 billion cumulative streams. Notably, streaming comprises nearly 85-90% revenue as the label places in the Top 1% of Overall US sales. As President of Def Jam Recordings from 1998-2004, he amplified the brand’s influence through introducing Def College Jam, opening five international offices, launching successful video game franchises, and doubling revenue to $400 million. Moreover, he fueled the transformation of artists such as Jay Z, Kanye West, DMX, Ja Rule, Ashanti, LL Cool J, and Ludacris into household names.
2004 saw him assume the role of Executive Vice President of Warner Music Group, and joining the executive team that took WMG private and finally public. Moreover, he emphasized the implementation of “360-degree” strategy to build new revenue streams as the industry transitioned online, built the Artist Services division, and brought revenue past the $200 million-mark.
Liles remains equally staunch in his philanthropic, charitable, and humanitarian endeavors as a positive force for change, cultural enlightenment, and social justice. He founded both Kevin Liles For A Better Baltimore and Make It Happen Foundation and sits on numerous boards. His influence encompasses plays, film, and television. Credits include Tony Award-winning Trip To Bountiful on Broadway, TV docu-series Mike Vick Project and Trey Songz My Moment, reality series Keyshia Cole The Way It Is, Diggy Simmons The Start Up, Monica Still Standing, Method Man & Redman Meth & Red, and motion pictures How High. He has several projects currently in development. He can also be found regularly on MSNBC and CNBC speaking about the music business and current events.
An honorary doctorate of Morgan State University, he famously co-wrote “Girl You Know It’s True” as part of Numarx before it morphed into the Milli Vanilli smash. He began his career as an unpaid intern at Def Jam in 1991. Kevin Liles was the recipient of the 2007 ACLU SoCal Bill of Rights Awards.
Most importantly, he’s a devoted husband and father of four.
Please note that the ACLU of Southern California is a 501(c)4 organization and bids are not tax deductible.