NEW YORK, NY (June 27, 2018) – Republic Records announces the hire of Ken “DURO” as SVP, A&R. This announcement comes from Rob Stevenson and Wendy Goldstein.

Based at the company’s New York City headquarters, “Duro” will focus on identifying, signing, cultivating, and introducing new talent throughout the worlds of hip-hop, rap, urban, and R&B.

About the hire, Mr. Stevenson comments, “Duro knows records inside and out as he’s mixed many of the groundbreaking records influencing this next wave of artists. His experience from behind the mixing board and as an executive give him a unique insight into the creative and real-world challenges facing artists in this evolving landscape.”

“I’ve been a fan of and have worked with Duro for many years,” says Ms. Goldstein. “He’s the consummate music visionary whose talent extends from creation to marketing and promotion. It’s an exciting moment for our team to welcome him to the fold.”

“Republic is truly a powerhouse,” says “Duro.” “I have an immense amount of respect for [Co-Founders] Monte and Avery Lipman, Wendy, Rob, and the entire team. I’d love to add that studio perspective to the label’s A&R process. I’m excited to find the next round of Republic superstars and work with them to create a new generation of classic records.

“Duro” remains a multi-faceted music industry magnate. As an in-demand engineer, he has garnered a total of six GRAMMY® Awards for his work on “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu’s Baduizm, Will Smith’s Big Willie Style, Jay-Z’s Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life, Ashanti’s Ashanti, and Usher’s “U Don’t Have To Call.” As an entrepreneur, he has co-founded and run Desert Storm Records since 1997. Its roster includes multiplatinum rap luminary Fabolous and more. For over two decades, he has been intrinsic to the fabric of hip-hop music and culture.

For More Information, Please Contact:
Joseph Carozza/Republic Records
Joseph.Carozza@umusic.com

ABOUT REPUBLIC RECORDS
A division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, Republic Records is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Ariana Grande, Aminé, Black Sabbath, DNCE, Florence + the Machine, Gotye, Hailee Steinfeld, James Blake, James Bay, John Mellencamp, Jordan Smith, Julia Michaels, Keith Richards, Kid Cudi, Liam Payne, Marian Hill, Of Monsters and Men, Post Malone, Seth MacFarlane, Stevie Wonder, and more. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman, it is also comprised of innovative business ventures, including American Recordings (The Avett Brothers, Towkio), Boominati Worldwide (Metro Boomin), Brushfire (Jack Johnson), Casablanca Records (Giorgio Moroder, KUNGS, Tïesto), Cash Money (Drake, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj), Hollywood Records (Sofia Carson, Zendaya), Lava Records (Greta Van Fleet, Jessie J, Lorde), Monkeywrench (Pearl Jam), XO (Belly, The Weeknd), Roc Nation (Jaden Smith, Justine Skye, The Dream), among others. Republic also maintains a long-standing strategic alliance with country powerhouse Big Machine Records (Taylor Swift), and Universal Music Latin Entertainment (Luis Fonsi, J Balvin). In addition, Republic has expanded to release high-profile soundtracks for Universal Pictures (Fifty Shades of Grey, SING), Fox TV (Lee Daniels' STAR), and NBC TV (The Voice), as well as other notable film and television franchises.