Image Credit: 300 ENT
Rob Stevenson, a widely accomplished A&R executive and creative director is returning to his roots, working alongsideÂ
Kevin Liles and much of the team he started with atÂ
Island Def Jam Music Group, where he spent five years underÂ
300 Entertainment Co-Founder and YouTube’s Global Head of Music,Â
Lyor Cohen. Stevenson brings his years of expertise to 300 Entertainment as a Partner, wherein Stevenson will be providing guidance and supervision in fostering the growth of the company alongside his former mentor, Co-Founder, and CEOÂ
Kevin Liles.
During his time at Def Jam, Rob discovered, signed, and guided the careers of some of the biggest names in rock, alternative, and pop music, includingÂ
Elaine Chung
The out queer pop star is still a rare thing in our culture, and a fairly new development. In the 1970s, Sylvester, Klaus Nomi and Jobriath were a touch too sophisticated for the mainstream, and Freddie Mercury was as coy about his sexuality as one could be fronting a band called Queen. The fierce queer politics of Bronski Beat and the barely-coded sex-positivity of Frankie Goes To Hollywood made some noise on the US charts in the early 1980s while Elton John still presented as bisexual, but it really wasn’t until Erasure exploded onto the scene a couple years later that an open and defiant gay voice could be heard at your high school dance. Singer Andy Bell has been out, loud and proud from the start of his career, hitting the US top 20 three times during the conservative Reagan and Bush years. He demanded a little respect, on his terms, and he got it.