Steve Stoute
Born (1970-06-26) June 26, 1970
New York City, U.S.[1]
Other namesThe Commissioner
Occupations
Websitetranslationllc.com

Steve Stoute (born June 26, 1970) is an American businessman and record executive. Stoute is the founder and CEO of the Translation, a marketing agency, and the author of The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy. Previously, he worked in the music industry as an American record executive and artist manager.

In 2017, Stoute received $70 million from investors such as Alphabet Inc. and Andreessen Horowitz to launch UnitedMasters, a music venture.

In 2008 Stoute worked with Mary J. Blige to co-found the Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN).[2]

Career

Music

From 1990 to 1999, Stoute was an executive at several labels in the music industry.[3] At Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Stoute served as President of the Urban Music division and executive vice president.[4] Prior to joining Interscope, Stoute was president of Urban Music for Sony Music Entertainment, where he played a role in launching the music career of Will Smith.[5] Stoute was the former manager to Nas, Trackmasters and Mary J. Blige.[6]

In April 1999, Sean Combs, then known as Puff Daddy, barged into the offices of Stoute with several bodyguards, and struck Stoute over the head with a champagne bottle.[7] In June 1999, Stoute sued Combs, resulting in a $500,000 out-of-court settlement from Combs.[8] The disagreement was over Combs' demand that a version of a Nas video he appeared in not be aired.

Advertising

In 2009 the American Advertising Federation inducted Stoute into their Advertising Hall of Achievement, the industry's premier award for outstanding advertising professionals age 40 and under.[9] In 2010, Stoute was recognized as "Innovator of the Year" at the ADCOLOR awards ceremony, an initiative launched by the ADCOLOR Industry Coalition, to promote increased diversity in the advertising, marketing and media industries. In 2013, Stoute was named "Executive of the Year" by Ad Age, the leading publication for the advertising and marketing industries.[10]

Entrepreneur

In 2005, Stoute became the managing director and CEO of Carol's Daughter, a line of natural hair and body care products created by Lisa Price in Brooklyn, NY. He formed a board of investors including Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Jimmy Iovine, Tommy Mottola, and Thalía and a bevy of spokeswomen for the line include Mary J. Blige,[11] Solange Knowles, Cassie Ventura, Selita Ebanks, Kim Fields, and Jada Pinkett Smith.[12][13] The company grew and sought partnerships such as Disney's "The Princess & The Frog" via a collection of hair and body products for children and HSN via an exclusive fragrance launch with Mary J. Blige.[14][15] He has appeared in the HBO series and book "The Black List Project," featuring interviews and portraits with leading African American figures on being Black in America.[16]

Author

Stoute released his first book The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy in 2011 through Gotham Books.[17] In the book, Stoute draws from his diverse background in the music industry and brand marketing to chronicle how an upstart art form – street poetry set to beats – came to define urban culture as the new embodiment of cool.[18]

In February 2014, the book was made into a four-part VH1 Rock Doc, "The Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip-Hop."[19] In April 2014, the book was released as an audiobook narrated by Kerry Washington.[20]

Stoute has been the keynote or featured speaker at many notable events including the International Consumer Electronics Show,[21] the Sundance Film Festival,[22] South by Southwest (SXSW),[23] Fast Company Innovation Uncensored,[24] and AAF's ADMERICA.[25] He also appeared on the main stage at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity with Sean Combs in 2013,[26] and again with Kanye West and Venture Capitalist Ben Horowitz in 2014.[27]

References

  1. ↑ Williams, Jay (July 15, 2022). "Translation CEO Steve Stoute on vision in advertising and music The Limits with Jay Williams NPR". NPR. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  2. ↑ Wolfe, Roman (October 2009). "Mary J. Blige's Center for Women Opens in Yonkers". All Hip Hop. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  3. ↑ Williams, Jay. "Meet the mogul behind the rise of Mariah Carey, Will Smith and Nas". The Limits with Jay Williams (Podcast). NPR. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Genius Appoints Translation Founder Steve Stoute to Board of Directors". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  5. ↑ Leeds, Jeff (September 22, 2004). "Bridging Hip-Hop Consumers and Suits". The New York Times. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Meet Steve Stoute, The Go-To Adman For Lady Gaga And Jay-Z". Business Insider. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  7. ↑ O'Connor, Christopher (September 8, 1999). "Puff Daddy Pleads Guilty To Reduced Charge In 'Hate Me Now' Case". Sonicnet. Archived from the original on January 15, 2000. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  8. ↑ Frankel, Daniel (June 17, 1999). "Puffy Settles with Battered Record Exec". E! Online. Archived from the original on November 3, 1999. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Steve Stoute Advertising Hall of Achievement Induction Video". AAFChannel Youtube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  10. ↑ "ADCOLOR Honors Steve Stoute, Queen Latifah". Atlanta Post. November 12, 2010. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Mary J. Representing Carol's Daughter – Brown Sista". August 24, 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  12. ↑ Smith
  13. ↑ "Will Smith, Jay-Z back beauty line". CNN Money. May 2005. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  14. ↑ Naughton, Julie (August 2009). "Carol's Daughter Inks Disney Deal". WWD. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Mary J. Blige Breaks Record at HSN with 'My Life' Perfume". H Listed. August 2010. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  16. ↑ "HBO Black List Project". HBO. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  17. ↑ "About the Book". Tanning of America website. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  18. ↑ Spitz, Marc (September 13, 2011). "Q&A: Steve Stoute on Kanye West, Justin Bieber, and Music as "Culture's Trojan Horse"". Vanity Fair. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  19. ↑ "The Tanning of America". VH1. Archived from the original on January 22, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  20. ↑ Workneh, Lilly (April 16, 2014). "Kerry Washington to narrate audiobook for Steve Stoute's 'The Tanning of America'". The Grio. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Diversity, Tech and Leadership". Splash. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  22. ↑ "The Making of The Tanning of America". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  23. ↑ "SXSW Interview: Nas and Steve Stoute". SXSW. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Fast Company Innovation Uncensored – "Something New From The Sandbox" – New York – April 23, 2013". BuzzFeed. April 3, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  25. ↑ Shropshire, Terry (June 2011). "Steve Stoute to Discuss State Farm Campaign at AAF in San Diego". Rolling Out. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Steve Stoute and Sean 'Diddy' Combs". Forbes. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  27. ↑ Kaz. "Kanye West, Steve Stoute and Ben Horowitz at Cannes Lions [VIDEO]". STASHED. Archived from the original on August 22, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
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