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Rob Stone, the co-founder of Cornerstone Agency and Fader magazine, has died according to a social media post. The post shares that Rob Stone succumbed to cancer and kept the diagnosis a secret to maintain a bond with his family.
Rob Stone was born on July 12, 1968 and graduated from the State University of New York at Albany in 1990. From there, Stone entered the music industry and joined SBK Records, becoming the now-defunct label's director of promotions. He then joined EMI, which reportedly owned SBK Records, and became vice president of promotion. Stone then began working with Arista Records and Clive Davis and worked with several Bad Boy Records artists during this time.
In 1996, Stone founded Cornerstone Agency with Loud Records head Steve Rifkind, a Manhattan-based marketing firm, and teamed up with childhood friend Jon Cohen after Rifkind resigned. The couple transformed the company of one of the leaders in the field of branding and music. In 1999, Stone and Cohen founded Fader, becoming one of the entertainment industry's leading magazines and digital outlets.
From Rob Stone's Instagram page:
It is with a heavy heart and sadness that we share the news of Rob Stone's passing. Rob bravely battled cancer this past year. He chose to keep his diagnosis a secret to focus on his family. He was a truly amazing man who lived an incredible life.
Here's another one statement by Joh Cohen:
I will love you forever Rob Stone. Our collaboration was incredible. The things we accomplished together we could never have dreamed of doing when we were 15 years old. Yes, we wanted to kill each other at times, but the love and respect we had in building our company over 28 years was special. But far greater than our success was our friendship. There is no one I have loved to have by my side more than you. We've been through so much together. I will tell your story and our stories together for the rest of my life. There are so many incredible things. Thank you for everything you taught me. Thank you for always having my back and thank you for always making me laugh. I will think of you at every Knick game, feel your presence every time I hear a Biggie song, and laugh with you at every ridiculous NY Jet loss.
Stone was 55.
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Photo: Getty
