For the second year, Bulletin board presents the R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players' Choice Award, an award selected by Billboard Pro members to honor the executive they believe has had the most impact throughout the hip-hop and R&B music industry over the past year. After three rounds of voting, Billboard Pro members chose WME partner Kevin Shivers.
Over the past 16 years, Shivers has evolved from working in the William Morris mailroom to partner in WME's music division, where he shares leadership of its hip-hop division and oversees global A&R.
After growing up on Motown and immersing himself in the Austin music scene while at the University of Texas, Shivers moved to Los Angeles. Now he's working with a roster that includes some of the most notable names in the game, from Tyler, The Creator — who'll be bringing his beloved Camp Flog Gnaw festival back to LA in November — to Snoop Dogg, Kali Uchis, Lil Baby , Kid Cudi, Summer Walker, Solange and other greats. Shivers also serves on the board of cancer charity City of Hope and mentors emerging industry leaders and emerging artists. His key tip? “Show up early, stay late, call everyone back and be grateful.”
“I'm grateful for this honor,” adds Shivers, “which, to me, represents the work of our entire team at WME — it's been a year full of growth and there's no end in sight. The drive comes from the talent of our artists, who continue to headline tours, headline festival lineups, and create music that resonates. I am proud to work alongside so many dedicated people in this industry.”
This story appears in the August 31, 2024 issue Bulletin board.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/pro/kevin-shivers-wme-billboard-rb-hip-hop-power-players-choice-award-2024/
