(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) —
Eric Nicks has been named senior vice president of A&R, Universal Motown Records Group.
"I've known Eric for many years, and he is the ultimate hip-hop executive, as well as a trusted friend and colleague," stated Samuel "Tone" Barnes, executive vice president for the company.. "Eric's keen instincts, coupled with his amazing gift for assessing talent and ability to navigate the constantly changing complexities of the urban music landscape make him a natural for this position. I'm confident he will become an invaluable asset to the entire Universal Music Group."
"My goal is to make a lot of hits, not a lot of hype," added Nicks. "I've known Tone since high school, and we've always shared a common bond when it comes to the mission of assessing and nurturing exciting new music. I look forward to working closely with Tone, the great Universal staff, and of course, Sylvia Rhone, whose reputation as a phenomenal music executive is second to none."
Prior to joining Universal Motown, Nicks served as senior vice president of A&R for Sony Records. He began his career in the music industry at Violator Management, where he helped guide the careers of LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Noriega, and Foxy Brown, among others. His background also includes serving as vice president of A&R for Def Jam Records, where he worked closely with LL Cool J and Ghostface, and running his own management company, EVision Entertainment. –Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
