Linda J. Lee
Vice President, Recording and A&R Administration Def
Jam/Def Soul
Anytime you're listening to your favorite
radio station and you hear hot singles from DMX, Montell Jordan,
Foxy Brown or any of the artists from the Def Jam/Def Soul
roster, there's a behind the scenes maven that is making it
all happen…meet Def Jam's Linda J. Lee.
Recently promoted to Vice President, Recording
and A&R Administration, everything that's needed to take
an artist from the guy next door into today's hottest musical
arena starts with this dynamic Diva. Linda's day can start,
as early as 9:00 a.m. and at 9:00 p.m. she may still be knee
deep in paperwork and decision-making.
In A&R (artist & repertoire) Administration
at Def Jam/Def Soul, Linda oversees the paying of bills, booking
the studio time and keeping costs within budget, while simultaneously
allowing the artist to record the songs he/she needs to have
a hit record! As a member of Def Jam/Def Soul's pressure filled
legal department, Linda helps to ensure that all of the clearances
needed with respect to producers, side artists and samples
are on hand prior to release of any product.
How does one get into the fast paced, male
dominated sector of A&R at a record label?? "Not
easy," Linda says, "persistence, determination and
belief in yourself are good attributes to maintain."
In 1985 Linda J. Lee started out by working the door of various
New York clubs for her friend Francesca Spero. At the time
Francesca was an account executive at WBLS and Linda would
work for her when the radio station had promotional parties.
Three years later, Linda expressed an interest
in getting deeper into the industry and presented Francesca
and Marly Marl with a demo of female rapper, MC Star. Marly
Marl was so impressed that he signed her to his production
company. He and Francesca were on the brink of joining Rush
Management when Francesca offered Linda a job as her assistant.
This is when it really began! Linda knew
what she wanted and was prepared for the opportunity. She
left her job as a Human Resources Officer for an investment
bank and went to work at Rush Management in 1990. Later she
became a producer/manager at Rush and after several years
with the company, she moved to Def Jam's publishing company.
Linda says, "I've always been an administrator
at heart and my dream was to work at Def Jam in A & R
Administration. I missed one opportunity because I waited
too long to make my desires known. When the position of Department
Head opened up again, Lyor Cohen offered me the job. After
a year of working at Def Jam Music Publishing, I became Director
of A & R Administration for Def Jam Recordings, Inc.
Currently sitting in her new position as
VP, Linda says, "I've watched the company grow and I've
enjoyed being a part of the process that has allowed a female
to take a two-person department into a hit making powerhouse
of eleven, of which I manage!!"
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