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Executive Power Mover


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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