The Business of Black Music

Don Cornelius
With his groundbreaking variety show, 'Soul Train,' the Chicago native will go down in history for having produced the longest running show of its kind in the history of television. Images of beautiful black people enjoying the sounds of soul is what the visionary was able to put out to the masses way before booty-shaking music videos became commonplace on black entertainment networks. (Photo: AP)

Berry Gordy
With an $800 family loan, the former pugilist built Motown Records into a powerhouse of hits during the 1960s. Acts such as The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles and The Jackson 5 were legends in their own right providing the foundation for future generations of music stars such as Rick James, Teena Marie, Diana Ross, Boyz II Men and India. Arie. Movies such as 'Lady Sings the Blues' and 'The Wiz' and TV projects such as 'Motown 25' and 'The Temptations' helped carry the strong black-founded entertainment brand into the new 21st century. (Photo: Wire Image)

Steve Stoute
The former Columbia Records and Interscope Records heavyweight has helped guide the careers of Nas and Mary J. Blige during the 1990s. Nowadays, the Brooklyn, New York native (who reportedly attended five colleges in two years) is one of the most formidable forces to be reckoned with in the urban advertising arena handling business for General Motors, Hewlett Packard, McDonald's and Coors Brewing Company. Along with Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Lisa Pryce, Tommy Mottola and Jay-Z, Stoute owns the Carol's Daughter beauty product line. (Photo: Wire Image)

Sylvia Rhone
As the president of Motown Records, the former radio promotions expert oversees the careers of Lil' Wayne, India.Arie, Marques Houston, Ja Rule and music legend Stevie Wonder. Before taking on her current post, the Wharton School of Business graduate made history as the highest ranking black woman in the record business, as chief of The Elektra Entertainment Group, where she molded the careers of EnVogue, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Gerald Levert, Keith Sweat and Busta Rhymes. (Photo: Wire Image)


Timbaland
As one of the most sought after producers in the music business, the Virginia native (real name: Timothy Z. Mosley) has crafted hits for the likes of Justin Timberlake, Madonna, One Republic, JoJo and Nelly Furtado. Not bad for someone who was originally put on my Jodeci singer DeVante Swing in the early 1990s. Timbaland's visionary appeal first sparked with his early work with Aaliyah, Ginuwine and his longtime association with Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. (Photo: Getty Images)

Bob Johnson
Hailing from Hickory, Mississippi, Bob Johnson (born Robert L. Johnson is a force to be reckon with in the entertainment and sports world. The founder and former Black Entertainment Television CEO banked a cool $1billion once he sold the company to media giant Viacom in 2000, making him the first African-American billionaire. Since stepping down as BET chairman in 2005, Johnson is currently the chairman of RLJ Development and part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats NBA team alongside Michael Jordan and rapper Nelly. (Photo: Getty Images)

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
The Minneapolis-based duo has been producing hit records dating all the way back to 1981 when they were in The Time (along with Morris Day). Since then, the all-black clad soulsters opted to stay behind the scene and mastermind timeless classics for artists such as Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Usher, Patti LaBelle, The Isley Brothers, Mary J. Blige, and Chaka Khan. Jimmy Jam is currently the Chairman of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which produces The Grammy Awards. (Photo: Wire Image)

Marion 'Suge' Knight
As the head of Deathrow Records, the former college football star turned bodyguard put west coasts hip-hop on the map in a big way by any means necessary. During its formative years, the storied label has hit-makers such as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, The Dogg Pound and Tupac Shakur in its stable. (Photo: Wire Image)

VJ Ralph McDaniels
As the creator and executive producer of 'Video Music Box,' Ralph McDaniels stood at the forefront of bringing hip-hop and R&B music videos to the masses way before it became popular. Though the New York City-based show gained its popularity on a regional level, McDaniels' ability to be the first place for breaking talent had a resounding impact throughout the industry nationally. Today, the Queens, NY native is heard on the renowned rap music radio station, Hot 97. (Photo: Retna)


Londell McMillan
The Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn born attorney has become the go-to-guy for entertainers in need of some savvy legal wrangling. Most famous for helping Prince get out of his deal with Warner Bros. Records, the dashing playboy has ironed out contracts for Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, Usher, D'Angelo, Faith Evans, Ciara, L.L. Cool J, Kanye West, Nas, DMX, Wesley Snipes, Spike Lee, Russell Simmons and many others. He is also one of the co-owners, along with real-estate developer Bruce Ratner and hip-hop artist Jay-Z, of the New Jersey Nets. (Photo: Wire Image)