Baltimore native Kevin Liles steps down as CEO of 300 Entertainment

Baltimore native and music mogul Kevin Liles on Tuesday said he would be leaving his role as CEO of 300 Entertainment at the end of the month.

“After a decade, it’s time to pass the torch,” said Liles in an Instagram post. He will remain on as a consultant through the end of the year for the label that is part of Warner Music Group.

In 2014, Liles co-founded 300 Entertainment, which has among its success stories, chart-topping clients like Megan Thee Stallion, Young Thug, Migos and Gunna, among others. He previously worked with artists such as Jay-Z, Mariah Carey and LL Cool J.

“The cultural impact we created in 10 years when starting from scratch is simply unmatched in the modern era,” Liles wrote in the social media post announcing his departure.

“But if there’s one consistent in music and culture, it’s that change is inevitable.”

Liles was not immediately available for comment and a representative pointed The Sun to his Instagram post for details.

Variety reported that Liles was another change in what it described as a shakeup and restructuring at Warner.

In an internal memo, Warner Music CEO Robert Kyncl spoke of Liles’ “positive energy,” according to Variety, which obtained the memo.

“Kevin is one of those charismatic leaders who’s been successful in many different roles… artist manager, label founder, entrepreneur, senior executive… he even started out as a DJ and songwriter,” Kyncl wrote. “That’s given him a 360 vision that makes him an extraordinary brand-builder, artist advocate, and champion of creative expression.”

In his hometown, the entertainment executive and Morgan State graduate was most recently involved in launching and curating the Preakness Live Music Festival in 2022 at Pimlico.

“My real title, when you cut me open, is the native son of Baltimore,” Liles said in an interview with The Sun at the time, highlighting his deep reverence for the city and its residents, entrepreneurs and creatives.

“I didn’t know nothing existed outside of Baltimore until music saved my life,” Liles, who began his career at DefJam as an unpaid intern, said in the interview. He became president of Def Jam Music Group at age 30 overseeing the development of brands including Def Jam South, Def Soul and Roc-A-Fella.

On Tuesday, the music executive said he was looking forward to his “next chapter.”

Liles said his plans include fighting the criminalization of hip-hop lyrics and campaigning for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

“This chapter may be closing, but always remember: #jobnotdone.”