Sony Music Names Stephanie Yu General Counsel and Executive VP of Business and Legal
Sony Music has appointed Stephanie Yu as General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs, giving her global oversight of the company's business, legal and governmental affairs. She succeeds Julie Swidler, who stepped down from the role earlier in the summer, and will report to Chairman Rob Stringer and COO Kevin Kelleher. The move continues Yu's long career within the company and reflects Sony Music's preference for promoting internal talent to senior leadership positions.
Yu joined Sony Music in 2005 as a litigator after three years at law firm Covington & Burling, before moving to Epic Records in 2011, where she spent nine years rising to Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs. Most recently she spent over two years as Executive Vice President and U.S. Lead of Business and Legal Affairs, overseeing law division operations for the company's U.S. frontline record labels. She has also been recognised on Variety's Music's Legal Elite list, sits on the Executive Committee of the Entertainment Law Initiative, and serves on the board of Womankind, a charity supporting victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.
In short
- Stephanie Yu named Sony Music's General Counsel and EVP of Business and Legal Affairs
- She succeeds Julie Swidler, who left the role this summer
- Yu has been with Sony Music for 21 years, since 2005
Explained simply
Sony Music is a global record company that releases music through labels including Epic Records. Its business and legal teams handle matters such as recording agreements, rights to music and the company’s dealings with governments.
The general counsel leads the company’s legal work, while the business and legal affairs team advises its labels and executives on agreements and other commercial decisions. Stephanie Yu has worked at Sony Music since 2005, including senior roles at Epic and across the company’s US labels.
The role reports to Sony Music chairman Rob Stringer and chief operating officer Kevin Kelleher. Julie Swidler previously held it, so the appointment brings a change in leadership while placing someone with long experience inside the company in charge.
Business Companies Entertainment Government Music Politics