A music executive or record executive is person within a record label who works in senior management, making executive decisions over the label's artists. Their role varies greatly but in essence, they can oversee one, or many, aspects of a record label, including A&R, contracts, management, publishing, production, manufacture, marketing/promotion, distribution, copyright, touring, as well as other things.

[edit] Notable music executives

• Peter Grant (Swan Song Records)
• Simon Cowell (Sony BMG, Syco)
• Clive Davis (RCA, Arista, J Records)
• Linda Perry (Custard Records)
• Pete Waterman (PWL)
• Randy Jackson (Columbia)
• Rolf Schmidt-Holtz (Sony BMG)
• Edgar Bronfman, Jr. (Warner)
• Guy Hands (EMI)
• Elijah Wood (Simian Records)
• Doug Morris (Universal)
• Simon Fuller (19 Entertainment)
• Mathew Knowles (Music World Entertainment)
• Michael Gudinski (Mushroom)
• Rob Stevenson (Virgin Records)
• Pete Wentz (Decaydance Records)

v • d • e Music industry Music companies and careers Musician · Record labels · Management · Publishing · Entertainment law · Concert promotion (or tour promotion) · Retail · Radio · Road crew · Music venues · Music education · Musical instruments · Music journalism Record labels Major: Universal Music Group · Sony Music Entertainment · Warner Music Group · EMI Independent: (list of independent UK record labels) Record company divisions Music executive · A&R · Art (cover design) · Manufacturing · Marketing · Radio promotion · Distribution Production Recording artist · Record producer · Songwriter · Arrangement · Sound engineer · Session musician Music genres Pop · R&B · Hip hop · Drum and bass · Rock · Jazz · Folk · Blues · Reggae · Country · Gospel · Soul · Funk · Motown · New age · Dance · Electronica · Easy listening · Latin · Instrumental · Soundtrack · Classical pop · Crossover · World Release formats Album · Single · EP Music awards Grammy Award · World Music Awards · American Music Award · BRIT Award · MTV Video Music Award · MuchMusic Video Awards · Latin Grammy · Echo Award · Choice Music Prize · Juno Award · Meteor Music Awards · MOBO Award · ARIA Music Awards · TEC Awards Music charts Billboard Hot 100 · UK Singles Chart · ARIA Charts · Canadian Hot 100 (list of worldwide music charts) Sales certifications RIAA: Gold · Platinum · Multi-Platinum · Diamond BPI: Silver · Gold · Platinum CRIA: Gold · Platinum · Multi-Platinum · Diamond ARIA: Gold · Platinum PROMUSICAE: Gold · Platinum · Diamond Music publications Billboard · Hot Press · Rolling Stone · NME · Q · Kerrang! · Mojo · Smash Hits · Top of the Pops Music retailers Online music stores (e.g. iTunes Store) · Wal-Mart · Target · Amazon.com · Trans World Entertainment · Virgin Megastores · HMV Other A-side and B-side · hidden track · Christian music industry Television MTV · Viva · Much · Fuse · CMT · TMF · B.E.T.