R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players: Billboard’s 2026 List Revealed
Nominated by their companies and chosen by Billboard editors, these are the executives within both genres leading the field this year.
Billboard has released its annual list of executives and artists driving the R&B and hip-hop genres forward. David Ali, CEO of Above Ground Entertainment, leads the pack in this regard. Lucky Daye and Yung Miami, two prominent artists in the genre, will headline the upcoming Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Live concert in 2026. HYBE has pledged over $300,000 for earthquake relief efforts in Colombia. BE:FIRST is set to make a world debut with its J-Pop superstars.
Marsha St. Hubert and Nico Ziangas co-preside over Atlantic Music Group, while Tom Phillips serves as Senior Director of Marketing at 300 Entertainment/Atlantic Records. Rayna Bass and Selim Bouab serve as co-presidents of hip-hop, R&B, and global music at Atlantic Records. Tashana Ventura is Vice President of Marketing, and Shyniece "Shy" Ferguson is Senior Director of Marketing Strategy and Implementation.
Bass expressed concern over the lack of creative growth in R&B and hip-hop today. "We have to continue to innovate and push the culture forward," she said. Over the past 18 months, multiple artists from both Atlantic and 300's label rosters have achieved notable milestones. Cardi B's sophomore album, Am I the Drama?, debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 in October and has since generated 14 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
Written by urgent.news from Billboard's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
