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Steven Victor
Born
Steven William Victor

(1980-09-06) September 6, 1980 (age 44)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Alma materMorehouse College
Occupations
  • Record executive
  • talent manager
  • music publisher
  • A&R representative
Years active2003–present
EmployerUniversal Music Group
TitleFounder & CEO - Victor Victor Worldwide

Steven William Victor (born September 6, 1980) is an American record executive, talent manager, music publisher, and A&R representative.

He is chief executive officer (CEO) of Victor Victor Worldwide, a record label and management agency he founded in 2016. The year prior, he was appointed as the chief creative officer (CCO) of Kanye West's GOOD Music, and also in 2016, the senior vice president of A&R at Universal Music Group—through which he reports directly to chairman Sir Lucian Grainge.[1] The following year, he was named Head of A&R at Def Jam Recordings, although he departed in 2019 to return to Universal.[2][3]

Early life and education

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Victor was born on September 6, 1980, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, where he was also raised.[3] He grew up in a multi-family home with his parents and older sister, along with his father's brother and sister's families.[4] He attended Morehouse College in Atlanta from 1998 to 2002, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in English and Psychology.[1][5]

Career

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Victor began his career in 2003 with an unpaid internship as a publicist at Interscope Records, to which he was later promoted to publicity assistant in 2004, working in public relations for six years.[1][3][4] During his tenure at Interscope, he met American rapper and record executive Pusha T, which at the time was one-half of the hip hop duo Clipse. He formed a mutual relationship with Pusha, becoming the publicist and manager for Clipse, and later solely for him.[6]

In late 2015, Pusha T became president of GOOD Music, and appointed Victor as Chief operating officer of the label as his first course of action.[7] In late 2016, he was appointed SVP of A&R at Universal Music Group, while simultaneously holding his position at GOOD.[8] He also began managing Tyga, The-Dream, and Desiigner during this time, the latter of whom was signed by Victor to GOOD and Def Jam Recordings.[1] In November of that year, he founded his own record label and music publishing company, Victor Victor Worldwide as a joint venture with Universal.[9][10]

In October 2017, he was named EVP & Head of A&R at Def Jam, reporting to then-CEO Paul Rosenberg and replacing his position as SVP of A&R at Universal.[11][12][13] In August 2019, he left Def Jam and transitioned back to his previous position at Universal, focusing on his label's joint venture with them.[14]

Victor Victor Worldwide

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Victor Victor Worldwide Inc.
Parent companyUniversal Music Group
FoundedNovember 3, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-11-03)[15]
FounderSteven Victor
Distributor(s)
  • Various[a]
  • (in the US)
  • Universal Music Group
  • (outside the US)
Genre
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City, New York
Official websitevictorvictor.jp

Victor Victor Worldwide Inc.[15] (formerly d/b/a as Victor Victor Records[16] or simply Victor[17]) is an American record label and music publishing company founded by Victor in New York City on November 3, 2016.[18] It is a joint venture with Universal Music Group, enabling artists of whom signed with the label to enter recording contracts with any label under the Universal umbrella, although Victor Victor's releases have predominantly been through Republic Records. The label also has a similar joint venture structure with Universal Music Publishing Group for its publishing entity.[14][19]

Victor Victor is best known for having signed late American rapper Pop Smoke, as well as rappers Ski Mask the Slump God and Pusha T; the former two were signed in conjunction with Republic Records. The label has also signed record producers 16yrold, CashMoneyAP, and YoungKio (with Cash Gang) with UMPG.[20] Former notable artists signed to the label include American rapper D Savage—who was signed to Victor Victor and Republic in 2017, and later jointly with Capitol Records and Virgin Music before his 2019 departure—as well as rappers Summrs and Autumn.[21][22][23]

Victor Victor also runs the management firm William Victor Management Group which has managed artists such as Pusha T, The-Dream, CashMoneyAP, and 16yrold, among others.[11] A majority of the artists signed to the label are managed by the firm itself.[24]

In June 2020, the label launched the Victor Victor Foundation, a philanthropic initiative which Victor himself has donated US$1 million towards in startup; Victor also donated $25,000 to the "Fund for Public Schools", a nonprofit organization in New York City.[25][26]

Roster

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Current

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Artists Year signed Releases (under the label) Notes
Ski Mask the Slump God 2017 4 Jointly with Republic
Pop Smoke 2019 4 (2 posthumous) Jointly with Republic; deceased, died from home invasion in February 2020; posthumous releases handled by both labels.
Weiland[27] 2020 2 Jointly with UMe
Nigo[28] 2021 1 Jointly with Republic
Reyanna Maria[29] 4 (singles)
Pusha T[30] 2022 0 Jointly with Def Jam
Yoza[31] 1
Highway[32] 2 Jointly with Geffen
Different Hits[33] 2023 22 (singles) Jointly with UMe and SunPop; record label imprint; releases reworks of older songs with newer artists as covers.
Hardrock[34] 1 (Virgin album), 3 (singles) Jointly with Republic, formerly solely with Virgin[35]
Molly Santana[36] 2024 2 Jointly with Capitol

Former

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Artists Years under the label Releases under the label Notes
Don Zio P[10] 2017–2018 5 (singles) Jointly with Republic
D. Savage 2017–2019 2 Jointly with Capitol and Virgin, formerly jointly with Republic
12 Honcho
(Honcho Da Savage) 		2017–2018 1 (album as Honcho Da Savage)[37]
1 (single as 12 Honcho)[38] 		Jointly with Def Jam, formerly jointly with Republic
Senta The Artist[39] 2020 1 Jointly with UMe
Summrs[40] 2021 0 Jointly with Capitol, left a year later and signed to 10K Projects
Young Devyn[41] 2021–2022 1 Jointly with 4th & B'way and Island; moved to Def Jam with 4th & B'way
Autumn[42] 2 Jointly with Casablanca, formerly jointly with Republic
DJ Topgun[43] 2023 1 Jointly with UMe

Publishing

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In-house producers
[edit]
Act Years under the label Releases under the label Notes
As part of Victor Victor Worldwide (Recording)
16yrold 2017–present 5 (singles) Jointly with Capitol, formerly jointly with Republic; joint publishing with UMPG
Axl[44] 2020–present 1 (singles) Jointly with Republic; joint publishing with UMPG
As part of Victor Victor Music (Publishing)
Rico Beats 2017–present N/A Jointly with UMPG and StarLife; co-manager of Pop Smoke & 808Melo
CashMoneyAP 2 (Atlantic singles) Jointly with UMPG and Cash Gang; signed as recording artist to Atlantic Records
YoungKio 2019–present N/A Jointly with UMPG and Cash Gang
808Melo Jointly with UMPG
Swirv 2020–present
SethInTheKitchen 2020–present

Notes

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  1. ^ Victor Victor Worldwide is a joint venture between the label and Universal Music Group, giving Victor Victor the power to sign an artist to a joint venture recording contract with their label and any other label under the Universal umbrella. Victor Victor also has the same joint venture structure with Universal Music Publishing Group for their publishing entity.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Steven Victor Named SVP A&R at Universal Music". Billboard. November 9, 2016.
  2. ^ "'Come Watch the F*cking Sharks': Def Jam's Rap Camp Experiment". Complex.
  3. ^ a b c "40 Under 40: Music's Top Young Power Players Revealed (2018)". Billboard. October 18, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Steven Victor on managing Pusha T, mourning Pop Smoke and building VVW | IDEA GENERATION Ep.10". 9 December 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  5. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-victor-4165306 [self-published source]
  6. ^ Jones, Biz (September 6, 2019). "Pusha-T Salutes The "Shot Caller + Play Maker Of" His Music Career: "It's Only Right You Drown In Success"". SOHH.
  7. ^ "Pusha T is the new president of G.O.O.D. Music". Fact. November 9, 2015.
  8. ^ "Steven Victor Named SVP A&R at Universal Music". Yahoo Finance. 9 November 2016.
  9. ^ "MC Don Zio P reveals new single "Hallelujah" featuring Déjà Vu • WithGuitars". www.withguitars.com.
  10. ^ a b "DON ZIO P RELEASES NEW SINGLE "SWITCH"". 360 Magazine | Art + Music + Design + Fashion + Auto + Travel + Food + Health + Tech. September 1, 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Steven Victor named EVP, Head of A&R at Def Jam". Music Business Worldwide. October 17, 2017.
  12. ^ "Steven Victor Joins Def Jam as EVP, Head of A&R". Billboard. October 17, 2017.
  13. ^ Ivey, Justin (October 18, 2017). "G.O.O.D. Music's Steven Victor Named Def Jam Executive VP & Head Of A&R". HipHopDX.
  14. ^ a b c Aswad, Jem (August 14, 2019). "Steven Victor Shifts From Def Jam to Focus on Joint Venture at Universal (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  15. ^ a b "VICTOR VICTOR WORLDWIDE INC. :: New York (US) :: OpenCorporates". opencorporates.com.
  16. ^ "Victor Victor Records Archives". 360 MAGAZINE | ART + MUSIC + DESIGN + FASHION + AUTO + TRAVEL + FOOD + HEALTH + TECH. 7 September 2018.
  17. ^ "Victor - Republic Records - Download and listen to albums". Qobuz.
  18. ^ "REPUBLIC RECORDS NAMES JIM ROPPO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER". Universal Music Group. January 5, 2018.
  19. ^ "Steven Victor on Changing 'How the Modern Athlete Looks Tomorrow' With His Expansion Into Sports Management". Billboard.com. February 8, 2024.
  20. ^ "Steven Victor: Hip-Hop Power Players 2017". Billboard. September 14, 2017.
  21. ^ Ju, Shirley (October 8, 2018). "D Savage Prepares to Unleash D Phoenix at Union (Now Called Catch One)". LA Weekly.
  22. ^ Ju, Shirley (September 9, 2019). "Music Pick: D Savage". LA Weekly.
  23. ^ Baker, Jonas (August 14, 2019). "D Savage: The Young Megastar". Kazi Magazine.
  24. ^ Ivey, Justin (10 November 2016). "Steven Victor Named Senior Vice President of A&R at Universal - XXL". XXL.
  25. ^ "UMG Executive Steven Victor Pledges $1 Million For New Philanthropic Venture". Billboard.
  26. ^ Halperin, Shirley (June 9, 2020). "Universal Music Executive Steven Victor Pledges $1 Million to Launch New Foundation (EXCLUSIVE)".
  27. ^ "Weiland by Weiland" – via music.apple.com.
  28. ^ "Nigo Signs to Steven Victor's Victor Victor Worldwide, Plans Release for New Album". Complex.
  29. ^ "So Pretty - Single by Reyanna Maria" – via music.apple.com.
  30. ^ "About".
  31. ^ "Fine By Me - Single by Yoza". June 17, 2022 – via music.apple.com.
  32. ^ "Highway by Highway". November 9, 2022 – via music.apple.com.
  33. ^ "OTHER". SunPop.
  34. ^ "BREAKOUT ATLANTA RAPPER HARDROCK DROPS HYPNOTIC NEW SINGLE "kingtut" OUT TODAY – East Portland Blog".
  35. ^ "Hardrock, BNYX®, F1LTHY - WA\VE Song Stats & Data". chartex.com.
  36. ^ https://www.beatsource.com/label/victor-victor-molly-santana/197035
  37. ^ "Parallel Universe by Honcho Da Savage". March 9, 2018 – via music.apple.com.
  38. ^ "Depressed - Single by 12 Honcho". December 14, 2018 – via music.apple.com.
  39. ^ "Metamorphosis by Senta the Artist on Beatsource".
  40. ^ "Undiscovered Gems: Peep These 5 Amazing Artists". February 13, 2020.
  41. ^ "Baby Goat by Young Devyn" – via music.apple.com.
  42. ^ "One Way! - Single by Autumn!" – via music.apple.com.
  43. ^ "City Of The Freaks - EP by DJ Topgun on Apple Music". March 31, 2023 – via music.apple.com.
  44. ^ "Motorbike (feat. Jackboy) - Single by AxL". October 6, 2021 – via music.apple.com.
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