| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 |
| Defunct | 2006 |
| Fate | Company terminated |
| Successor | Sony Music Entertainment |
| Headquarters | |
Key people | Lisa Ellis (president) |
| Products | Music & entertainment |
Sony Urban Music was a division of Sony BMG, active from 2004 to 2006,[1] The division handled R&B, soul, and hip hop releases by artists nominally signed to Sony's Columbia and Epic labels. During its existence, Sony Urban managed releases by artists such as Nas, Bow Wow, John Legend, Omarion, Bossman, DMX, Beyoncé, Amerie, Keshia Chanté and contemporary Christian music duo Anointed.
In March 2004, the division's general manager became Lisa Ellis,[2] and president in 2005.[3]
In November 2006, it was announced that Sony Urban Music would be terminated.[1]The division was placed under the umbrella of the Columbia Records label.[1] All of the artists handled by Sony Urban were returned to either Columbia or Epic, with a handful of exceptions. R&B singer Omarion switched from Epic to Columbia, where he recorded a duets album with rapper Bow Wow. New signees Sa-Ra, signed to Columbia through Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music imprint, negotiated their release during the restructuring.