Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players 2025
Celebrating the industry's most influential artists, executives, and influencers in the R&B and Hip-Hop
Create Music Group
Wayne Hampton, Co-founder/Chief Business Development Officer
Carl LeGrett, Senior VP/Head of Music Publishing
Chris Herche, Senior VP of Music, Operations and Marketing
Mark Hill, Senior VP of A&R and Business Development
After receiving $165 million in funding in June 2024 from Flexpoint Ford, which valued Create Music Group at $1 billion, the company has been focused on two objectives: developing its roster of hip-hop and R&B artists such as YNW Melly, G Herbo, Lucki, Jason Derulo and Keri Hilson and striking joint ventures with labels including Ty Dolla $ign’s EZMNY Records, Pharrell Williams and Rob Walker’s Star Trak and Jonny Shipes’ Good Talk. With these deals, Hampton says, “Create Music Group is firmly positioning itself as a major R&B and hip‑hop player.”
Biggest issue facing R&B and Hip-Hop
“Economic challenges,” Hampton says. “Yes, streaming offers global reach. However, the revenue generated from streaming can be significantly lower than traditional sales; to earn the equivalent of a minimum wage in the U.S., an artist would need over a million streams per month. And this is difficult for many musicians, especially those who are not mainstream.”