Ethiopia Habtemariam is Chairman and CEO of Motown Records (since March 2021).
She was previously Executive VP, Head of Urban Music for UMPG and Senior VP of Motown Records and one of the highest-ranking black woman at a major record label.
As Executive Vice President and Head of Urban Music for UMPG, Ms. Habtemariam is responsible for finding and developing songwriters, artists, and producers for the urban music department of Universal Music Publishing Group. She has signed some of music's biggest superstars, including; multi-platinum recording artist and songwriter Chris Brown, breakthrough artist and songwriter Keri Hilson, gold recording artist and songwriter Ciara.
She also oversee's one of the hottest urban rosters in music from multi-platinum and GRAMMY award winning acts like Mary J. Blige, Polow, 50 Cent, Eminem, Jeremih, Amerie, Ashanti, Jill Scott, Prince, Nicole Sherzinger, Ice Cube, Raphael Saadiq, Swizz Beatz, DMX, Asher Roth, Beastie Boys, R.Kelly, Babyface, Keyshia Cole, and many more.
She previously served as Senior Vice President/Head of Urban Music for the company.
Prior to her Senior VP role, Ms. Habtemariam was Vice President of Urban Music, and former Director of Creative Affairs - Urban Music, East Coast. She joined the company in 2003.
In 2001 began working as a creative manager for Edmonds Music Publishing, where she placed songs on major releases by *NSYNC, Whitney Houston, Dream, and 3LW. The Atlanta native began interning at LaFace Records at age 14.
Ms. Habtemariam's said her mentors include LaRonda Sutton, Sylvia Rhone and Clarence Avant. LaRonda was the first person to give me an opportunity in publishing and she has continued to give me guidance throughout my career, said Ms. Habtemariam.
Ethiopia Habtemariam Quotation from 2007 Billboard Interview.
"One thing I believe in is not accepting any limitations. I knew when I was 14 that I wanted to work in this industry. I haven't stopped hustling toward that since."
