Def Jam Recordings has brought in widely respected industry veterans DJ Mormile (pictured left) and Jeff Burroughs (pictured right) to senior executive roles – in its Los Angeles and New York City offices, respectively.
Mormile, the seasoned LA-based hitmaker and manager who counts superstar producer Mike Will Made It, west coast rap giant YG, and trap legend Soulja Boy among his clients – has been appointed Executive Vice President, West Coast, while Burroughs joins as Senior Vice President of Marketing.
The news was announced today by Paul Rosenberg, Chairman & CEO, Def Jam Recordings.
Mormile will work closely with Def Jam’s artists and managers, its Santa Monica-based executive team, and within the creative community as a whole.
Mormile also brings his own label venture to the company, where he will sign and develop talent exclusively for Def Jam Recordings. Mr. Mormile will report directly to Mr. Rosenberg.
As Senior Vice President of Marketing, Burroughs – a widely-respected marketing veteran and entrepreneur with over 20 years of executive-level experience – will direct marketing activities coming out of Def Jam’s New York City headquarters, leading Def Jam’s team of product managers in creating and executing strategic campaigns on behalf of the label’s diverse roster of marquee names and emerging artists.
Burroughs will report to Scott Greer, EVP Marketing & Commerce and Rich Isaacson, GM & EVP.
DJ Mormile is a 14-year alumnus of Interscope Records, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG).
His tenure at the label began in the Urban A&R Department in 1998, coinciding with the Interscope arrival of global megastar Eminem, managed by Mr. Rosenberg. Mr. Mormile was promoted to Head of the Urban A&R Department in 2005, and after four years was promoted to Head of Interscope’s entire Urban Music Department, where he stayed until 2012.
He joins Def Jam after a three-year stint as Senior Vice President of A&R at Columbia Records, beginning in 2015.
Burroughs comes to Def Jam from Rise Entertainment, the Los Angeles-based marketing, consulting and brand strategy firm that he founded and helmed. He began his career at Bad Boy Entertainment in 1995, where he was Executive Vice President.
In 2004, Burroughs moved to RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, as Senior Vice President.
“DJ brings to Def Jam over twenty years of experience in the industry and a resumé thatincludes a long string of decorated accomplishments and accolades.”
Paul Rosenberg
Rosenberg said: “DJ brings to Def Jam over twenty years of experience in the industry and a resumé that includes a long string of decorated accomplishments and accolades.
“We are very lucky to bring his sharp ear, experience and strong relationships into our fold.”
“I am excited to be joining the renowned Def Jam team, and I look forward to developing artists with its talented staff.”
DJ Mormile
Mormile added: “It’s an honor to be reunited with Paul Rosenberg after beginning our careers together almost 20 years ago.
“Now here we are at Def Jam, the label with the strongest brand and legacy in Urban music. I am excited to be joining the renowned Def Jam team, and I look forward to developing artists with its talented staff.”
Continued Rosenberg: “Jeff is the embodiment of the forward-thinking renaissance marketing executive.
“He has mastered the subtleties of high-profile brand leveraging and new product launches, experiencing an extraordinary level of success whose lessons can be brought to bear in today’s competitive music marketplace. I am confident that Jeff will play a transformative role in Def Jam’s future.”
“I intend to make sure that I add value at a critical and opportune time in the history of this legendary label.”
Jeff Burroughs
Burroughs said: “I’m excited to re-enter the major label system and proud to be joining Paul Rosenberg, Rich Isaacson, Scott Greer and the talented Def Jam executives at the undisputed home of hip-hop.
“I intend to make sure that I add value at a critical and opportune time in the history of this legendary label.”
Veteran marketing and business development music executive Theda Sandiford was promoted to Senior Vice President of International Commerce & Digital Marketing at Universal Music Group’s Republic Records, Island Records and Def Jam Recordings in November 2018.
In April 2018 Def Jam A&R Noah Preston was promoted to Senior Vice President, A&R, while Alexander “AE” Edwards was hired into his previous role as Vice President, A&R.Music Business Worldwide
