The following is a breakdown of American music industry executive Lyor Cohen net worth and main income sources.
Lyor Cohen is an American music industry executive. He has worked in the music industry for more than four decades. From artist management, promoting music shows, record label management to being the chief executive, he has done it all.
He has launched various artists’ careers and helped other artists achieve their potential. He is especially respected in the rap genre as he helped popularize it to heights never seen before.
Hence, he has amassed a net worth for himself by doing this, making him one of the world’s wealthiest music industry executives. Naturally, the world wants to know how much precisely he has earned.
According to reputable online sources, Lyor Cohen net worth is around $75 million.
So how did Lyor Cohen build up a massive fortune for himself? Let’s examine this music executive’s estimated net worth and income.
Table of Contents
Lyor Cohen Net Worth: $75 million
Lyor Cohen Income Sources
Lyor Cohen has, over the years, earned his fortune primarily from three sources. The first source of his wealth has been his royalties cut from all the artists he has helped get filthy rich.
His second source of income is his current salary as global head of Youtube music. And his final source of income is the stock options he has earned being the chief executive of various music companies.
Lyor Cohen’s income sources are summarized below:
- Royalties from Various Artist Music Sales (Income Unknown)
- Salary from YouTube (Income Unknown)
- Stock Options of Previous Companies (Income Unknown)
Income Source 1: Royalties from Music Sales
High-ranking chief executives like Cohen receive 1% royalty [1] of every song they have produced during their tenure. Cohen has worked at Def Jam, Universal Music, and Warner Music.
During this time, he has worked with almost all of the biggest names in the world, from Will Smith to Mariah Carey. So imagine how much he has earned just from the royalties of the songs he has executive produced alone.
Unfortunately, the exact figures of his earnings are not publicly disclosed. Still, we can estimate it to be easily in the tens of millions just because of the sheer number of artists he has worked with.
Income Source 2: YouTube Salary
A music label chief executive nowadays earns upwards of $10 million [2] a year. Cohen has occupied this position for the past five years at Youtube alone, and before that, he has had a successful tenure at Universal and Warner music.
The precise details of Cohen’s contract are not publicly shared. But, we wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the highest-paid music chief in the industry.
Income Source 3: Previous Company Stocks
Chief executives are the brains of a company. They make a lot of money, and in return, they are compensated for their efforts. In addition to salary and performance-related bonuses, they are also provided company stock options.
These are a lot more valuable than salaries and bonuses. As chief executive of both Universal and Warner music, we can safely assume Cohen has made the bulk of his wealth through this source of income.
Early Life Lyor Cohen/ Personal Life
Lyor Cohen was born on October 3, 1959, in New York City, New York, USA. He was born to Israeli immigrants and shortly moved to Los Angeles, where he grew up.
He graduated from the University of Miami School of Business in 1981 with a degree in global marketing and finance. Following graduation from the University of Miami, he moved to New York to begin his career as a music executive.
Cohen has been married thrice and has two children, Az Cohen, and Bea Cohen, with his second wife, Amy Cohen. Cohen had credited his son Az Cohen for saving his life during the rock and roll hall of fame induction ceremony of NWA when he suffered a pulmonary embolism.
Career
Lyor Cohen started his first job managing rappers at Rush Productions (later called Rush Artist Management). Starting as run DMC’s road manager, Cohen swiftly expanded his duties.
After signing and working with artists like Beastie Boys, DJ jazzy jeff, and slick rick for def jam recordings. Cohen transitioned from artist management to one of the top record labels executives at the def jam, which later merged with universal music group to form island def jam.
He signed and started working with non-rap artists like Mariah Carey, Elvis Costello, and Bon Jovi to expand his portfolio. Cohen departed Island Def Jam in January 2004 to take a job at warner music group and worked there for the next 8 years.
In his warner years, Cohen revolutionized the music business by introducing licensed music of record label to Spotify, Youtube, and Apple Music. He was often referred to as the first hip hop president due to his extensive career in the genre and his role in advancing it to new heights.
Cohen resigned from Warner Bros. in September 2012 to start his own independent label, 300. In 2016 he returned to the corporate world when he was named Youtube’s Global Head of Music.
As global music head of Youtube, he has reintroduced classical music to music lovers with genres like Dixieland Jazz, which is now more popular than ever and has made free music accessible to all parts of the world.
Lyor Cohen Accomplishments
Lyor Cohen has four decades worth of experience in the music industry. He has played a massive part in revolutionizing how the world looks at rap music [4].
He has worked with and established some of the biggest names in the music industry and is primarily considered one of the best music executives in the world.
Lyor Cohen Controversy/Criticism
Lyor Cohen’s career got involved in controversy when Cohen was personally sued by TVT Records in 2002 for fraud, tortious interference, breach of contract, and copyright infringement as part of a broader lawsuit against Island Def Jam Music Group and Universal Music Group. [5]
Lyor Cohen Quotes
“I used to have a gym in the house. I thought that was a fantastic luxury.”
“Going to radio with a rap record prior to going to the consumer is like having no foreplay with your girlfriend.”
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Lyor Cohen Biography
| Legal Name | Lyor Cohen |
| Net Worth | $75 Million |
| Source of Wealth | Royalties From Music Sales, Youtube Global Head Salary, Stocks in Previous Companies. |
| Date of Birth | October 3, 1959 |
| Place of Birth | New York City, New York, USA |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 196 cm, 6 feet 4 inches |
| Weight | 78 kg, 171 lbs |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Partner | Xin Li |
| Children | 2 |
| Names of Children | Az Cohen, Bea Cohen |
| Nationality | American |
Frequently Asked Questions About Lyor Cohen
Is Lyor Cohen Married?
Lyor cohen’s dating history being various music companies’ chief executives is astonishing. But after two false starts, Cohen finally got lucky for the third time and married Xin Li, a Chinese former basketball player, and model who is now Christie’s Asia deputy chairman.
Where are Lyor Cohen’s Parents from?
Lyor Cohen’s parents are Israeli immigrants.
Why is Lyor Cohen Called the Israeli Army General?
Cohen is called an Israeli army general because of his physical appearance.
References
[1]. Royalties Income
[2]. Music Executive Head Salary
[3]. Chief Executive Stock Options
[4]. Accomplishments
[5]. Controversy
