Phoenix Stone
American music business veteran Phoenix Stone has an impressive career finding, developing, producing, and working with some of the biggest names in music. Currently, Stone is a founding member and CEO of Halogen Entertainment, which includes publishing, management, and recording divisions. Previously, he was the Global Head of Creator Services at Vertigo Media, creator of the social music streaming app. During his career, Stone developed and produced artists and bands for his own joint-venture imprint label with Columbia Records, Capitol/EMI Records, and Sony Music Japan. Stone also served as CEO of SH Publishing though a joint venture with Rondor/Universal Publishing. Stone was a founding member and shareholder in Backstreet Boys, Inc./Transcontinental Records where he helped guide the company to sell over 200 million records globally. The roster included Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, LFO, O-Town, and the hit TV show, Making the Band. In addition to music, Stone created and executive-produced television shows for Touchstone, MTV, GRB, Intuitive Entertainment, Reveille, and USA Network. Phoenix also starred as a judge on NBC’s music competition series, The Next Great Family Band, and was tapped to be a music expert on Behind the Music.
Phoenix discovered Maty Noyes in Nashville and signed her to Lava/Republic Records. Her song “Stay” has amassed a billion streams and is multi-platinum globally. Her debut single “in my miNd” has over 100 million streams on Spotify alone. Stone has proven to have good instincts about developing talent and what the public wants and says, “I keep my finger on the pulse of pop culture and then pinpoint my focus on what I feel is coming a year down the line, in music, TV, and technology—leading and never following.”
Sybil Hall
Visionary Music Executive and Entertainment Innovator
Sybil Hall is a trailblazer in the music and entertainment industry, renowned as the creator, founding partner, and shareholder in Backstreet Boys, Inc., a multi-faceted enterprise encompassing a record company, a music publishing company, and a production company. Hall’s visionary leadership led to the creation and development of the Backstreet Boys, propelling the group to global superstardom and establishing an enduring legacy in the music world.
Hall’s early career as a talent manager saw her booking clients for feature films, television, and music projects. Her unparalleled ability to anticipate future trends in entertainment has been a hallmark of her success. “I have always had a unique and rare talent for knowing future trends in entertainment. Whatever I liked—a year down the line—would be everywhere,” Hall remarked. Her foresight was evident when she chose to enter the music industry, diverging from the grunge trend dominating Seattle at the time.
With this decision, Hall founded Backstreet Boys, Inc., and under her leadership, the Backstreet Boys became a global phenomenon, selling over 130 million units worldwide. The company grossed an astounding billion dollars in just one year. This success was soon replicated at Trans Continental Records with NSYNC, whose iconic album “No Strings Attached” sold 2.2 million copies in its first week and has since sold 74 million albums globally.
Hall’s knack for identifying and nurturing talent has been a cornerstone of her career. She developed Este and Danielle Haim for the Valli Girls and signed them to Columbia Records. Later, she discovered 15-year-old Maty Noyes, signing her to Republic Records and showcasing her ability to spot emerging stars. Hall’s collaboration with Kygo on Maty’s song “Stay” resulted in a global hit, amassing over a billion streams worldwide.
Beyond artist development, Hall has masterminded innovative marketing, radio, and promotional strategies that have launched new artists and elevated established ones to new heights. Her expertise has extended to creating groundbreaking advertising campaigns in collaboration with major corporations such as General Mills, Nabisco, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Pizza Hut, and Saatchi & Saatchi. These campaigns successfully bridged the worlds of music and consumer products, creating mutual benefits for artists and brands alike.
Hall’s creative prowess also extends to television, where she has created and executive produced shows for MTV, Touchstone, ABC Family, USA Network, and Revelry. She has cultivated artists for joint ventures with Columbia Records, Capitol Records, Virgin Records, and Sony Japan. Additionally, her joint venture publishing company with Rondor/Universal Publishing highlights her multifaceted contributions to the entertainment landscape.
With a career defined by innovation, foresight, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Sybil Hall remains a transformative figure in the music and entertainment industry, shaping the careers of iconic artists and setting new standards for success.