Steve Stoute

Steve Stoute is Founder and CEO of the brand development and marketing firm Translation, and author of The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy. Previously, he worked in the music industry as an American record executive and artist manager.

Music Executive

From 1990 to 1999, Stoute was an executive at several labels in the music industry. At Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Stoute served as President of the Urban Music division and executive vice president. Stoute has also produced several major motion picture soundtracks. Prior to joining Interscope, Stoute was president of Urban Music for Sony Music Entertainment, where he played an instrumental role in launching the music careers of Mariah Carey, Will Smith and Nas. Stoute was also former manager to Nas and Mary J. Blige.

Advertising & Marketing Executive

Stoute is the Founder and CEO of Translation, a marketing firm with clients that include State Farm, McDonald's, and Anheuser-Busch InBev. Translation approach to advertising is managing ‘cultural’ nuances to allow consumers to know the difference between marketing communications intended to relate to them versus those that intend to ‘sell to them.'