HYBE AMERICA Appoints Ethiopia Habtemariam as President of Music

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 8, 2026--

HYBE AMERICA today announced the appointment of Ethiopia Habtemariam as President of Music, effective immediately. A highly respected executive and cultural leader, Habtemariam joins HYBE AMERICA as the company continues to expand its influence across music, fandom, and global culture. In this role, Habtemariam will help advance HYBE AMERICA’s long-term growth strategy, spearheading A&R and artist development initiatives across the company’s label ecosystem and identifying new creative and commercial opportunities at the intersection of music, culture, and fandom. She will also play a key role in expanding HYBE AMERICA’s presence in Atlanta, her hometown and a global epicenter of R&B and hip-hop, further strengthening Quality Control’s presence and impact as Atlanta’s premier music company.

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“Ethiopia is a once-in-a-generation leader whose impact on artists, songwriters, culture, and the music business is undeniable,” said Isaac Lee, Chairman and CEO of HYBE AMERICA, to whom Habtemariam will report. “Her vision, taste, and strategic insight make her uniquely suited to help shape the next chapter of HYBE AMERICA as we continue building a future-facing entertainment company centered on artists and fans.”

Habtemariam is widely regarded as one of the most influential executives in the music industry, with a career defined by artist and songwriter-first leadership, cultural fluency, and the ability to build and scale enduring creative businesses. Most recently, she served as Chairwoman and CEO of Motown Records, where she led the iconic label through a period of revitalization and growth, championing both emerging and established artists while expanding Motown’s global reach and cultural relevance. During her tenure, she spearheaded the landmark Quality Control–Motown label venture, overseeing the signing and development of genre-defining artists including Lil Yachty, City Girls, Migos and Lil Baby while also signing and championing artists such as Leon Thomas and NBA YoungBoy to the storied label.

“I’ve long admired how HYBE AMERICA approaches artists, fans, and the future of entertainment,” said Habtemariam. “This is a company building with intention and investing for the long term while staying deeply connected to culture. I’m excited to contribute my experience as HYBE AMERICA continues to shape what’s next for music on a global scale.”

Prior to Motown, Habtemariam spent more than two decades at Universal Music Group, holding senior leadership roles across Universal Music Publishing, Capitol Music Group and Motown Records. Throughout her career, Habtemariam has worked with some of the most influential artists, songwriters and executives in modern music, shaping culture through a rare combination of creative instinct and business rigor. During her tenure at Universal Music Publishing, she played a pivotal role in the signing and development of influential artists and songwriters including Chris Brown, Theron Thomas, J. Cole, Justin Bieber, Ciara, Polow Da Don, Jhene Aiko, Cardo, Hit Boy, Keri Hilson and Happy Perez.

In her new role, she will continue to collaborate closely with Universal Music Group, reflecting the longstanding partnership between HYBE and UMG.

“Ethiopia and I have a long history of working together, pushing boundaries, and breaking barriers in this industry,” said Pierre “P” Thomas, CEO, Quality Control Music. “Her passion for artists, commitment to culture, and deep understanding of the music landscape make her an extraordinary leader. I’m excited for what we will build together in this next chapter.”

“Working with Ethiopia again feels full circle. From the early days in Atlanta, we built something special at Quality Control, and it means a lot to see that legacy continue in this next chapter,” said Kevin "Coach K" Lee, COO, Quality Control Music.

Habtemariam will be based in Los Angeles and Atlanta.

About HYBE AMERICA
HYBE AMERICA, a subsidiary of HYBE Corp., is a leading global entertainment and media company at the intersection of music, film, television, technology, brands, culture and social good. HYBE AMERICA drives innovation across the entertainment landscape through its diverse portfolio, including Big Machine Label Group and Quality Control Music in the U.S., and HYBE’s labels in Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic market. The company represents a powerhouse roster of global artists spanning multiple genres and cultures. With headquarters in Los Angeles, HYBE AMERICA creates synergistic opportunities for artists, businesses, and brands through its integrated approach to talent development, content creation, and technological innovation that transcends industries.

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A transfer portal spiraling out of control prompted the new regulatory body for college sports to issue a memo to athletic directors Friday night saying it has “serious concerns” about some of the multimillion-dollar contracts being offered to players.

The “reminder” from the College Sports Commission came out about an hour before kickoff of the semifinal between Indiana and Oregon in a College Football Playoff that has shared headlines with news of players signing seven-figure deals to move or, in some cases, stay where they are.

The CSC reminded the ADs that, according to the rules, third-party deals to use players' name, image and likeness “are evaluated at the time of entry in NIL Go, not before, and each deal is evaluated on its own merits.”

"Without prejudging any particular deal, the CSC has serious concerns about some of the deal terms being contemplated and the consequences of those deals for the parties involved," the memo said.

Under terms of the House settlement that dictated the rules for NIL payments, schools can share revenue with their players directly from a pool of $20.5 million. Third-party deals, often arranged by businesses created to back the schools, are being used as workarounds this so-called salary cap.

The CSC, through its NIL Go portal, is supposed to evaluate those deals to make sure they are for a valid business purpose and fall within a fair range of compensation for the services being provided.

The CSC did not list examples of unapproved contracts, but college football has seen its share of seven-figure deals luring players to new schools since the transfer portal opened on Jan. 2.

One high-profile case involved Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who initially sought to enter the transfer portal and turn his back on a reported deal worth $4 million with the Huskies. Legal threats ensued and Williams changed course and stayed at Washington.

"Making promises of third-party NIL money now and figuring out how to honor those promises later leaves student-athletes vulnerable to deals not being cleared, promises not being able to be kept, and eligibility being placed at risk," the CSC letter said.

The commission listed two rules about contracts it evaluates, some of which have been termed “agency agreement” or “services agreement” in what look like attempts to bypass the rules.

—"The label on the contract does not change the analysis; if an entity is agreeing to pay a student-athlete for their NIL, the agreement must be reported to NIL Go within the reporting deadline."

—"An NIL agreement or payment with an associated entity or individual ... must include direct activation of the student-athlete’s NIL rights." This is a reference to the practice of “warehousing” NIL rights by paying first, then deciding how to use them later.

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Oregon head coach Dan Lanning walks on the field before the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal against Indiana, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)