Ethiopian music industry veteran Ethiopia Habtemariam has been appointed President of Music at Hybe America, effective immediately, marking a major milestone for an executive whose career has shaped global hip‑hop, R&B and pop.
Habtemariam, formerly chairwoman and CEO of Motown Records, will oversee Hybe America’s music strategy from bases in Los Angeles and her hometown of Atlanta, guiding A&R (artists and repertoire), artist development across the company’s labels, and efforts to connect music with culture and fan communities.
A key focus will be bolstering Hybe’s presence in Atlanta — a global powerhouse for hip‑hop and R&B — while elevating the reach of Quality Control within Hybe’s ecosystem. Quality Control, a label she helped integrate with Motown, launched stars including Lil Yachty, City Girls, Migos, Lil Baby, NBA YoungBoy and Leon Thomas.
“Ethiopia is a transformational leader whose influence across artists, songwriters and the industry speaks for itself,” said Hybe America chairman and CEO Isaac Lee. “Her vision and strategic instincts make her the right person to help shape Hybe America’s next phase as we build a modern entertainment company centered on creators and fans.”
Habtemariam, whose 20+ years at Universal Music Group (UMG) included senior roles at Universal Music Publishing, Capitol Music Group and Motown, was instrumental in signing and nurturing talents like Chris Brown, J. Cole, Justin Bieber, Jhene Aiko, Ciara, Polow Da Don, Hit Boy, Keri Hilson, Happy Perez and Theron Thomas.
“I’ve always respected how Hybe America approaches artists and fandom while staying deeply rooted in culture,” Habtemariam said. “This is a company planning for the future. I’m thrilled to bring my experience to what Hybe is building on a global scale.”
The appointment underscores the rising global profile of Ethiopian talent in creative industries, with Habtemariam joining a lineage of diaspora leaders shaping entertainment from behind the scenes. Hybe, the South Korean powerhouse behind BTS and home to innovative fan‑driven models, is expanding its U.S. footprint through such strategic hires.
Her move comes amid Hybe’s push to blend Atlanta’s urban sound with K‑pop’s global machinery, positioning the company to capture evolving music markets rooted in creator–fan connections.
