November 28, 2023 – Riggs Morales, the renowned executive, producer and industry-leading powerhouse in A&R and artist development, has been appointed Executive Vice President, A&R, it was announced today by Tunji Balogun, Chairman & CEO, Def Jam Recordings, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG). Morales, who is based in New York, will report directly to Balogun.
Morales’ award-winning tenures at Atlantic Records over the past decade, and at Eminem’s Shady Records before that, have garnered 17 Grammy nominations (including three wins), nearly 70 million units in global sales, and numerous gold and platinum certifications. In addition to Eminem, Morales has worked with (among many others) 50 Cent, Wiz Khalifa, Janelle Monáe, and Lin Manuel Miranda on the Grammy-winning, Diamond certified and best-selling Broadway cast album of all time, Hamilton: An American Musical.
“Armed with an instinct for creative development that keeps his artists first, Riggs has carved out a unique place for himself in our business, along with an absolutely blockbuster resume,” said Balogun. “Our relationship spans over a decade, and I have always been impressed by his instincts, energy, and creativity. From his work with Shady Records, to his alliances with Lin Manuel Miranda and Janelle Monae, to his time as an influential journalist, Riggs’ contributions to the culture are the stuff of legend. We’re excited to welcome Riggs to the Def Jam family.”
“Growing up in New York City, Def Jam has served as a touchstone in my life for longer than I can remember,” said Morales. “In my time as both a journalist and an executive, Def Jam has always been the pinnacle, the iconic hip-hop label, and the blueprint for others to follow. The roster and the culture that Tunji has built over the past two years is exactly where the future of this great label needs to lead – global, diverse, dynamic and artist-forward. As Def Jam heads into its fortieth year, I look forward to bringing my energy and passion to the team at this pivotal and exciting moment in the story of one of the greatest labels of all time.”
Morales comes to Def Jam from Atlantic Records, where he was appointed Vice President, A&R & Artist Development in 2014, and promoted to Senior Vice President, A&R & Artist Development, in 2020. His work there resulted in two Grammy® nominations for Wiz Khalifa, and an Album of the Year Grammy® nomination for Janelle Monáe’s Dirty Computer. In 2015, Morales signed and co-produced Hamilton: Original Broadway Cast Recording, which won the Grammy Award® for Best Musical and is now certified Diamond by the RIAA. Morales later executive-produced the all-star project, The Hamilton Mixtape (2016).
Prior to Atlantic, Morales earned his bonafides with Goliath Artists, Inc., whose roster included Eminem, Cypress Hill, Xzibit, The Alchemist and DJ Muggs. After one year, Morales was appointed Director of A&R for the newly launched imprint, Shady Records. Its worldwide sales and chart successes over the next dozen years with Eminem and 50 Cent made Shady one of the most prominent rap labels in music.
Morales began his career in hip-hop by documenting it: an internship at The Source Magazine in 1995 flourished into an accomplished career as a journalist at the hip-hop bible and later for Vibe, XXL and The Fader. At The Source, Morales’ inherent gift for finding new talent was established in his wildly popular ‘Unsigned Hype’ column, where he famously introduced readers in 1998 to an aspiring rapper from Detroit named Eminem.
Morales is an active member of The Recording Academy where he served as Vice President of The New York Chapter and as Trustee on the National Board. In October 2020, Morales helped create and establish the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective, a group of esteemed music professionals dedicated to the inclusion, recognition and advancement of Black music and its creators within the Recording Academy. In January 2021, Morales was recognized by Billboard as a Change Agent for 2020, for social justice work in the music space.
RIGGS MORALES APPOINTED EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, A&R, DEF JAM RECORDINGS
