Few music executives have influenced global hip-hop and popular culture as profoundly as Lyor Cohen. From helping shape the rise of Def Jam Records to co-founding 300 Entertainment and now leading music partnerships at YouTube, Cohen has spent decades at the center of the industry’s biggest cultural shifts. His career has intersected with legends including Run-DMC, Jay-Z, DMX, Young Thug, and countless others, making him one of the most recognizable figures behind the scenes of modern music. (SXSW)
In WAX Pt. 1, the acclaimed interview series hosted by Lyor Cohen, viewers are invited into an unfiltered conversation that goes beyond headlines and hit records. Rather than focusing solely on chart success, the show explores the ideas, risks, and decisions that shape careers and define the music business.
The premiere episode establishes the tone for the series: candid, insightful, and deeply rooted in culture. Cohen’s interviewing style reflects the lessons he’s learned throughout a career that spans artist management, label leadership, entrepreneurship, and the digital revolution. His conversations examine how artists build sustainable careers, adapt to changing technology, and maintain authenticity in an increasingly competitive industry.
For African audiences, WAX arrives at a particularly important moment. African music has evolved from a regional phenomenon into a global force, with Afrobeats, Amapiano, and other genres reshaping international playlists, festivals, and collaborations. As African artists continue breaking barriers, discussions around ownership, publishing, streaming, and global partnerships have never been more relevant.
The series offers valuable insights for emerging musicians, producers, executives, and creatives across the continent. It reinforces the idea that success in today’s music business requires more than talent—it demands vision, strategic thinking, and an understanding of the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.
Lyor Cohen has long advocated for innovation within the music industry, emphasizing the role of streaming platforms, creator empowerment, and long-term artist development. His perspective has helped shape conversations around how technology and music can coexist to create sustainable opportunities for creators worldwide. (SXSW)
As WAX Pt. 1 sets the stage for future episodes, it positions itself as more than an interview show. It becomes a platform where experience meets ambition, where industry veterans share lessons with the next generation, and where global conversations increasingly include voices from Africa.
For creatives across the continent, the message is clear: the future of music is being written now, and Africa is no longer watching from the sidelines—it is helping lead the conversation.
