Music industry mourns death of label exec Karen Mason
Published:Saturday | March 26, 2022 | 12:10 AMAnthony Turner/Gleaner Writer
NEW YORK:
In the late 1980s, long before social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok were widespread, Jamaican born music executive and talent advocate Karen Mason proved she was a branding prodigy, creating successful marketing strategies for the King of Pop Michael Jackson, Sade, Alexander O’Neal, Mary J Blige, En Vogue, Gerald Levert, The Fugees and Busta Rhymes.
Last Tuesday, the music industry was jolted with the sad news from her daughter Kenya Jordana James that Mason had passed away peacefully in Atlanta after a long battle with cancer. She was 58.
Kevin Woodley, a director of artistes and repertoire at Atlantic Records, who worked with Mason at both Columbia and Atlantic/East West Records, described Mason as a “fierce competitor as well as a strong advocate” for the artistes she worked with.
“She would move mountains to create successful partnerships for all her artistes. She was a woman of strong faith and was a true advocate for black people. Her pride of work and determination were unmatched, and she will truly be missed,” he said.
Mason, who was born in St James, served as vice president of marketing at Elektra Records, where she managed the marketing and promotion of reggae acts on the label, including Ziggy Marley, Beres Hammond, Steel Pulse, Terror Fabulous, Ini Kamoze, Nadine Sutherland, among others. She cut her teeth on various reggae/dancehall projects, including the 1993 hit song Informer by Canadian dancehall reggae singjay Snow. A smash hit, it stayed atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven weeks. Mason was also the marketing genius behind the hit single Action by Nadine Sutherland and Terror Fabulous and Snow’s follow-up hit I’ll Do Anything For You.
Prior to EastWest, Mason worked at Columbia Records, where she successfully piloted projects for Super Cat and hip hop stars Kriss Kross and Cypress Hill.
Florida-based entertainment attorney Lloyd Stanbury shared that he first came in contact with Mason when he was representing Super Cat and his then manager Robert Livingston in signing with Columbia Records in the 1990s. “Karen was the first Jamaican woman I knew who was involved at a high level in the international music industry. Her determination to assist, inform and guide young artistes had a very big influence and impact on me. We crossed paths over the years as participants and presenters at numerous music industry events. Her contribution to the music industry internationally and locally cannot be overstated,” he reiterated.
New York Media Marketing specialist Dave Rodney, who managed 1980s Atlantic Records signee Stitchie while Mason worked at sister label Elektra Records, saw first-hand her genius.
“Karen had a strategic finger on the reggae pulse, but what separated her from the growing pack of 1990s enthusiasts was her rare ability to convert that passion to real sales beyond the hoopla and hype. Her efforts helped to amass sales of millions of albums,” he shared.
Mason battled breast cancer for over 11 years and was always hopeful and thankful for life. On the occasion of her 57th birthday, in one of her periodic Instagram posts, she wrote, “The greatest gift I have ever received is life. I am here. Happy birthday to me.”