Steve Bartels (US)

Music industry veteran Steve Bartels currently helms his own music, entertainment & artist development firm, MusicBartels LLC. Prior, he was a key principal of 12Tone Music, CEO of Def Jam Recordings & President Island Records among a well documented career of over 40 years of leadership in the music entertainment space. He has worked closely with artists and such diverse talent as NAS, Bon-Jovi, Kanye West, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, Whitney Houston, Joji, Lauren Daigle, Outkast, Axwell & Ingrosso, Pink, The Killers, Dolly Parton, Alesso and many others. Bartels recently executive produced a six episode documentary for ABC\Hulu "Grails" which won two Gold awards at the 2023 NY Film Festival. In joining the Illenium team (an artist he previously signed), Bartels is reaching into his wide range of artist development experiences and hitmaking success to help build ILLENIUM's music portfolio outward along with Sean Flynn, his manager.