Violater Goes Hollywood

Michael Ovitz, a serious big willie in the Hollywood scene has recognized the significance of Hip-Hop, and is taking his step into the rap music business. His fledgling management/production company, Artists Management Group, has formed an urban entertainment division to be headed by Violator Management founder Chris Lighty and his longtime business partner, Mona Scott. […]

Michael

Ovitz

, a serious big

willie in the Hollywood scene has recognized the significance

of Hip-Hop, and is taking his step into the rap music business.

His fledgling management/production company, Artists Management

Group, has formed an urban entertainment division to be headed

by Violator Management founder Chris Lighty and his longtime business

partner, Mona Scott. New York-based Violator’s roster includes

Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Mobb Deep, Q-Tip and Noreaga.

Violator’s artists

have sold more than 10 million albums annually over the past five

years. “Chris Lighty is a fantastic young executive with an equal

understanding of the street and the business,” Ovitz said. “I

was extremely impressed with the man himself and his expertise

in the area of urban music – particularly with regard to guerrilla

marketing.” Continued Ovitz: “I want to try to learn this whole

urban marketing situation. I see big crossover potential in films,

in sports and everything else.” Ovitz, who co-founded Creative

Artists Agency and briefly served as president of Walt Disney

Co., formed AMG with talent manager Rick Yorn, and Yorn’s sister-in-law,

Julie Silverman-Yorn.