LOS ANGELES, USA // Phylicia Fant is renowned throughout the entertainment industry as a trusted leader, esteemed executive and public relations/marketing visionary. But even more importantly, she is a conduit of culture. Fant consistently and strategically connects artists to brands, media, film/television opportunities and philanthropic causes. In her role as Head of Music Industry and Culture Collaborations at Amazon Music, she transforms global synergy into commercial opportunities while prioritizing meaningful cultural moments.
Since joining Amazon Music in February 2022, Fant has succeeded in connecting Amazon Music to Culture via culture collaborations, partnerships and industry events. These successes included HBCU Homecoming sponsorships, Grammy Roundtables, Beyonce’s Club Renaissance Merch Popup, and talent collaboration with the likes of Lucky Daye, Usher, Jon Batiste, NBA Young Boy, Andra Day, Keke Palmer, and Omar Apollo.
Prior to joining Amazon Music, Fant served as Head of Urban Music at Columbia Records, from 2018 to 2022, instigating and leading the introduction of 21st century superstars such as Lil Nas X, The Kid LAROI, Polo G, Lil TJay and Chloe X Halle in addition to expanding the scope of existing icons, such as Pharrell and Raphael Saadiq.
At Columbia, Fant empowered a vanguard of new artists to tell their stories; the rise of Lil Nas X illustrates Fant’s uniquely holistic approach to artist growth, building off the diamond success of Old Town Road and cementing a path for longevity. She amplified the impact of Lil Nas X’s collaboration with Roblox, which became the platform’s first artist initiative, and maximized moments such as his internet-breaking 2021 BET Awards performance, uniting him with The Bail Project for his Industry Baby music video in the lead up to his debut album.
Fant consistently utilizes her industry knowledge, alongside her wide-ranging network, in leading high profile GRAMMY® Award campaigns and activating high-profile opportunities at the GRAMMY® Awards, MTV VMA, and BET Awards for artists such as BTS, Leon Bridges, Chloe X Halle, Beyonce, John Legend, Tyler, The Creator and The Kid LAROI. She has secured alliances with Fender, Bail Project, NBA2K, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Facebook, and Gucci in addition to festival placements and five acts on the coveted XXL Freshman Cover.
Fant masterminded Chicago star Polo G’s NBA All-Star Weekend takeover, positioning him as the new face of the city’s scene and locking down Columbia as the partner for NBA2K’s first-ever mixtape. Fant’s vision was behind the creative for collaborative projects with LogiTech, Taco Bell, the NFL Draft, and Columbia showcases. As well, Fant has introduced brands such as YSL, Uber, Von Dutch, Puma, and Nike to the roster. She even received a prestigious ADCOLOR in Music (Leadership) nomination in 2021.
From 2011 and 2018, Fant served as Senior Vice President of Media & Strategic Development for Warner Bros, and here she conceived and executed campaigns for a wide array of multiplatinum, award winning artists. Past and present campaigns include Drake’s OVO Sound, MMG (Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Wale), Wu-Tang, RZA, Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka, Nile Rodgers, Kimbra, Nico & Vinz, Theophilus London, Common, Gallant, Gary Clark Jr., Lianne La Havas, Saweetie, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.
Fant’s exceptional contributions to the entertainment industry are frequently recognized, with features in E! Online, Ciroc, Variety, Forbes, Variety: Power of Women, Culture Creators Empowered Women and the Spelman Messenger, the alumnae magazine Spelman College, Fant’s alma mater.
Fant has garnered several honors, including the NAASC NY chapter Rising Star Award; Los Angeles NAASC chapter Sister’s Awards Alumnae Honoree; She’s The Boss Award; Culture Creators Innovators Award; Urban Music Executive Award; HBCU Power Award; Bounce Trumpet Awards 2020 Corporate Executive of the Year; Empowered Women campaign honoree; ASCAP Women Behind The Music 2021; and PRSA-LA Sunrise Honors: A New Day in Cultural Awakening, honoree.
Fant’s formidable reputation regularly puts her on industry power lists, including Billboard Music’s New Power Generation 25 Top Innovators List in 2019; Billboard R&B and Hip-Hop Power Players List in 2019, 2020 and 2021; Billboard Women in Music Top Executives for 2019/2020; Variety’s Hitmaker List in 2021; and XXL Hip-Hop Heavyweight. Fant receives regular invitations to speak on entertainment industry panels across the globe, from Complex Con to Revolt.
Born in Charleston, SC, and educated at Spelman College in Atlanta GA, Fant began her career at Motown Records in 2001, working closely with many luminaries of the “Neo-Soul” movement of the era, including Erykah Badu and India.Arie. After being promoted to the pop music department of parent company, Universal Music Group, Fant worked closely with acts such as Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, Lindsay Lohan, JoJo, 3 Doors Down, Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Q-Tip, Akon, Kelly Rowland, Mya, Swizz Beatz, Kid Cudi, and Michael Bolton.
The Purple Agency, the full-service public relations and lifestyle marketing company Fant founded in 2008, gave Fant the opportunity to explore new directions in tandem with her work within the major label system. As Purple Founder and CEO, Fant created a sought-after niche agency with an expertise in cross-vertical marketing and collaboration. Purple clientele spans music, film, television, fashion, sports, brands, and more.
Purple Agency successes include albums, projects, and tours for GRAMMY ® Award-winning, multiplatinum talent such as Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, Anthony Hamilton, The Culture Creators, Kosine of Da Internz, Keanna “KJ” Rose, Luis Fonsi and Daniel Caesar. Purple has also successfully completed projects with labels such as Universal Music Group, TDE, and Rostrum Records. Purple has worked with world-leading brands, including Coca Cola, BET, HBO, Universal Music Group, Hennessy, Red Bull, ONE Musicfest and Viacom and has planned and hosted events for NFL Draft, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, and Atlanta Hawks.
The Purple Agency is also connected to the film and television sectors, with Purple orchestrating press initiatives for TV One, The Blackhouse Foundation, The Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation, Culture of Proximity, Audiomack, I Am Not Your Negro, Karin Gist, LVRN, Right Hand Management, Keep Cool Records and more.
Fant was instrumental in the production and launch of the OWN Spotlight Documentary Eggs Over Easy. A Lady Lock production, Phylicia served as an executive producer alongside Chiquita Lockley, Keshia Knight Pullman, and D’Angela Proctor. Lockley wrote, produced and directed the film, while Pullman narrated. This documentary investigates the often-taboo subject of infertility within the Black community and brings Black women together for an enlightening and empowering discussion on the sometimes unpredictable path to motherhood.
Fant’s many positions of leadership extend across all areas of entertainment, business and philanthropy. These positions include: Member, The Recording Academy ( formerly the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), since 2004; Consultant, Music Unites; Lifetime member, National Alumnae Association of Spelman College (NAASC); Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; Governor, Recording Academy, LA Chapter; Board of Directors, MusiCares Foundation; Leadership Council Member, Black Music Collective; Advisory Board, Black Women Film Network; Executive Board, Culture Creators; XXL Awards Board; Co-founder, Honorable Women in Music; Mentor, Culture Creators, Femme It Forward, Jammcard; and Founder, Annual Entertainment Summit, Spelman College.
In 2018, Fant achieved an Executive Education Certificate from the prestigious Harvard Business School.