Genius has added Steve Stoute, the CEO of communications firm Translation and a former major label executive, to the lyrics and annotation site's board of directors. Stoute joins Genius co-founders Tom Lehman and Ilan Zechory, Andreessen Horowitz co-founder Ben Horowitz and Quicken Loans owner Dan Gilbert in the board room.
"As a firm believer in the power of songwriting, I feel privileged to be part of a team that continues to help us all understand the true force and impact of lyrics and music around the world," Stoute said in a statement. "Genius is special -- it's remixing the digital playbook and owning a new space in music and tech. Now I just have to get creative about which lyrics to quote on the next board call."
Stoute founded Translation in 2004 and has amassed a client list that includes Apple Music, the NBA, State Farm, Jeep, and the NFL. Before becoming a star marketer, Stoute spent a decade in the music business that included executive positions at Sony Music Entertainment, where he was president of urban music, and later Interscope Geffen A&M Records, as executive vice president. He also notably executive produced the Oscar-winning 8 Mile film and soundtrack.