How a Brooklyn native rose from an unpaid intern to a music industry powerhouse

Technology · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: From an unpaid internship at Interscope in 2003 to managing global stars, Steven Victor’s trajectory defines the modern music executive. By navigating complex joint ventures and high-stakes A&R roles, he has built a multifaceted empire spanning record labels, publishing, and management.

Steven William Victor, born on September 6, 1980, in Brooklyn, New York, has become a central figure in the contemporary music landscape. His career began with an unpaid publicist internship at Interscope Records in 2003, a role that eventually led to a promotion to publicity assistant in 2004. It was during his time at Interscope that he established a pivotal professional relationship with the rapper Pusha T, who was then part of the hip hop duo Clipse.

Victor's rise is marked by a series of high-level appointments across the industry's most influential labels. In 2015, following Pusha T's appointment as president of GOOD Music, Victor was named Chief Operating Officer. In 2016, he held dual roles as GOOD Music's Chief Creative Officer and Universal Music Group's Senior Vice President of A&R. His influence expanded further in 2017 when he became Executive Vice President and Head of A&R at Def Jam Recordings, before returning to Universal in August 2019.

In November 2016, Victor founded Victor Victor Worldwide, a record label and publishing company established as a joint venture with Universal Music Group. While many of his artists, such as the late Pop Smoke and Ski Mask the Slump God, have released music through Republic Records, the label maintains a complex structure involving Universal Music Publishing Group. His business reach extends to the William Victor Management Group, which manages a roster including The-Dream and CashMoneyAP. Beyond business, Victor has engaged in philanthropy, donating $1 million to launch the Victor Victor Foundation in June 2020 and $25,000 to the Fund for Public Schools in New York City.

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