Since 2016, Lyor Cohen is the global head of music at Google & YouTube. Earlier, he was a co-founder at [l758325]. Between 2004 and 2012, he was responsible for all worldwide-recorded music, including the U.S. label groups – The Atlantic Records Group and Warner Bros. Records at the Warner Music Group.

Between 1998 and 2003, Cohen served as head of the Island Def Jam Music Group for five years. During the years 1988 to 1998, he was involved in all aspects of the Def Jam production.

As a manager and road manager for ten years, 1984 to 1994, at Rush Artist Management, he managed rap groups such as Run-DMC, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, EPMD, Beastie Boys, Eric B. & Rakim, Public Enemy, Whodini, LL Cool J, and Kurtis Blow.