Yomi Desalu

As an entertainment industry veteran for over 15 years, Brooklyn born Yomi Desalu still has the music passion burning within him. A graduate of Temple University (where he received his bachelors in Civil/Construction Engineering Technology), Yomi’s unbridled passion for music was always his true calling.
After becoming a music writer for the Temple Times, and delving into the college events promotions space, he went on to intern in the MTV Music & Talent department with hopes that his desire to make a foray into the entertainment industry through hard work would pay off. After a diligent residency, he was offered a staff position on the team. It was a perfect match, as he took the next decade plus to supplant his position in department, where he rose to the title of Vice President, Music & Talent Programming Strategy. Within that role, he handled strategic planning across multiple channels, along with overseeing the programming and facilitation of all of the MTV music channels (MTV, MTV2, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, mtvU).

After that, Yomi decided to transfer his talents and insight internally within the Viacom family, moving to BET Networks, where he headed their Music Programming & Strategy team, overseeing the production initiatives for short form content as well as programming efforts of their newly acquired and fledgling networks (BET Jams, BET Soul, BET Hip Hop, BET Gospel).

Current at Apple, Yomi is part of the editorial team and is the lead curator on Rap/Hip Hop and Caribbean. Among the notable playlists that he curates is Rap Life; arguably the most important Hip Hop playlist in the streaming space and cultural zeitgeist. A true fan first, Yomi takes immense pride in continuing his efforts to bring “music to the masses”.

While rising in the ranks, Yomi has also made a point to sharpen his business acumen to coincide with his ever evolving position in the company. By earning his MS in Business Management & Leadership from the City University of New York, he shows that his willingness to grow both personally and professionally knows no bounds. An insatiable penchant for constantly learning and seeking growth, he has received certifications from Harvard, NYU, Columbia and Wharton (UPenn). His ability to spot industry trends in the musical landscape, and work towards the company goals are keys to his successful tenure in one of the most powerful brands in the world. The married father of three still keeps his roots close to home, as he resides in the borough that raised him (Brooklyn).