MUSIC EXECS MEET TO DISCUSS POST-IMUS HIP HOP: more than 20 industry heavyweights Attended.

*It was billed as a forum to "discuss issues challenging the industry in the wake of controversy surrounding hip-hop and the First Amendment." Sparked by Don Imus’ racist comment to the Rutgers women's basketball team, Russell Simmons’ Hip-Hop Summit Action Network called for a private meeting with more than 20 high-powered industry executives to discuss sexist and misogynistic lyrics in hip hop. The gathering, which lasted several hours, took place at the New York home of Lyor Cohen, chairman and chief executive of U.S. music at Warner Music Group. However, the participants have so far kept quiet about what, if anything, was accomplished. a roster released by Simmons on Wednesday, attendees included: Kevin Liles, executive vice president, Warner Music; L.A. Reid, chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group; Sylvia Rhone, president of Motown Records and executive vice president of Universal Music Group; Mitch Bainwol, chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America; and Damon Dash, Jay-Z's former Roc-A-Fella Records partner. Top-selling rapper T.I. also attended, organizers said. Simmons' rep released a statement that described the topic discussed at the meeting as a "complex issue that involves gender, race, culture and artistic expression a press conferene is scheduled at a later date.