Search Results for: Arista Records

DataPlay, Inc., developer of the new portable music format, announced today that it has finalized an agreement with BMG to make releases from some of the industry’s top-selling artists available on pre-recorded DataPlay digital media. As a result of the deal, BMG’s Arista Records will release albums from best-selling artists such as Pink, Sarah McLachlan, Outkast, Usher and Adema on DataPlay digital media. DataPlay music players and digital media are scheduled for retail introduction this summer at which time consumers can expect to purchase pre-recorded music by some of their favorite Arista Records artists. Universal Music, EMI and Zomba Recording… Read more »

After five years of dormancy, Elektra Records will relaunch with a fresh roster of artists, Atlantic Records announced today in a statement. French dance duo Justice, Gnarls Barkley’s Cee-Lo Green and Little Boots are among the first musicians on the label, which was home to The Doors, The Eagles and Phish in the past. Mike Caren, who was executive vice president of A&R for Atlantic Records, and John Janick, the founder of Fueled By Ramen, will serve as co-presidents of the new venture. “Elektra Records will mark its 60th Anniversary in 2010, and it feels like the perfect time to… Read more »

Arista Records, home to such acts as OutKast, Dido and Avril Lavigne, is in the process of being restructured, sources said Tuesday. Many Arista artists are being moved to Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) corporate siblings Jive Records, RCA Records and J Records, sources said. Layoffs are expected, though some positions will be redeployed to other parts of BMG. Arista will, however, remain a label complete with some artists, an A&R team, marketing and promotions staff, sources said. A spokesman for closely held BMG declined to comment on the moves at Arista but in a statement said: “BMG is in the… Read more »

Antonio “L.A.” Reid, who took the helm at Arista Records nearly four years ago and oversaw platinum successes from acts including OutKast, Pink and Avril Lavigne, has left the label, it was announced Tuesday. Reid became president and CEO of Arista in May 2000 after the company’s founder and CEO, Clive Davis, left because of parent company BMG’s mandatory retirement policy. Reid was not available to comment, according to an Arista spokeswoman. Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, chairman and CEO of BMG, called Reid “one of the music industry’s top record men.” “His passion for working with and developing some of the world’s… Read more »

Velvet Revolver, the much buzzed-about rock group featuring Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland, former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Dave Kushner from Dave Navarro’s band, has signed an exclusive worldwide recording agreement with RCA Records. The quintet will release its highly anticipated debut album in 2004. Weiland, Slash, McKagan, Sorum and Kushner are revered as five of rock’s most valuable players. Their illustrious careers are highlighted by an astonishing run of chart-topping gold and platinum albums, major industry awards, critical acclaim and music of monolithic power. Together they’re making rock history… Read more »

Veteran record executive Clive Davis, whose ouster from Bertelsmann AG’s Arista caused an uproar two years ago, returned to the fold on Tuesday by selling his half of J Records to the company and taking the helm of a combined label group. As Bertelsmann’s music group, BMG, focuses on cutting costs during a prolonged industry downturn, the group said on Tuesday it would buy the 50 percent of Davis’ J Records it did not already own for undisclosed terms and combine it with its legendary RCA Records, home to stars like Christina Aguilera. Davis – pushed out in a management… Read more »

The Neptunes, the hit-making songwriting and producing duo comprising Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, on Tuesday said they formed a joint venture label with Arista Records to be called Star Trak Entertainment. The Neptunes, and manager Robert Walker, have signed an exclusive deal that calls for the duo to produce artists signed to Star Trak Entertainment as well as Arista Records and its other labels, and develop new repertoire. The Neptunes are credited with creating a string of megahits for Babyface, Usher, Kid Rock, Janet Jackson, Limp Bizkit, ‘N Sync and Britney Spears. Under the deal, Arista, a unit of… Read more »

A spokesperson for Arista Records, home to TLC, denies that group member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes has joined the ranks of Suge Knight’s Tha Row Records. When asked to confirm accounts made to LAUNCH by Tha Row publicist Jonathan Wolfson, the Arista spokesperson replied, “Not true. No comment.” Wolfson revealed on Wednesday (January 2) that Lopes had indeed signed with Tha Row Records and that her album would be released soon (LAUNCH, 1/2). Wolfson’s statement confirmed a recent news entry on Tha Row’s website, which also noted that Lopes has changed her name to Nina. Lopes’s solo album, Supernova, was… Read more »

Butch Walker, formerly of the Atlanta-based group Marvelous 3, has been signed by Arista Records to an exclusive worldwide contract, it was announced today by Antonio “L.A.” Reid, President and CEO, Arista Records. Underscoring his success with M3, Butch surfaced as co-writer of the #1 Billboard Modern Rock track “Right Now” by Baltimore’s SR-71, and as co-writer of four tracks on “Atomic,” the new album from Orange County alt-darlings Lit. Having produced upcoming records for Injected (on Island/Def Jam Records) and Bowling For Soup (Jive), Butch is turning his attention to the completion of his debut album as a solo… Read more »

L.A. based independent record label Water Music Records has just signed a 2 album deal with former Arista/BMG artist Moodswings. The first album “Horizontal” from the group will be released in March through Universal Music & Video Distribution. It is a double album complete with remixes and brand new songs featuring Julie Cruise on vocals. Cruise has 4 albums on Warner Bros. and was the voice for David Lynch’s movie and soundtrack “Blue Velvet.” Englishman James Hood is the headliner of Moodswings who’s first album “Moodfood” sold more than 300,000 albums in the U.S. with more than a half-million worldwide.… Read more »