Interscope Geffen A&M announced that John Janick has been named President and Chief Operating Officer of the company. Janick co-founded Fueled By Ramen and was also co-president of Elektra Records
Interscope Geffen A&M said it has entered into a joint venture with Octone Records, home to rockers Maroon 5, to launch a new label, dubbed A&M/Octone. As part of the deal, A&M/Octone was also acquiring Sony BMG Music Entertainment’s interest in OctJay, a joint venture between Sony BMG and Octone, Interscope said. Financial details weren’t disclosed. James Diener, who founded Octone Records in 2000 while also holding an executive role at J Records and The RCA Music Group, will run A&M/Octone as chief executive and president. Diener is also bringing two members of his executive staff to the new label.… Read more »
Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. said it agreed to an exclusive marketing and promotional alliance with Interscope Geffen A&M Records and its chairman, Jimmy Iovine. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. The New York subscription-based satellite-radio broadcaster said Monday that Iovine will be a creative adviser and consultant in the development of Sirius programming. Interscope will offer marketing and promotional opportunities with its artists, including U2, Eminem, No Doubt, Sheryl Crow, 50 Cent and Queens of the Stone Age. Last year, Iovine helped broker a deal for Eminem to co-produce a hip-hop channel on Sirius called Shade 45. The New… Read more »
Grammy-winning producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo – aka the Neptunes – have found a new home for their Star Trak label. The duo are in the process of signing a three-year deal with Interscope Records worth about $3 million, sources said Tuesday. Star Trak previously had a deal with Arista Records, which the Neptunes signed two years ago with recently ousted Arista chief Antonio “L.A.” Reid. That deal has since expired, and Reid was named chairman of Interscope’s sister company Island Def Jam Music Group last month. Under the deal, Williams and Hugo will produce artists signed to Star… Read more »
Rap star 50 Cent, whose debut album is the best-selling release of the year, has inked a label deal with Interscope Records. He will sign and develop artists under the imprint G-Unit Records. All G-Unit releases will be marketed and distributed by Interscope Records. The first release from the imprint will be a debut album from the label’s namesake – rap collective G-Unit, featuring 50 Cent, Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks. The album will hit stores by year’s end. 50 Cent’s debut album, “Get Rich or Die Tryin’ ” (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope), which was executive produced by Eminem and Dr. Dre, has… Read more »
The president of Vivendi Universal’s MCA Records has resigned, becoming the latest casualty of the slumping music industry. Jay Boberg, 44, told MCA employees Thursday that he was stepping down from the post he has held since 1995. He said in a memo to label executives that he leaves a roster of acts that is “an artistic and musical gold mine.” A spokeswoman said Boberg wasn’t available to elaborate. Boberg joined artist manager Miles Copeland in 1979 to found pioneering I.R.S. Records, which was later sold to EMI for an estimated $20 million. He was tapped to head MCA’s publishing… Read more »
That new album Mariah Carey has been recording on the down low has finally landed a home… on her own label. The Universal Music Group announced Wednesday (May 8) that they have signed the biz’s most highly touted free agent to a new deal that will see one of its branches, the Island/Def Jam Music Group, distribute the music released by Carey’s yet-to-be-named company. “I’m incredibly happy,” Carey said in a statement. “It’s a tremendous and unprecedented opportunity to be working in tandem with [Universal Music Group Chairman/CEO] Doug [Morris], [Island/Def Jam President/CEO] Lyor [Cohen] and [Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman]… Read more »
ARTISTdirect Records, the record label co-venture of ARTISTdirect, Inc. and Ted Field, and BMG, the global music division of Bertelsmann AG, have entered into a North America distribution agreement and worldwide license arrangement; it was announced today by Ted Field, CEO, ARTISTdirect, and Bob Jamieson, President and CEO, BMG North America. Under the terms of the agreement, BMG Distribution will distribute the label’s releases in North America, and BMG will license ARTISTdirect repertoire in territories throughout the world. BMG will also acquire a minority stake in ARTISTdirect Records and provide certain funding for the label. Specific terms of the deal… Read more »
Russ Thyret is expected to resign as chairman of Warner Bros. Records next month, making it the first hit in the anticipated shakeup at the music group. The departure of the 30-year Warner Music veteran has been grist for the rumor mill since last summer. The writing on the wall got clearer when it was leaked that Interscope Records president Tom Whalley had been hired as chairman of Warner Bros. Records, even though he won’t arrive until January because Interscope won’t let him out of his contract. Warner Bros. Records president Phil Quartararo is in line to run the show… Read more »
Interscope Records founder Ted Field has ankled the label he co-chaired for more than a decade to start his own record label and continue in his film endeavors. Field’s parting, which comes a year before the expiration of his contract, is nevertheless said to have the blessing of Interscope co-chairman Jimmy Iovine and Doug Morris, chairman of Interscope parent Universal Music Group. Iovine will run Interscope on his own. Field said he is in the process of raising money to start his new record label, adding that it is “very possible” he will seek to team with Universal for a… Read more »