![]() But Def Jam endures Snoop Dogg recently signed on as a creative consultant. Its reputation was recently tainted after a series of women accused co-founder Russell Simmons of sexual assault, which he denies. A year later, Def Jam signed Justin Bieber. ![]() Kanye West, DMX and Jay-Z took it to superstardom – the latter spending three years as president from 2004 to 2007, signing Rihanna and Ne-Yo. G Funk Era, restored the label’s fortunes. A slump in sales left it $19m in debt by 1992, but the multi-platinum success of Warren G’s 1994 debut, Regulate. It united the nascent NYC rap scene with Public Enemy and Beastie Boys, while Walk This Way, Run-DMC’s collaboration with Aerosmith, helped open a door to hip-hop for white audiences. Thirty-seven years later, the most iconic label in hip-hop is part of Universal Music, and commands a vast legacy. It was really more about being a part of something: a community of outsiders making music, mainly for ourselves and each other.” ![]() “That was the ceiling for the hardcore punk scene at that time. “We never had any aspirations other than playing in small clubs,” he says. Its first office was his New York University dorm room. In 1984, it was simply a means for him to release music by his punk rock band, Hose. The news comes 15 years after Def Jam, Island and Motown were consolidated into the Island Def Jam Music Group, marking the return of Motown and Def Jam as separate frontline labels.R ick Rubin’s initial ambitions for Def Jam were modest. Island Def Jam’s EVP and Head of A&R Karen Kwak has been promoted to the newly-created position of EVP A&R, US Recorded Music, serving all of UMG’s labels in the US. Massey will use the promotional resources of UMG’s most lucrative imprint, Republic Records. ![]() President of Island and Mercury Records David Massey will expand Island Records’ marketing, publicity and A&R departments with a focus on rock, alternative and pop music. Motown will now reside under Universal’s Capitol Records banner Capitol was recently acquired by UMG during its EMI takeover. She will also continue her current role as EVP/Head of Urban Music at UMG. Motown Records’ SVP Ethiopia Habtemariam is now President at the iconic label. President and COO of IDJ, Steve Bartels, has been promoted to CEO of Def Jam Recordings while Dion ’No I.D.’ Wilson and Kyambo ’Hip Hop’ Joshua, have been appointed Executive Vice Presidents and Co-Heads of A&R. He has positioned Def Jam, Island, Motown and Republic for new levels of growth.” “Barry is a terrific music executive who led our East Coast labels during a critical time of transition,” says Grainge. “I can’t say enough about his contributions to our labels or to thank him enough. Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of UMG says, “At UMG, our labels are empowered to be entrepreneurial and take creative risks. By re-establishing Def Jam, Island and Motown as stand-alone labels within the UMG family, we’re positioning them to recapture the uniqueness of their brands and serve artists with the singularity of vision, focus and creativity that was at the core of their original success.”Ĭhairman and CEO of East Coast Label Group, Barry Weiss has stepped down however Grainge has announced he will enter discussions with UMG about a new venture. The closing of the major’s Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJ) was announced today with the unveiling of new executive appointments to lead each of the three labels’ own publicity, A&R, marketing and accounts teams. Universal Music Group (UMG) has made its three East Coast consolidated labels Def Jam Recordings, Island Records and Motown Records into standalone labels under the UMG umbrella.
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