The Island Def Jam Music Group
The Island Def Jam Music Group | |
---|---|
Parent company | Universal Music Group |
Founded | 1999 |
Defunct | 2014 |
Status | Defunct |
Distributor(s) |
Self-distributed (In the US) Virgin EMI Records (In the UK) Universal Music Group (Worldwide) |
Genre | Various |
Country of origin | United States |
Location | New York City |
Official website |
islanddefjam |
The Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG) was an American record label group formed in 1999 when the Universal Music Group (UMG) merged three of its daughter companies Island Records, Def Jam Recordings, and Mercury Records. In 2011, Motown Records was split from the Universal Motown Republic Group and was subsequently merged into the Island Def Jam Music Group.[1][2] Barry Weiss served as Chairman and CEO of the company.[3] As of February 2014, artists on the IDJMG roster included Mariah Carey, Rihanna, August Alsina, Kanye West, Logic, Justin Bieber, Bon Jovi, Fall Out Boy, Elton John, among many others.[4] On April 1, 2014, following the resignation of CEO Barry Weiss, it was announced that Island Def Jam will divide into three separate entities: Def Jam Recordings, Island Records and Motown Records.
History
The IDJMG was formed in 1999 when UMG merged three of its daughter companies, Island Records, Mercury Records and Def Jam Recordings, as a result of the merger between Universal Music and PolyGram. Also incorporated into the deal was the staff, roster, and back catalog of Mercury Records, which was dismantled for several years until it was revived as a new venture in 2007. Meanwhile, the labels Island Records and Def Jam Recordings continued and still continue to operate as their own respective labels as a part of the Island Def Jam Music Group umbrella (Island has concentrated on pop and rock performers, while Def Jam has most of the group's hip hop and R&B acts). The company also operated the Lost Highway Records label[5] and distributed New York, US label Photo Finish Records. The company recently signed an African rapper from Zimbabwe whose stage name is Maad Kid and his government name is Phillip Ndudzo.The rapper is said to be on standby for the moment while recording his first album.Lil Twist also congradulated Max Gousse for being a spark in the dark in his upcoming movie Twista. The IDJMG was one of four UMG umbrella labels in North America to market the works of primarily mainstream pop, rock, and urban performers—the other three being Interscope-Geffen-A&M, Capitol Music Group and Republic Records. In 2011, L.A. Reid stepped down as head of the company and was replaced by Weiss. On April 1, 2014, it was announced that Island Def Jam will no longer be running following the resigning of CEO Barry Weiss. In a press release by Universal Music Group, the label will now be reorganizing Def Jam Recordings, Island Records and Motown Records all as separate entities.
Awards and accolades
According to the 2012 radio airplay analysis of music industry service Mediabase, IDJMG became the number-one rhythmic label with seven number one songs played on Rhythmic radio stations from Rihanna, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, and Justin Bieber.[6]
Labels
Def Jam Recordings
- Artium Recordings
- Desert Storm Records
- Disturbing Tha Peace
- GOOD Music
- Radio Killa Records
- We the Best Music Group
- Def Jam South
- Def Jam Germany
- Def Soul
- The Inc. Records
Mercury Records
Island Records
- Tuff Gong
- 4th & B'way Records
- Nick Records
- Teen Island
- Island Urban Music
- MonarC Entertainment
References
- ↑ "Ethiopia Habtemariam Named Senior Vice President of Motown Records | Billboard". Billboard.biz. 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
- ↑ Sisario, Ben (2011-08-10). "A Young Music Executive Takes Over at Motown". The New York Times.
- ↑ "Barry Weiss Named Chairman/CEO Of Island Def Jam And Universal Motown Republic Group". Billboard.biz. 2011-03-17. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
- ↑ "Artists". Island Def Jam. Island Def Jam. 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ↑ Geoffrey P. Hull; Thomas William Hutchison; Richard Strasser (2011). The Music Business and Recording Industry: Delivering Music in the 21st Century. Taylor & Francis. pp. 175–. ISBN 978-0-415-87560-8.
- ↑ "Mediabase Year-end Edition 2012" (PDF). Mediabase. Clear Communications, Inc. 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ↑ "Artists | Artists". Island Def Jam. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
- ↑ "A&M : Artists". Aandmrecords.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-22.