Category Archives: Record Labels

Ex-Motown CEO Jheryl Busby Dies At 59

Jheryl Busby, the former president and chief executive of Motown Records who helped foster the careers of Boyz II Men and Johnny Gill, has died. He was 59.
Busby was found early Tuesday in a hot tub at his home in Malibu, said Los Angeles County Assistant Coroner Chief Ed Winter.
“It was a possible accident or [...]

Lil’ Kim Sued And Silenced

Lil’ Kim has a big problem on her hands.
A New York judge has temporarily barred the Hardcore rapper from recording any new material in light of a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by her latest label, Brookland Media.
The upstart company accused Kim (real name: Kimberly Jones) of making diva-esque demands and then backing out of a [...]

MySpace Finally Rolls Out Music Site with All Labels

News Corp’s MySpace, the world’s largest social networking site, on Wednesday unveiled a long-expected joint venture with all four major music companies in a bid to compete with Apple Inc’s market-leading iTunes store.
MySpace Music is designed to win fans with a mix of unlimited free music, comprehensive music catalogs, concert tickets, merchandising and other [...]

Jay-Z, Stargate Form Label, Publishing Company

Hip-hop performer and entrepreneur Jay-Z and Norwegian songwriting/production duo Stargate have joined forces under the StarRoc banner, which will encompass a record label and music publishing company under Jay-Z’s Roc Nation venture with Live Nation.
According to the principals, “the focus is to find new talent and develop artists through mutually beneficial global partnerships which include [...]

Anet Jackson Parts Ways with Island Def Jam

After just 14 months on Island Def Jam, Janet Jackson announced Monday (September 22) her departure from the label. According to Jackson’s publicist, the label agreed to dissolve its relationship with the artist at her request.
After a long stint with Virgin, Jackson inked a deal with Island in July 2007 and released her label [...]

LL Talks About 50 Cent, Jay-Z And Leaving Def Jam

With his latest CD, LL Cool J is readying his exit and preparing for his future at the same time.
“Exit 13″ is his 13th CD and final official album for Def Jam records, which has been his label home for 23 years. But LL is hardly about to leave the music industry, despite his [...]

Lil Jon Free From TVT Records

Lil Jon, who was in musical limbo after his longtime record label TVT Records went bankrupt earlier this year, has reached an agreement that frees him from his TVT obligations while entering into a new venture with digital entertainment company The Orchard, which is purchasing TVT’s assets.
Lil Jon will work with the Orchard’s Brand [...]

Luxe Brands: Biting the Hand That Feeds Them?

At first glance, having a celebrity photographed toting or wearing the merchandise from a luxury goods company would seem to be a marketer’s dream come true. Instead, the purveyors of high-end clothes, booze and bling are increasingly calling in the lawyers on celebs who feature their goods or trademarks without permission.
Last week, high-end designer Louis [...]

Labels Up Volume on Vinyl Releases to Meet Demand

It may have seemed like a fad at first, but the resurgence of vinyl is now turning into a nice niche business for the major labels. With EMI’s announcement that it would reissue eight classic albums in the format, all four majors are now onboard the vinyl bandwagon.
EMI will release two Coldplay albums, four [...]

Smokey Robinson Gets College Fund Honor

 
Legendary Motown singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson is being honored for his contributions to the miracle of education.

Robinson, who helped put the fledgling Motown record label on the map in the early 1960s with his group the Miracles, is receiving the United Negro College Fund’s award of excellence.
“The award honors Smokey not only for his five-decade career [...]

50 Cent Cancels 3 European Performances

50 Cent, who is in a much-hyped battle of album sales with Kanye West, has canceled several performances in Europe.

 
 

MTV News said the 31-year-old rapper canceled performances at the MOBO Awards and the Vodafone Live Music Awards, both in London on Wednesday, and a performance for MTV in Germany on Friday.
No details were posted on [...]

50 Cent Accuses Kanye’s Label of Chart-Rigging

50 Cent–real name Curtis Jackson–has today (September 17) blamed Kanye West’s record label Def Jam for yesterday’s chart defeat, saying Def Jam had been “rigging” sales.

The two rivals were battling it out for number one in the charts–with West’s Graduation beating 50 Cent’s Curtis.
West’s single “Stronger” has also beaten 50 Cent’s “Ayo Technology” in the [...]

50 Cent, Lil’ Kim, Sued Over Royalties

 
A record producer has sued rappers 50 Cent and Lil’ Kim and two record companies for $2 million, claiming they failed to pay him royalties on a song that sold 2 million copies.

Carlos Evans says in papers filed in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court he contracted with Rotten Apple Records in January 2003 to produce, engineer [...]

Third Album Not the Charm For 50 Cent

 
If you want a sense of how stressful it’s been for 50 Cent to release his third album, just look at the CD cover. Whereas his first two albums featured portraits that exuded confidence and authority — a rippling torso coupled with a menacing glare — 50’s new album out Tuesday, “Curtis,” shows a seemingly [...]

VMA Losses Spark Another Kanye Tantrum

Kanye West says he’ll never return to MTV.

 
 

The 29-year-old rapper, who was shut out at the Video Music Awards on Sunday night, threw a tantrum in front of media and crew backstage as the MTV show was ending.
West, waiting for an elevator in a crowded hallway, began yelling about losing all five categories for which [...]

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