Latest Def Jam Recordings Stories

NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG) further expands its A&R and creative initiatives with the appointment, effective immediately, of David Massey as President, Island Records, it was announced today by Barry Weiss, Chairman & CEO of the East Coast Label Group. Mr. Massey will continue to report directly to Mr. Weiss and will work closely alongside Steve Bartels, President/COO, IDJMG. Mr. Massey has spent the past six years as President,...

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Media, music, fashion, philanthropic and entertainment mogul, Russell Simmons, announced plans to create "greenROKS Ventures." The company is an incubator of youth entertainment properties and multi-media platforms and will launch with the first in a series of preteen-teen mobile games, greenROKS(TM) - "Mission G-ROK" in spring of 2013. Simmons says, "Entertainment is what resonates quickest with youth, which today means online and mobile...

NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Def Jam Recordings, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), expands its A&R senior management team with the appointment of multi Grammy Award®-winning Radio Killa/Def Jam recording artist The-Dream to the post of Executive Vice President of A&R, it was announced today by Barry Weiss, Chairman & CEO of Universal Republic and Island Def Jam Motown, and Karen Kwak, Executive Vice President/Head of A&R, Island Def Jam Music...

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Island Def Jam Music Group continues to expand opportunities for artists to develop and thrive, the company has entered into a worldwide joint-venture partnership with Matt Galle's Photo Finish Records. The announcement was made today by Barry Weiss, Chairman & CEO of Island Def Jam Motown and Universal Republic, and Mr. Galle. In addition, Mr. Galle will provide exclusive senior-level A&R services to Island Records, helping...

NEW YORK, July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Island Def Jam Motown and Universal Republic have promoted Matt Voss to Executive Vice President of International, East Coast Labels, it was announced today by Ivan Gavin, Chief Operating Officer of East Coast Labels, to whom he reports. UMG's East Coast Labels include Island Def Jam Motown and Universal Republic. Formerly, Mr. Voss served as Senior Vice President for UMG's East Coast Labels. He is based in New York City. In this expanded role,...

NEW YORK, July 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Music Group (UMG) has appointed Joseph Schmidt to Chief Financial Officer, East Coast Labels, it was announced today by Ivan Gavin, Chief Operating Officer, East Coast Labels, to whom he reports. UMG's East Coast Labels include The Island Def Jam Music Group and Universal Republic Records. Formerly, Mr. Schmidt served as Vice President, Finance for RCA Records. He is based in New York City. Mr. Schmidt will oversee financial...

LOS ANGELES, June 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Expanding its creative investment further, Universal Music Group has signed iconic artist Rod Stewart to a long-term worldwide recording agreement, it was announced today by Lucian Grainge, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Stewart and his manager, Arnold Stiefel. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120627/LA31323) As part of this multi-album deal, the two-time Hall of Famer has teamed with Grammy...

NEW YORK, June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Music Group (UMG) has promoted Michael Seltzer to Senior Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs for East Coast Labels, it was announced today by Steve Gawley, Executive Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs, East Coast Labels, to whom he reports. UMG's East Coast labels include The Island Def Jam Music Group and Universal Republic Records. Formerly, Mr. Seltzer served as Senior Vice President of Business & Legal...

SANTA MONICA, Calif. and NEW YORK, April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Furthering the company's commitment to diversify and pursue non-traditional revenue streams for its labels and artists, Cynthia Sexton has been appointed Executive Vice President, Branding and Licensing, Universal Republic Records & Island Def Jam Music Group, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG). The announcement was made today by Ivan Gavin, Chief Operating Officer, Universal Republic & Island Def...

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Rand Levin has been appointed Senior Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs for Universal Music Group (UMG), it was announced today by Jeffrey Harleston, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, UMG, and to whom Mr. Levin reports. Mr. Levin has relocated from New York to UMG's Santa Monica headquarters, where he will be based. In this new role, Mr. Levin will negotiate and draft entertainment industry agreements and...