Island Def Jam

Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG) was an American record label group formed on December 31, 1998, by Universal Music Group. Before 2014, IDJMG encompassed labels originally established under the umbrella of Island Records and Def Jam Recordings. On April 1, 2014, Universal Music Group publicly announced the dissolution of the Island Def Jam Music Group, leaving IDJMG and its affiliated subsidiaries as separate sister labels.

In 2024, Universal Music Group restructured its East Coast labels, including Def Jam Recordings, Island Records, Mercury Records, and Republic Records, under a central operational hub named Republic Corps.

History

1999: Seagram buyout of PolyGram and unit formation

On December 10, 1998, The Seagram Company completed its seven-month, $10.6 billion plan to acquire PolyGram and consolidated its music label unit with that of MCA Music, forming Universal Music Group.

Following the formation of Universal Music Group, and coinciding with the start of 1999, Island Def Jam Music Group was founded through the merging of over 14 recording labels, including Island Records, Def Jam Recordings, and Mercury Records. Although IDJMG brought the labels together, they continued to operate as separate, autonomous labels. Music industry executive Lyor Cohen was declared the unit's president.

Island Def Jam Music Group was also one of the four newly established Universal Music label groups, along with the Universal Motown Republic Group, Verve Label Group, and Interscope Geffen A&M Records.

In the United Kingdom, Island Records operated under Universal's Island Records Group, while Def Jam UK was established and distributed by Mercury, which also managed its artists under the same banner. U.S. distribution was later revoked by IDJMG.

1999-2001: Early Success

IDJMG's first official release was Biohazard's album, ''New World Disorder'', which was released by Mercury Records on June 8, 1999. By that time, the Rush Associated Labels portfolio (which had been a holding ground for Def Jam) was absorbed into Island Def Jam, with most of its labels, including Def Soul, Roc-A-Fella and Murder Inc. Records, were consolidated under the Island Def Jam umbrella Label Group since its PolyGram era between 1996 and 1998. For Island, some of its divisions had been either sold off or folded into IDJMG; both of which being 4th & B'way Records and Island Black Music, with many of its artist rosters (including hip-hop and R&B acts) being transferred into Def Jam.

Mercury's artists were later reassigned to other labels depending on genre - Motown (by then unrelated to IDJMG until 2011), Def Jam (urban), or Island (pop, rock, alternative music, and/or other non-urban genres). Some of Mercury's non-urban roster would stay under the label by choice, while parts of its international divisions either remained active or would be folded (including Mercury UK, which would oversee Def Jam or Island US releases).

In 2000, the unit launched Def Jam Germany, the first international Def Jam label. The following year, a country label, Lost Highway Records, was formed. The label operated as an imprint of Mercury Records, but had since been moved to Universal Music's Nashville division following the dissolution of IDJMG in 2014. In the summer of 2001, Island Def Jam acquired a controlling interest in the rock label, Roadrunner Records. Edel SE & Co. KGaA, a German music distributor which owned 17% of Roadrunner at the time, indicated its intention to pursue legal action against Universal.

At the turn of the 21st Century, the label saw strong commercial performance with records by influential Hip Hop artists including LL Cool J, Method Man, Redman, DMX, and N.O.R.E.

2002–2009: Restructure, Murder Inc. Problems, Roc-A-Fella Buyout and New Leadership

In early 2002, the label bought Mariah Carey's label contract with future UMG sister label Virgin Records. By the end of 2003, Fefe Dobson, Everlast, and Patti LaBelle all became part of the unit.

In July 2002, Island Def Jam released Murder Inc. Records' second compilation album, '' Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc.'' The album peaked in the top 3 of the Billboard 200, and was certified Gold by the RIAA. On January 3, 2003, the label unit was forced to cut all ties with producer Irv Gotti and his label, Murder Inc. Records, after a federal investigation and office raid considering allegations of money laundering in connection to an illegal operation maintained by a drug lord.

On March 25, 2003, Island Def Jam released rap group The Diplomats' debut album ''Diplomatic Immunity''. Although the album did not generate major chart-topping hits, the singles received moderate success, contributing to its Gold certification by the RIAA. That May, Island Def Jam received a cease and desist from Steve Gottlieb, founder of TVT Records, regarding the release of a Cash Money Click reunion album, which IDJMG restricted because of member Ja Rule's obligations with Def Jam.

President Lyor Cohen obliged Gotti and Ja Rule not to record the album for TVT, but instead have IDJMG and UMG distribute it to avoid a conflict of interest. TVT's lawsuit cites copyright infringement, fraud and tortious interference. Ultimately, TVT was awarded $132 million in damages, with Cohen found liable for $56 million. It was later revised two years later as TVT's cash award was reduced to $126,000 after Island Def Jam successfully appealed the judgment, claiming the situation was not fraud nor infringement, but instead, breach of contract.

At the end of the year, Dobson's self-titled debut was released on December 9, as was on the same date as Def Soul artists 112's '' Hot & Wet'' and Musiq Soulchild's ''Soulstar''. Then, in May 2004, Everlast and LaBelle released their albums, '' White Trash Beautiful'' and '' Timeless Journey'', under Island and Def Soul Classics, respectively. At the same time, L.A. Reid was appointed president and CEO of the Island Def Jam Music Group after he was dismissed from Arista Records. Cohen left Island Def Jam to join Warner Music Group, bringing with him colleagues Kevin Liles and Julie Greenwald.

In December, the unit acquired the remaining 50% interest in Roc-A-Fella Records in exchange for appointing co-founder Jay-Z president of Def Jam Recordings; the other 50% had been purchased by former Def Jam parent company, PolyGram, in 1997. As a result, fellow Roc-A-Fella cohorts Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke were forced off the label. Then, in early 2005, the group extended a new label deal renewal with Ludacris' Disturbing tha Peace, making IDJMG a 50 percent stakeholder. In April, with L.A. Reid's leadership, Mariah Carey returned from a two-year hiatus with '' The Emancipation of Mimi''. The album sold 404,000 copies in its first week and opened to widespread acclaim from critics. That same year, Island Def Jam signed a newcomer, a Barbadian singer named Rihanna. Her debut single " Pon de Replay" achieved rapid commercial success upon release.

In 2006, IDJMG ended their partnership with Roadrunner Records, selling the label to Warner Music. Shakir Stewart was appointed senior vice president of A&R in October. A year later, Steve Bartels was appointed chairman and COO of Island Def Jam, reporting to L.A. Reid and then-CEO of Universal Music, Doug Morris. On December 22, 2007, Jay-Z announced his vacancy from his presidency of Def Jam, invoking L.A. Reid to step in rather than find a replacement. On November 1, 2008, Shakir Stewart committed suicide, vacating his positions as senior vice president of A&R at Island Def Jam and executive vice president of Def Jam. He was posthumously replaced by Christopher Hicks, a former executive from Warner Music Group.

2010–11: Motown Induction and GOOD Music Partnership

Throughout 2010, Island Def Jam generated more public success from Justin Bieber ("Baby"), Kanye West ('' My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'') and Rihanna (" Only Girl (In the World)").

In 2011, former RCA/Jive Label Group chairman Barry Weiss was assigned to become the new chairman of the Universal Motown Republic Group while at the same time assuming the CEO position at Island Def Jam Music Group. Under Weiss' leadership, Motown Records became an imprint of the IDJMG shortly after the disbandment of the UMRG. Kanye West's imprint, GOOD Music, was given a 10-year distribution partnership with IDJMG. GOOD Music assumed marketing, while Def Jam took over the manufacturing and distribution of its releases. The first official album released under the new partnership was Big Sean's debut, ''Finally Famous''. In May, Def Soul Records was folded into Island Def Jam as a part of a rearrangement of the Island Def Jam Music Group's multi-genre strategy.

In August 2011, Jay-Z and Kanye West's collaborative album '' Watch the Throne'' was released under Island Def Jam's distribution. The album sold 436,000 copies in its first week, reportedly recorded the highest first-week sales for a hip hop album in 2011 and also the recorded highest for IDJMG since Mariah Carey's 2005 album ''The Emancipation of Mimi''.

2013: Final Output

In 2013, Fall Out Boy, Iggy Azalea, and Neon Trees continued to perform well commercially at the unit, with Fall Out Boy's '' Save Rock and Roll'' accumulating 154,000 copies sold and debuting at number one on ''Billboard.'' Iggy Azalea's single, " Change Your Life", was additionally certified Gold by the RIAA, despite debuting at number 47 on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Neon Trees' single, " Sleeping with a Friend", reached the number seven position on the Adult Top 40, indicating favorable reception.

The Island Def Jam Music Group's operations in the United Kingdom were further changed, with Mercury UK being absorbed into the new Virgin EMI Records. With the absorption of Mercury UK also involved the end of Def Jam UK, with all of Island, Def Jam, Republic, Virgin, and Motown's artists being distributed under the newly reiterated imprint in the region. It occurred following UMG's acquisition of the recording music division of EMI a year earlier.

2014: Disbandment

On April 1, 2014, Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO of the Universal Music Group, confirmed the formal disbandment of the Island Def Jam Music Group. The unit ceased to exist after East Coast label faction CEO Barry Weiss' departure. Grainge explained:

It was believed that Weiss was dissatisfied with the fact that he would be demoted at Universal Music with Michele Anthony being promoted to executive vice president at the company's recorded music unit and John Janick replacing Jimmy Iovine as chairman and CEO of Island Def Jam's sister unit, Interscope Geffen A&M. Weiss was also in talks with Grainge to create a new joint venture with UMG.

With Island Def Jam disbanded, operations had been traced solely into all three label units: Def Jam Recordings will now act as its own label under Universal Music, as so Island Records, which Def Jam remains a sister label to, but with new farther relations. Meanwhile, Motown Records currently operates under the Capitol Music Group. Mercury Records had folded into Island following the closure, but had since been reactivated in 2022 by Universal Music and later moved to Republic Records.

In terms of corporate leadership, Steve Bartels was reassigned to CEO of Def Jam until 2018, David Massey remained president and CEO of Island (also until 2018), and Ethiopia Habtemariam was named president of Motown before leaving in 2022. As of 2022, despite the shutdown, there is a Facebook and Instagram joint account and Universal Music France subunit called Island Def Jam France, taking the unit name and being maintained by UMG France to promote both labels' music altogether. IDJ France also promotes and produces releases under sister labels Capitol, Motown, Virgin Music, and Republic Records. Guenael "G.G." Fray has been appointed the deputy director of both IDJ and Polydor Records' French operations since January 2023.

In 2024, Island Def Jam France concentrates on French-speaking artists, while international Island and Def Jam artists are distributed by Polydor.

2024: Republic Corps

In 2024, Universal Music sister label Republic Records rebranded Island Def Jam Music Group under Republic Corps as part of its core label strategy, renaming it Republic Corps. It was a scheme enforced by UMG to combine its labels, Republic, Island, and Def Jam, under the "East Coast" operation. Republic Corps and Universal's New York City label operations are under the supervision of Republic co-founder Monte Lipman.

Awards and accolades

IDJMG was ranked as the top rhythmic label by Mediabase's 2012 airplay analysis, with seven number-one songs played on rhythmic radio stations, including songs from Rihanna, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, and Justin Bieber.

Labels

Island Records

* 4th & B'way Records
* Casablanca Records
* Monarc Entertainment
* Photo Finish Records
* Tuff Gong

Def Jam Recordings

* Disturbing tha Peace

Mercury Records

* EmArcy Records
* Limelight Records
* Total Experience Records

Motown Records

* Motown Gospel

Other labels, divisions or affiliate

* ARTium Records

Former or defunct

* American Recordings
* Chemistry Records
* Def Con II
* Def Jamaica
* Def Jam Japan
* Def Jam UK
* Def Jam South
* Def Soul
** Def Soul Classics
* Capricorn Records
* GOOD Music
* Intrepid Records
* Island Black Music
* Island Urban Music
* Lost Highway Records
* Margaritaville Records
* Mercury Classics
* Mercury International
* Mercury Nashville
* Murder Inc. Records
* Radio Killa Records
* Roadrunner Records
* Roc-A-Fella Records
* Roc-La-Familia
* The Rocket Record Company
* Rush Associated Labels
* Russell Simmons Music Group
* Smash Records
* So So Def Recordings
* Tag Records
* Teen Island
* Vertigo Records
* Wing Records

Notable artists before dissolvement

* Adrienne Bailon
* Anthrax (American band)
* Ashanti
* August Alsina
* Big Sean
* Bob Marley
* Bon Jovi
* Cameo
* Christina Milian
* The Diplomats (Island Def Jam/Def Jam/Roc-A-Fella/Diplomat)
* DMX (Island Def Jam/Def Jam/ Ruff Ryders)
* Dru Hill
* Elton John
* Fall Out Boy
* Frank Ocean
* Hanson
* Hikaru Utada
* Iggy Azalea
* Insane Clown Posse
* Indila
* Janet Jackson
* Ja Rule (Island Def Jam/Def Jam/Murder Inc. Records, Murder Inc.)
* Jay-Z
* Jennifer Lopez
* Johnny Cash
* Justin Bieber
* Kanye West
* The Killers
* Kurtis Blow
* Lionel Richie
* LL Cool J
* Logic (musician), Logic
* Ludacris
* Mariah Carey
* Method Man
* Memphis Bleek (Island Def Jam/Def Jam/Roc-A-Fella)
* The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
* My Darkest Days
* Ne-Yo
* Neon Trees
* Nickelback
* Nikki D
* Patti LaBelle
* Redman (rapper), Redman
* Rihanna
* Saliva (band), Saliva
* Shania Twain
* Sum 41
* Young Jeezy (Island Def Jam/Def Jam/CTE World, Corporate Thugz)
* Eric B
* Rakim

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Island Def Jam Music Group, The
American record labels
Companies based in New York City
Universal Music Group
Labels distributed by Universal Music Group
1998 establishments in the United States
Record labels disestablished in 2014
Island Records
Def Jam Recordings