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, merging its music label unit with the MCA Music unit of labels, consolidating both into what is known today as Universal Music Group.[3][4][5]
Following the formation of Universal Music Group, on time for New Year's Day 1999, came the creation of the Island Def Jam Music Group, a new music label unit founded through the combination of 14 or more recording labels, including those consisting of Island Records, Def Jam Recordings and Mercury Records. Although IDJMG brought all three labels together, they continued to operate as separately autonomous labels under the unit, which was assumed presidency by Lyor Cohen.
The Island Def Jam Music Group was also one of the four newly established Universal Music label groups, joining alongside the Universal Motown Republic Group, Verve Label Group and Interscope Geffen A&M Records.[6][7]
In the United Kingdom, Island Records handled its own operations under Universal's Island Records Group, while Def Jam UK was created and distributed by Mercury, which also distributed its artists in that region under the banner, with U.S. distribution rescinded by IDJMG.
1999-2001: Success
The first official release through IDJMG was Biohazard's album New World Disorder, which was released by Mercury 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 joining forces including Def Soul, Roc-A-Fella and Murder Inc. Records, all of which had been a part of the Def Jam 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.[8] For Mercury, its various artists of certain genres would later be drafted to either Motown (by then unrelated to IDJ until 2011), Def Jam (urban) or Island (pop, rock, alternative music and/or other non-urban genres).[7] Some of Mercury's non-urban roster would stay under the label by choice, while some of its international divisions either remained active or would be folded (including Mercury UK, which would oversee Def Jam or Island US releases).[6]
In 2000, the unit launched Def Jam Germany, the first international Def Jam label.[9] 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.[10] Edel SE & Co. KGaA, a German music distributor which owned 17% of Roadrunner at the time, threatened to take legal action against Universal.[11]
During the launch of the new third millennium, Island Def Jam raked in successful radio hits and platinum-selling albums from artists like LL Cool J, Method Man, Redman, DMX, N.O.R.E. (Def Jam), Melissa Etheridge, Bon Jovi, Lionel Richie (Island), and other related associates.[12]
2002–2009: Restructure, Murder Inc. problems, Roc-A-Fella buyout and new leadership
In early 2002, the label won a bidding war to buy Mariah Carey's failed label contract with future UMG sister label Virgin Records.[13][14][15] That November, she released Charmbracelet, but the album didn't perform successfully, sending Carey on a downward spiral as she was struggling with her mental problems at the time, putting her relationship with Island Def Jam at stake.[16] In July 2002, Island Def Jam released Murder Inc. Records's 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.
In 2003, Fefe Dobson, Everlast, and Patti LaBelle all became part of the unit.[17][18] On January 3, 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.[19][20] 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 conflict of interest. TVT's lawsuit[21][22] cites copyright infringement, fraud and tortious interference.[23] Ultimately, TVT was awarded $132 million in damages with Cohen found liable for $56 million.[24] It was later reversed two years later as TVT's cash award was reduced to $126,000 after Island Def Jam successfully appealed the judgment with a claim of this situation not being fraud nor infringement, but instead, breach of contract.[25][26][27] 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.[28][29]
In December, the unit acquired the remaining 50 percent interest in Roc-A-Fella Records in exchange for appointing co-founder Jay-Z president of Def Jam Recordings; the other 50 percent 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.[30][31] Then, in early 2005, the group extended a new label deal renewal with Ludacris' Disturbing tha Peace, making IDJMG a 50 percent stakeholder.[32] 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; a staggering improvement over her predecessor, Charmbracelet.[33] That same year, Island Def Jam reached a breaking point when they signed a newcomer, a Barbadian singer named Rihanna. Her debut single "Pon de Replay" was an instant hit.[34]
In 2006, IDJMG ended their partnership with Roadrunner Records, selling the label to Warner Music.[35] Shakir Stewart was appointed senior vice president of A&R in October.[36] 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.[37][38] 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.[39][40][41] 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.[42][43][44] He was posthumously replaced by Christopher Hicks, a former executive from Warner Music Group.[45]
Approaching 2009, IDJMG began to soar to new heights with Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber. His single, "One Time", generated commercial success and iterated new generosity for the unit.[46]
2010–11: Motown induction and GOOD Music partnership
Throughout 2010, Island Def Jam generated more success from 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 the Island Def Jam Music Group.[47][48] Under Weiss' leadership, Motown Records became an imprint of the Island Def Jam Music Group shortly after the disbandment of the UMRG.[49] Kanye West's imprint, GOOD Music, was given a 10-year distribution partnership with IDJMG.[50][51] 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.[citation needed]
That August, a Jay-Z and Kanye West collaborative album, Watch the Throne, was released under Island Def Jam's distribution. Producing 436,000 copies in its first week, it produced the biggest first-week sales of 2011 hip hop and also the highest for IDJ since Mariah Carey's 2005 album.[52]
2013: Final outbreak
In 2013, Fall Out Boy, Iggy Azalea, and Neon Trees solidified more success at the unit. Respectively, Fall Out Boy's Save Rock and Roll accumulated 154,000 copies, debuting at number one on Billboard.[53] For Iggy Azalea, her single, "Change Your Life", went gold despite debuting at number 34 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[citation needed] Neon Trees' single, "Sleeping with a Friend", made the number seven position on the Adult Top 40 chart after receiving positive feedback.[54]
The Island Def Jam Music Group's operations in the United Kingdom were also changed that year 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.[55][56]
2014: Disbandment
On April 1, 2014, Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO of the Universal Music Group, confirmed the disbandment of the Island Def Jam Music Group. The unit ceased to exist after East Coast label faction CEO Barry Weiss' departure.[57][58][59] Grainge explained:
No matter how much we might work to build 'IDJ' as a brand, that brand could never be as powerful as each of IDJ's constituent parts. At UMG, our labels are empowered to be entrepreneurial and take creative risks. By re-establishing Def Jam, Island and Motown as standalone 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. Barry is a terrific music executive who led our East Coast labels during a critical time of transition. I can't say enough about his contributions to our labels or to thank him enough. He has positioned Def Jam, Island, Motown and Republic to where they are today — poised for even greater levels of success — and we'd love to keep him in the family. He has stepped down in order to enter into discussions with UMG about a new venture together. Barry is an exceptional music executive, and I'm enormously grateful for all of his invaluable contributions during a time of transition for our East Coast companies.
It was believed that Weiss was valiantly 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.[60][61] He was also in talks with Grainge to create a new joint venture with UMG.[62][63]
With Island Def Jam disbanded,[64][2] 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.[65][66] 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.[2][67][68]
In terms of corporate leadership, Steve Bartels was reassigned to CEO of Def Jam until 2018,[69][70] David Massey remained president and CEO of Island (also until 2018),[71][72][73] and Ethiopia Habtemariam was named president of Motown before leaving in 2022.[74][75][76][77] 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.[78] 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.[79]
