Def Jam, Motown and Island take frontline for UMG

Universal Music Group (UMG) has made its three East Coast consolidated labels Def Jam Recordings, Island Records and Motown Records into standalone labels under the UMG umbrella.

The closing of the major’s Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJ) was announced today with the unveiling of new executive appointments to lead each of the three labels’ own publicity, A&R, marketing and accounts teams.

Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of UMG says, “At UMG, our labels are empowered to be entrepreneurial and take creative risks. By re-establishing Def Jam, Island and Motown as stand-alone 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.”

Chairman and CEO of East Coast Label Group, Barry Weiss has stepped down; however Grainge has announced he will enter discussions with UMG about a new venture.

“Barry is a terrific music executive who led our East Coast labels during a critical time of transition,” says Grainge. “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 for new levels of growth.”

President and COO of IDJ, Steve Bartels, has been promoted to CEO of Def Jam Recordings while Dion ’No I.D.’ Wilson and Kyambo ’Hip Hop’ Joshua, have been appointed Executive Vice Presidents and Co-Heads of A&R.

Motown Records’ SVP Ethiopia Habtemariam is now President at the iconic label. She will also continue her current role as EVP/Head of Urban Music at UMG. Motown will now reside under Universal’s Capitol Records banner; Capitol was recently acquired by UMG during its EMI takeover.

President of Island and Mercury Records David Massey will expand Island Records’ marketing, publicity and A&R departments with a focus on rock, alternative and pop music. Massey will use the promotional resources of UMG’s most lucrative imprint, Republic Records.

Island Def Jam’s EVP and Head of A&R Karen Kwak has been promoted to the newly-created position of EVP A&R, US Recorded Music, serving all of UMG’s labels in the US.

The news comes 15 years after Def Jam, Island and Motown were consolidated into the Island Def Jam Music Group, marking the return of Motown and Def Jam as separate frontline labels.