Island Def Jam Records and Def Jam Records combined Hip-Hop Record Label Analysis

Introductions first…Being a Universal Record Label, Def Jam must be operated in countries all over the globe.

Primarily based in the USA, but operated in countries such as UK, Japan. Japan’s Def Jam Record is operated by Universal Sigma Music, and the UK branch is operated through Virgin EMI. The USA

branch is initially owned by Universal Music Group and operates as part of ‘The Island Def Jam Music Group’.

‘IDJMG’ is an American Label company formed in 1999, when Universal Music Group took the decision to combine

two of it’s daughter companies, this then made the company an even bigger success, as with larger roots now attached, they could reach an even wider audience. Island

Records and Def Jam were those combined.

Barry Weiss is the chairman and CEO of the company itself. ‘IDJMG’ houses artists such as Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Kanye West and so on… need I

mention more?!2012 came a real treat for IDJMG, as they were ‘crowned’ No.1 Rhythmic label

for having 7 Hit No.1 tracks from many of their well-known signed artists.

Founded By?Strangely enough, the founder of Def Jam, Rick Rubin, invented the record label whilst sat in his university dorm in New York.

Shortly after it’s birth, Russell Simmons, now co-founder of the label, joined him on this sure to be epic journey into the Music

and business industry.

Their first release was a single by a punk-rock group called ‘Hose’. Their distribution deals were complex, yet completely

successful. After the success of their signed group, ‘The Beastie Boys’ and their produced album of 1984, having sold

singles extremely well, they scored a demanding and celebratory distribution deal with CBS records (later known as

Sony Music Entertainment) through Columbia Records. In 1986, ‘Slayer’, IDJMG’s next signing; a thrash metal band, was brought on the scene. Their first debut album, one of only two Def Jam releases to be distributed through ‘Geffen Records’,

part of the Universal Music Group.

Later on in the company’s years, they signed a brand new group, ‘Public Enemy’, whom after their album was released, brought shame upon the Def Jam Record label. Because of

this, Rubin left, only for Lyor Cohen to take over.

So what genre does the record label and it’s combined focus on?

Although IDJMG primarily focuses on Hip-Hop artists, it remains one of four Universal Music Group ‘umbrella’ labels In North America, to aid the company in marketing the

works of other genres too; Pop, Rock and Urban performers. The other three Umbrella record companies are Interscope Records, Capitol Music Group and Republic Records. Being globally renowned for having a diverse artists list and genre versatility, Def Jam would be an ideal record label for us. They claim to, when scouting, to look for artists that stand out from a crowd and have the potential to sell millions of

albums all over the world.