Barry Weiss Steps Down As Head Of Island Def Jam Records

There has been a shake up in the world of the record business. The Island Def Jam Music Group is being dissolved into three separate labels and the head of the IDJ Music Group, Barry Weiss, has steeped down from his position as chairman and CEO of IDJ and the Universal Motown Republic Group.

It seems as though Weiss stepped down tom his position after it was discovered his former colleague at Sony Music Group, Michele Anthony, was promoted to Executive Vice President of U.S. Recorded Music. The move would put her in the position where Weiss had to report directly to her. Some speculate he left because that didn’t sit well with him. However, Universal is saying Barry Weiss vacated his position at Island Def Jam so that he can begin negotiations with Universal’s head honcho Lucian Grainge about creating a new joint venture.

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Universal plans to dismantle the Island Def jam Music Group into three separate labels–Def Jam Records, Motown Records, and Island Records. According to Universal, the splitting of labels will allow for each label to beef up their own marketing and A&R teams.  Def Jam will be run by Steve Bartels who previously held the position of President and COO at Def Jam. Motown Records will be moving back to Los Angeles and will be headed up by Ethiopia Habtemariam. David Massey will retain his title as head of Island Records.

Source 

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