business

Adios, Arista and Jive Records

Jive Records, Arista Records, and J Records are no more: RCA announced today that those labels would be folded into the regular RCA banner. COO Tom Corson says this is part of a plan to “refresh RCA,” but that theoretically the labels could come back down the line, should some bizarre moment arise when reviving defunct record labels whose meaning has radically eroded in the last decade seems like a really sound business idea. RCA’s been shedding employees and artists in the last few weeks (you stay strong, Lee DeWyze), but Corson says things are peachy because the label’s “heavily invested in rock.” He’s not even stressed about the Kings of Leon canceling their tour. “They’re doing what rock bands do,” he said. “Especially if you’re brothers and family. This is par for the course for the Kings.” [THR]

Adios, Arista and Jive Records