User:JSFarman/sandbox/Interscope Restructure

Interscope Records is an American record label. An imprint of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, its parent company is the Universal Music Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Vivendi S.A..

Interscope was founded in 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a $20 million joint venture with Time Warner's Atlantic Records. At the time, it differed from most record companies by giving decision-making authority to its A&R staff, and allowing artists and producers complete creative control. It had its first hit records less than a year after it was founded and acheived profitability in 1993.

In 1992, Interscope acquired the exclusive rights to market and distribute the hardcore rap label Death Row. Albums by Death Row artists including Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog were at the center of the mid-90s gangsta rap controversy, and as a result, Time Warner severed ties with Interscope by selling its 50 percent stake back to Field and Iovine for $115 million in 1995. In 1996, 50% of the label was acquired by the MCA Music Entertainment Group for a reported $200 million.

Interscope is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. The label's best-selling artists include Madonna, Eminem, and U2.

1990–1995
In 1989, Ted Field began to build Interscope Records as a division of his film company, Interscope Communications. To run it, he hired John McClain, who Iovine and Field were introduced by Paul McGuinness, then U2's manager. After a series of negotiations led by David Geffen, they came to an agreement, and in 1990, Interscope Records was founded as a joint venture with Atlantic Records. In a 1997 article in Rolling Stone, David Wild wrote: "Interscope's start-up coincided with a period of incredible change in the music world. Nirvana had ushered in the alternative revolution... While the major labels were packed with rosters full of expensive veteran artists who had to redefine themselves for a new rock era, Interscope was in the business of signing new artists and could – as Iovine puts it – 'move on a dime.' "

Interscope's first release was "Rico Suave" by Ecuadoran rapper Gerardo in December 1990. A track from the album Mo' Ritmo, released in January 1991, the single peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in in April. Primus' Interscope debut was released in May, followed by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch's Music for the People in July. It included the #1 single "Good Vibrations." Two days after first hearing his demo, Whalley signed Tupac Shakur, and in November 1991, Interscope released 2pacalypse Now, Shakur's studio debut.

Interscope began to develop a significant presence in the alternative genre in 1992. In addition to a second Primus album, the label released No Doubt's self-titled debut, Helmet's Meantime, 4 Non Blondes' Bigger, Better, Faster, More!, and, through a joint venture with TVT/Nothing Records, the Nine Inch Nails EP Broken. However, Interscope's success with alternative and rock music was eclipsed by controversy which began in September 1992, when Vice President Dan Quayle called on Interscope to withdraw 2pacalypse Now, stating that it was responsible for the death of a Texas state trooper, who was shot to death in April by a suspect who allegedly was listening to the album on the tape deck of a stolen truck when he was stopped by the officer. The trooper's family filed a civil suit against Shakur and Interscope, claiming the record's violence-laden lyrics incite "imminent lawless action."

Earlier in 1992, Interscope negotiated a $10-million deal in with Dr. Dre and Marion "Suge" Knight to finance and distribute their label, Death Row Records. It was inititated by McCain, who met Dre when he was recording his solo debut, The Chronic. Original plans had called for the album to be released through Sony, but Sony passed on The Chronic due to "the crazy things going on around Death Row" and the contractual status of Dr. Dre. After hearing the album Iovine agreed to put it out, although doing so required a complicated distribution agreement with Priority Records, Dre's label as a member of N.W.A. The Chronic was released in December 1992.

By the end of the following year, The Chronic had sold almost 3 million copies. Snoop Dog's debut Doggystyle had sold more than 800,000 copies in its first week alone, and Primus and 4 Non-Blondes had released records which hit the US Top 20. In 1993, with an estimated gross of $90 million, Interscope became profitable ahead of projections.

Interscope further established its dominance in the alternative and rock genres in 1994. A $2.5 million investment to establish a joint venture with Trauma Records yielded three #1 Modern Rock tracks and a platinum album with Bush's Sixteen Stone. The Nine Inch Nails album The Downward Spiral went to #2 on the US charts and was widely acclaimed. Marilyn Manson's Portrait of an American Family, The Toadies album Rubberneck and Helmet's Betty were commercially successful and critically embraced.

1995-2000
In May 1995, the controversy related to gangsta rap and explicit lyrics intensified as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole accused Interscope of releasing music that glorified violence and degraded women. Among others, the label was criticized by William J. Bennett, a former Education Secretary, and C. DeLores Tucker, the chairwoman of the National Political Congress of Black Women. In September, Time Warner announced it would disassociate itself from Interscope by selling its half-interest in the company to Field and Iovine for $115 million. Ownership in Interscope was aggressively purused by EMI, BMG, Polygram and MCA. On December 1, 1995, the Los Angeles Times noted that with five albums on that week's pop charts and sales of $350 million over the previous three years, "what may have been a smart move politcally for Time Warner is now looking like a financial fiasco."

In February, 1996, MCA Records -- then owned by Seagram -- bought 50% of Interscope for a reported $200 million. Under the agreement, Interscope retained complete creative control over the label's recordings. MCA was not required to distribute material that it deemed offensive.

In December 1998, Seagram acquired Polygram. Polygram's Geffen Records and A&M Records were merged into Interscope and in early 1999 Interscope Records began operating under the umbrella of Interscope Geffen A&M Records.

2000–2010
In 2000, the company began to distribute a short-lived record label named JCOR Entertainment. In 2004, DreamWorks Records was merged into the Interscope Geffen A&M Records group bringing over artists including Blink-182, The All-American Rejects, Papa Roach, Rise Against, Nelly Furtado, Lifehouse, AFI, Jimmy Eat World and Rufus Wainwright. The artists were divided between Interscope and Geffen, with most going to the latter. In 2005 Interscope launched a new imprint called Cherrytree Records, for emerging artists. This began with the group The Lovemakers and later included Far East Movement, Feist, Natalia Kills, Flipsyde, Tokio Hotel, and Robyn. Lady Gaga is with Interscope, but no longer with Cherrytree. LMFAO and Mindless Behavior are also part of the Interscope Records Major Hits.

In May 2007 Interscope announced a joint-venture partnership with Justin Timberlake to create a new recording label called Tennman Records, with the first artist being Esmee Denters.

2010–present
In 2011, Interscope signed Madonna and Van Halen. Both artists' albums were released in 2012. Both artists were also formerly signed to Warner Bros. Records

On October 7, 2013, it was announced that Interscope Geffen would acquire the A&M/Octone label through a purchase of Octone Records' 50% interest. The transaction was completed in late 2014. A

In May 2014 Iovine resigned as chairman and CEO of Interscope after the company he founded with Dr. Dre, Beats Electronics, was acquired by Apple. John Janick, previously Interscope's COO (and the founder of Fueled By Ramen) was subsequently named chairman and CEO of the label.

Recent signings
On December 14, 2014, former Disney Channel-actress Selena Gomez signed with Interscope. She had previously been signed to Hollywood Records. They signed rapper Dreezy later in December.

British synthpop trio Years & Years have their material distributed by Interscope in the USA as they are signed to Polydor in the United Kingdom.

In July 2015, AlunaGeorge signed with Interscope. In August, Cherrytree/Interscope signed Canadian singer Coeur de Pirate.

50 Cent
In late 2011, rapper 50 Cent engaged in a feud with Interscope stating that "not everyone is not committed to releasing my new album", referencing his yet-to-be-released, fifth studio album. This album, titled Street King Immortal, was meant to be released in the second quarter of 2013.

Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor criticized Universal Music Group for its pricing and distribution plans of Year Zero in Australia. When he asked why it was so much, they replied, "You've got a core audience that's gonna buy whatever we put out, so we can charge more for that [...] True fans will pay whatever." After the release of Year Zero Remixed, two Nine Inch Nails albums, Ghosts I-IV and The Slip, were distributed by Reznor's independent record label The Null Corporation. Nine Inch Nails has recently signed with Sony Music Entertainment via Columbia Records.

Elton John
In discussing his 2006 album The Captain & The Kid with Cameron Crowe in Rolling Stone, Elton John said: "I was so furious with Interscope Records because they put it out and they dropped it. I had meetings in the South of France, and I said, "I know this isn't a commercial album, I just want you to do your best," and they dropped it like a fucking turd. It's probably why I didn't make another solo record. It was pure heartbreak."

Eve
In 2012, rapper Eve blamed Interscope for delaying her much-anticipated fourth album, Lip Lock. The album was delayed for approximately 6 years. It was announced in 2007 and released in 2013.

Kendrick Lamar and Top Dawg Entertainment
On March 15, 2015, rapper Kendrick Lamar's third studio album and second album for Interscope, To Pimp a Butterfly, was released on iTunes, Spotify and Google Play eight days ahead of its scheduled release date (March 23). According to the CEO of Top Dawg Entertainment, Anthony Tiffith, the album's early release was unintentional, apparently caused by an error on the part of the label.

Tiffith blamed Interscope over Twitter for the unexpected release. The tweet, which was later deleted, said: "I would personally like to thank Interscope for fucking up our release. Somebody has got to pay for this mistake. #TOP!"

On the following day, the option to purchase the album was removed from iTunes and the release date was reverted to March 23. On March 16, 2015, the album was digitally released a week ahead of the original schedule. The first short-lived, accidental release might have been the reason for the early release. It did, however, debut at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 for a total of two weeks; with first-week sales of 363,000 copies, streams and singles accounted for (324,000 copies of traditional album sales). It gave the rapper his first number-one album in his career.

Legal issues
In September 2011, it was reported by federal prosecutors that the Interscope Geffen A&M Records building was used by a drug-trafficking ring as a transport center. The Drug Enforcement Administration inspected the year-long case and stated that the Los Angeles offices of Interscope Records were used for pickups and deliveries of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine in 2010 and 2011. Rock-It Cargo, a shipping company which has an immense list of musical clients, shipped music cases that allegedly contained drugs to New York City studios.

Interscope Geffen A&M responded to the claims with a statement that read: “There is no evidence that any employee of UMG or Interscope Records had any involvement in the drug trafficking ring being prosecuted by that office, nor any knowledge of the contents of any of the packages that were purportedly shipped to its offices. Further, neither UMG nor Interscope Records are a subject or target of the investigation. UMG and Interscope will continue to cooperate with the United States Attorney’s Office regarding this matter.”

Associated labels and imprints

 * 19 Recordings (2011–Present)
 * 222 Records (2014–present)
 * Aftermath Entertainment (1996–present)
 * Bad Boy Records (2009–present)
 * Cherrytree Records (2005–present)
 * Division1 (2013–present)
 * DGC Records (2007–present)
 * Dreamville Records (2014–present)
 * Hits Since '87 (2013—present)
 * Insomniac Records (2014–present)
 * Konichiwa Records (2007–present)
 * EarDrummers Entertainment (2013–present)
 * Mad Love Records (2014–present)
 * N.E.E.T. Recordings (2008–present)
 * Qwest Records
 * Shady Records (1999–present)
 * Kidinakorner Records (2011–present)
 * Streamline Records (2007–present)
 * Tennman Records (2007–present)
 * Will.i.am Music Group (2009–present)
 * Zone 4 (2007–present) (distribution deal with Island Records)

Formerly associated labels and imprints

 * A&M Octone Records (2007–2014)
 * Atlantic Records (1989-1995; Distribution was ceased when MCA Inc. acquired the label's stake)
 * eastwest Records (1989-1996; a subsidiary of Atlantic, distributed Interscope until MCA acquired the label)
 * SKG Music (1999-2004; merged into Geffen and Interscope)
 * Death Row Records (1992-1997)
 * El Cartel Records
 * Star Trak Entertainment (2005–2015)
 * Rockland Records (1998-2004)
 * G-Unit Records (2003-2010)
 * Mosley Music Group (2006-2014; Timbaland was signed to joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment's Epic Records resulting in the label being under Epic)
 * Nothing Records (1992-2007; closed in 2004, but the label continued publishing until its extinction in 2007)
 * Ruff Ryders Entertainment (1999-2010)
 * Trauma Records (1993-2004; Trauma has been shuttered since Interscope Geffen A&M acquired the label)

Artists

 * Current Interscope Records artists
 * Former Interscope Records artists

History
1989: Founding - info re Ted Field and Jimmy, j/v, etc

1990s ==First releases.gangsta rap. acquisitions. success and critcism 2000s JVs, market share, criticism - Eminem

2010s Jimmy leaves, legal issues, successes, signs madonna - U2 controversy?

Interscope Records was founded in 1989 by Jimmy Iovine and Interscope Communications' Ted Field with financial support from Atlantic Records, which owned a 53% stake in the label. Initially, it was distributed by the Atlantic Records subsidiary EastWest Records America. A&R Executive Tom Whalley, John McClain and producer Beau Hill A&R Joe Lee Jozwiak were also part of the original founding team. The label's first release was Mo' Ritmo by Gerardo.

Iovine signed Tupac Shakur to a recording contract as one of the first Hip Hop acts on the Interscope label and released his debut album "2pacalypse now" in 1991. Iovine was also responsible for providing distribution, initial funding and financial oversight for the highly successful Death Row Records hip hop label in the early to mid 90's which operated as a subsidiary of Interscope, and was largely responsible for Interscope's initial platinum selling chart successes throughout the decade, which later launched the company into greater success in the 2000's with platinum artists like Eminem and Lady Gaga.

MCA Inc. acquired Atlantic's stake in the label in 1995 due to controversy over gangsta rap, a genre that Interscope championed.

1999–present: Interscope Geffen A&M, Jimmy Iovine and John Janick
The original focus of the label was on hip-hop and urban music, but by the mid 1990s its range began to expand, to where its roster would be as wide ranging to include the industrial rock artist Nine Inch Nails under Nothing Records, Marilyn Manson, Limp Bizkit, No Doubt, Bush and later the Latin artist Kings Of Flow in a unique partnership with Los Angeles-based indie Latin label.

Following Seagram acquisition of PolyGram in 1998, Geffen Records and A&M Records were merged into Interscope, which formed Interscope Geffen A&M Records in January 1999. In 2000, the company began to distribute a short-lived record label named JCOR Entertainment. In 2004, DreamWorks Records was merged into the Interscope Geffen A&M Records group bringing over artists including Blink-182, The All-American Rejects, Papa Roach, Rise Against, Nelly Furtado, Lifehouse, AFI, Jimmy Eat World and Rufus Wainwright. The artists were divided between Interscope and Geffen, with most going to the latter. In 2005 Interscope launched a new imprint called Cherrytree Records, for emerging artists. This began with the group The Lovemakers and later included Far East Movement, Feist, Natalia Kills, Flipsyde, Tokio Hotel, and Robyn. Lady Gaga is with Interscope, but no longer with Cherrytree. LMFAO and Mindless Behavior are also part of the Interscope Records Major Hits.

In May 2007 Interscope announced a joint-venture partnership with Justin Timberlake to create a new recording label called Tennman Records, with the first artist being Esmee Denters.

In 2011, Interscope signed Madonna and Van Halen. Both artists' albums were released in 2012. Both artists were also formerly signed to Warner Bros. Records

On November 8, 2013, it was announced that Interscope Promotion Veteran Greg Marella left the department and became Executive Vice President of promotion at Sony Music's Kemosabe Records, which is headed by Dr. Luke.

On May 13, 2014, Pasquale Rotella's partnered with Interscope Geffen A&M to create Insomniac Records a new EDM imprint, the first artist signed to the label is DJ Arty (Artyom Stolyarov).

On May 28, 2014, Jimmy Iovine, announced that he has stepped down as CEO and Chairman of Interscope Records, a statement on John Janick taking, he said, "John Janick has exactly what it takes to lead Interscope Geffen A&M: he started his own label, he understands the art of making records and the unique dynamic between a record label and artist, as well as the enormous responsibility that comes with representing one of the greatest artist rosters ever assembled." Since the Beginning of May, Janick has been leading the label fully without Iovine. Due to Apple, Inc. acquiring Beats Electronics LLC, Iovine will be joining Apple. Before his job at the Interscope Department, he worked at Fueled By Ramen, a Warner Music Group label.

On October 7, 2013, it was announced that Interscope Geffen would acquire the A&M/Octone label through a purchase of Octone Records' 50% interest. It was eventually completed in late 2014 thus making Interscope Records take all of the artists from both the A&M and Octone labels.

On December 14, 2014, former Disney Channel-actress Selena Gomez signed a recording contract with Interscope, her last material with Disney-owned Hollywood Records, For You, was released on November 24, 2014.

After recently terminating their contract with Chicago rapper Chief Keef, they signed a recording contract with female rapper Dreezy on December 31, 2014 whom later released a new track "Boss" upon her signage to the label.