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Jive Records

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Jive Records
Parent companySony Music Entertainment
Founded1981;43 years ago(1981)[1]
FounderClive Calder
DefunctOctober 7, 2011;12 years ago(October 7, 2011)
Status
  • Inactive
Distributor(s)Legacy Recordings(reissues)
GenreVarious
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York,Chicago

Jive Records(later stylized asJIVE Records) was a British-Americanindependent record labelfounded byClive Calderin 1981 as a subsidiary of theZomba Group.In theUS,the label had offices inNew York CityandChicago.Jive was best known for its successes withhip hop,R&B, and dance acts in the 1980s and 1990s, along withteen popandboy bandsduring the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Jive was acquired byBertelsmann Music Groupin 2002.[2]In 2008, BMG itself was bought out bySony Music Entertainment.[3]Jive Records thereupon remained a unit wholly owned by Sony up until the label’s dissolution in 2011, when Jive was absorbed intoRCA Records.

History[edit]

1970s: Beginnings[edit]

In 1971, South African businessmenClive CalderandRalph Simonbegan a publishing and management company. It was namedZomba Recordsand relocated toLondon,England, four years later; their first client was a youngRobert "Mutt" Lange.Zomba originally wanted to avoid record labels to instead focus on their songwriters and producers while allowing other established labels to release the material.[4]Later that decade, the company opened offices in the US, where Calder began a business relationship withClive Davis,whoseArista Recordsbegan releasing material by Zomba artists.[4]

Formation and early distribution at Arista and RCA (1981)[edit]

In 1981, Zomba formed Jive Records, whose operations began with the release of British dance and pop music from groups such asQ-Feel,A Flock of Seagulls,andTight Fit.[1]Its name was inspired bytownship Jive,a type of music that originated in South Africa.[5]Clive Davis had hoped that Zomba's connection with Mutt Lange would help alleviate the difficulties Arista was having with launching rock acts to success.

Hip hop sprawl and rise in popularity (1982–1995)[edit]

DJ Jazzy Jeffpictured in 2002. Thehip hopduoDJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Princesold over 5.5 million records with the label, and became the first hip hop act to win aGrammy awardfor "Parents Just Don't Understand"in1989.

By 1982, Calder was introduced toBarry Weiss,a young college graduate who took Calder out tohip-hopclubs in New York City for his job interview with Zomba.[6]Weiss and Calder began grooming musicians for what would eventually become the hip hop groupWhodini.[4]After two days, the group created and recorded its hit single "Magic's Wand." While the group would eventually leave Jive, the early success allowed the label to focus on hip-hop artists throughout the 1980s.[1][7]

In 1987, Jive cut distribution ties with Arista, effectively separating them from Davis, who eschewed hip hop music at his label.[8]As the 1980s drew to a close, the label entered a distribution deal with Arista's sister labelRCA Records,and it continued to sign hip hop acts includingDJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince,Boogie Down Productions,Too $hort,Schoolly D,andKid Rock.[7][9]

Aaliyahpictured in 2000. Her debut studio albumAge Ain't Nothing But a Numbersold over 6 million copies and became a multi-platinumrecord for the label.

In 1990, Calder bought Simon’s stake in Zomba and became the sole owner of Jive Records.[10][11]Jive's distribution deal with RCA expired in 1991. At this time,Bertelsmann Music Groupacquired a minority share of the label and began to distribute its records directly.[12]Weiss became chief executive of Jive Records that year.[13]Jive opened branches inChicagoand had also become a premier label in the genres of hip hop andR&Bwith the success of acts likeD-Nice,E-40,UGK,A Tribe Called Quest,Hi-Five,KRS-One/Boogie Down Productions,R. Kelly[14]andAaliyah.

Teen pop acts (1996–2001)[edit]

In 1996, BMG deepened its relationship with the label by purchasing a 20-percent stake of Jive.[8]By the late 1990s, Jive began signing pop actsBackstreet Boys,NSYNCandBritney Spears.All three acts achieved massive success as the 2000s dawned, becoming the three best-selling acts in the label's history.[15]

2000s: Acquisition by BMG and Sony[edit]

In 2002, Calder sold Zomba to BMG for US$2.74 billion,[16][17]which at the time was the largest-ever acquisition of an independent label with major-label distribution.[18]Calder then announced his resignation from Zomba, but continued to stay on at Jive in a temporary advisory role as Zomba was integrated into BMG.[19]Weiss succeeded Calder as the new head of Zomba.[2][20]In 2004, BMG merged with Sony Music Entertainment to formSony BMG.[21]During this time, Jive's management and distribution were restructured under the newly formedZomba Label Group.[22]Artists who had previously been on LaFace and Arista Records were subsequently absorbed under the Zomba group and placed under the purview of Jive Records’ staff. Thus, artists such asPink,Usher,andOutkastbecame de facto Jive artists. Though both physical record sales and teen pop had steadily declined since the early 2000s, the output from Jive’s newer artists — particularly Usher’sConfessionsalbum and Outkast’sSpeakerboxxx/The Love Below— would prove to be profitable successes for Jive. In addition to releasing Spears’ 2007 albumBlackout,[23]Jive was now also the home of a soloJustin Timberlake,whoseFutureSex/LoveSoundsalso saw high sales.[24]Other Jive artists at that time includedCiara[25]andChris Brown.[26][27]

By early 2008, the BMG Label Group was said to includeRCA Records,J Records,LaFace,Arista,Volcano Entertainment,Verity,GospoCentricand Fo Yo Soul — all overseen by Weiss.[28]Later that year, Sony and BMG dissolved its merger, with the former buying out shares of the latter.[29]As a result of Sony's buyout, Jive (along with its BMG sisters RCA and Arista) became a wholly owned unit of a refreshedSony Music Entertainment.Starting in 2008 Jive was all capital (e.g. JIVE Records), this change started when BMG Label Group was renamedRCA/JIVE Label Group.

2010s: Dormancy[edit]

After two decades as president of Jive, Barry Weiss left forUniversal Music Group[30]in March 2011.[31][32]On October 7, 2011, it was announced that Jive, along with Arista andJ Records,would be retired to refresh and re-brandRCA Recordsby not confusing or diluting it with other labels.[33]All retained artists on those labels were then moved to RCA Records.[34][35][30]

The label is currently in hibernation, with the distribution of its back catalog handled by Sony Music'sLegacy Recordings.Previously, the Jive brand was being exclusively used under the Sony Music France division under the name JiveEpicinFranceuntil 2019, when it was absorbed into RCA Records France.[36]

R. Kelly controversy[edit]

On September 27, 2021, singerR. Kellywas found guilty by a federal jury of acts including bribery andsexual exploitationof a child.[37]Allegations of Kelly’s sexual misconduct had long followed the singer since his early career with Jive in the early 1990s,[38][13]as well as throughout the 2000s when a video tape surfaced allegedly showing Kelly engaging in sexual acts with a minor and when Kelly was arrested for possession ofchild pornography.[39][40]

Despite the scandals, Kelly remained signed to Jive’s roster and continued to release albums with the label up to its merger withRCAin 2011.[13]In 2018, theWashington Postran a lengthy article alleging industry executives at Jive had been aware of Kelly's sexually abusive behavior towards young women for years, but did nothing about them due to his success as a performer and songwriter.[13]The article reported Clive Calder had been warned about Kelly’s behavior as early as 1994; it quoted him: "Clearly, we missed something."[13]

Former Jive president Barry Weiss told the newspaper that during his 20 years with the label, he never concerned himself with Kelly's private life, and was unaware of two lawsuits filed against Kelly and the label by women alleging sexual misconduct, suits in which the label had successfully argued it was notliable.[13]Larry Khan, another Jive executive who worked closely with the singer even after viewing the sex tape, similarly implied Kelly’s misconduct was not the label's responsibility and pointed toChuck BerryandJerry Lee Lewisas musicians whose labels also continued to release and promote their records despite public awareness that they were involved with underage girls.[13]

Discography[edit]

Main article:Jive Records discography

Artists[edit]

Main article:List of Jive Records artists

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcMalan, Rian (July 25, 2002). "The $3 Billion Man: Clive Calder".Rolling Stone.Vol. 901. pp. 26, 28.
  2. ^abBrandle, Lars; Christman, Ed; Spahr, Wolfgang (April 5, 2003)."BMG 2002 Profits Up; Zomba Cuts Begin".Billboard.p. 7.
  3. ^Kreps, Daniel (October 2, 2008)."Sony Buys Out Bertelsmann, Ending Sony BMG".Rolling Stone.
  4. ^abcKnopper, Steve (2009).Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age.New York: Free Press. pp.80–104.ISBN978-1-4165-5215-4.
  5. ^"History of Zomba Records Ltd".Fundinguniverse.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
  6. ^Newman, Melinda (April 25, 2008)."BMG's Weiss brings in business savvy".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on January 25, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  7. ^abGoldstein, Patrick (June 19, 1988)."A Rappin' Big Year for Little Jive Records".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  8. ^abSeabrook, John (2015)."6 | Martin Sandberg's Terrible Secret".The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory.W. W. Norton & Company.ISBN9780393241938.RetrievedOctober 2,2021.
  9. ^"Kid Rock".Biography.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  10. ^White, Adam; Newman, Melinda (May 5, 2001)."The Untold Saga of the Zomba Group".Billboard.Vol. 113, no. 18. pp. 1, 98–100.RetrievedOctober 2,2021.
  11. ^"Jive Talking".Forbes.March 19, 2001.
  12. ^Holson, Laura M. (June 12, 2002)."BMG to Buy Rest of Zomba, The Home Of Pop Stars".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedOctober 2,2021.
  13. ^abcdefgEdgers, Geoff (May 4, 2018)."How the music industry overlooked R. Kelly's alleged abuse of young women".Washington Post.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  14. ^McAdams, Janine (November 14, 1992)."Jive Records Jibing in R&B Arena".Billboard.Vol. 104, no. 46. pp. 20, 23.RetrievedOctober 2,2021.
  15. ^Paoletta, Michael (October 30, 1999)."Jive Rides Teen-pop Wave: Trend-savvy Label Looks Beyond Legal Tangles".Billboard.pp. 1, 72.Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  16. ^Leeds, Jeff (July 23, 2007)."Oops!...They Did It Again".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  17. ^Arango, Tim (November 27, 2002)."BMG GETS FLEECED – SHELLS OUT $2.74B FOR ZOMBA, WITHOUT CALDER".New York Post.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  18. ^Green, Tim (March 3, 2020)."'This business is about what's coming next. It always has been.'".Music Business Worldwide.
  19. ^Benz, Matthew; Horwitz, Carolyn (December 7, 2002)."BMG's New Task: Maintaining Zomba's Culture, Creativity".Billboard.Vol. 114, no. 49. pp. 3, 4.RetrievedOctober 2,2021.
  20. ^Christman, Ed (August 7, 2004)."Sony BMG".Billboard.Vol. 116, no. 32. p. 68.
  21. ^Willis, Barry (August 9, 2004)."Done Deal: Sony BMG".Stereophile.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  22. ^Dansby, Andrew (January 14, 2004)."L.A. Reid Exits Arista".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon September 6, 2019.Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  23. ^Ollison, Rashod D. (October 27, 2007). "Britney's back, breathy as ever".Baltimore Sun.
  24. ^"Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds Enters the Billboard Top 200 as the #1 Album in the Country".Sony Music Entertainment.September 20, 2006.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  25. ^"Ciara Pleas To Be Released From Jive".MTV News.February 15, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon May 14, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  26. ^Hildebrand, Lee (October 1, 2006)."Brown runs with it".SF Gate.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  27. ^Wang, Amy X. (March 6, 2020)."At Work With Barry Weiss, CEO of RECORDS".Rolling Stone.Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  28. ^Christman, Ed (April 26, 2008)."Barry's Big Day"(PDF).Billboard.p. 10.Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  29. ^Hefflinger, Mark (August 5, 2008)."Bertelsmann Sells Stake in Sony BMG for $1.2 Billion".Digital Media Wire.Archived fromthe originalon November 22, 2008.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  30. ^abPerpetua, Matthew (October 7, 2011)."RCA Folds Arista, Jive and J Records".Rolling Stone.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
  31. ^"Barry Weiss Exits RCA/Jive".HITS Daily Double.March 2, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  32. ^"Universal Music Hires Sony Executive Barry Weiss".Bloomberg Businessweek.Archived fromthe originalon December 11, 2010.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
  33. ^Halperin, Shirley (October 7, 2011)."RCA Execs Confirm Jive and Arista Labels Shut Down".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  34. ^Szalai, Georg (August 8, 2011)."Peter Edge Named CEO of Sony's RCA Music Group".Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedOctober 2,2021.
  35. ^Halperin, Shirley (July 12, 2011)."L.A. Reid's First Week at Epic Has Some Staffers Feeling 'Energized'".Billboard.Archived fromthe originalon July 15, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  36. ^"Labels - Sony Music - France".Sony Music France.Archived fromthe originalon May 24, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 28,2015.
  37. ^Clifford, Tyler; Cohen, Luc (September 28, 2021)."R. Kelly convicted of luring women, underage girls for sex".Reuters.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  38. ^Closson, Troy (August 30, 2021)."In R. Kelly Trial, the Verdict May Hinge on a Circle of Enablers".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  39. ^DeRogatis, Jim; Pallasch, Abdon M. (February 8, 2002)."City police investigate R&B singer R. Kelly in sex tape".Chicago Sun-Times.Archived fromthe originalon February 12, 2002.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.
  40. ^Susman, Gary (January 23, 2003)."R. Kelly is arrested on porn charges...again".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedSeptember 28,2021.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Knopper, Steve (2009).Appetite for self-destruction: the spectacular crash of the record industry in the digital age.New York: Free Press.ISBN978-1-4165-5215-4.OCLC209699402.

External links[edit]

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