Scarface would end up leaving the label in 2003, returning for a one-album deal. Rosenberg maintains his role as President of Shady Records, EminemвЂ™s joint venture with UMGвЂ™s Interscope Geffen A&M.ДЄn announcement from UMG is expected shortly. Fresh was quickly signed on to become the new CEO of Def Jam South. Eshak and Majid arrived from another Sony Music label, Columbia Records, where they were previously co-heads of A&R.Дef JamвЂ™s previous CEO was Paul Rosenberg, EminemвЂ™s longtime manager, who joined the label in Jan. His exit from RCA also follows news, as first reported by Variety, of the appointments of Imran Majid and Justin Eshak as co-CEOs of UMGвЂ™s Island Records label, effective Jan. Also joining the Def Jam team is rapper Snoop Dogg, who serves as executive creative and strategic consultant, it was announced in June.

He was elevated to EVP that same year.Дef Jam had been run by interim Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Harleston, who also serves as general counsel and executive VP of business and legal affairs at Universal Music Group.ДЇounded 35 years ago, Def Jam is home to Justin Bieber, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, Big Sean, YG, Alessia Cara and Logic, among other artists.Д«alogunвЂ™s hiring comes on the heels of Def Jam naming promotion veteran Nicki Farag executive vice president and general manager. A successful creative executive, Balogun has worked with artists including Bryson Tiller, Childish Gambino, Goldlink, Khalid and Wizkid over. Balogun will be based in Los Angeles and report to UMG Chairman & CEO, Sir Lucian Grainge. The role will take effect on January 1, 2022. In 2018, Balogun co-founded the label Keep Cool, a joint venture with RCA, alongside Courtney Stewart, Jon Tanners and Jared Sherman. Tunji Balogun has joined Def Jam Recordings as its Chairman and CEO. On the pop side, Jay-Z is credited with discovering the top-selling pop act Rihanna, and as a performer he lent his skills to an array of Universal acts, even rapping on a version of вЂњRehab,вЂќ the best-selling single from Amy Winehouse, the British retro-soul singer.Tunji Balogun, RCAвЂ™s executive vice president of A&R, is headed to Def Jam Records as CEO, multiple sources tell Variety.ДЄt RCA, which Balogun joined in 2015 following seven-and-a-half years at Interscope, the A&R exec was involved in signing Khalid, Brockhampton, Normani (via Syco) and Bryson Tiller. The rap act Young Jeezy enjoyed a smash debut but a modest follow-up album and sales of rappers like Freeway and Beanie Sigel have been slow. Under his leadership, Def Jam released two top-selling albums from Kanye West, the producer turned rapper who first came to Def Jam through Jay-ZвЂ™s own imprint, Roc-a-Fella Records.Д«ut elsewhere, Jay-ZвЂ™s results have ranged from muddled to lackluster. Though Universal pursued Jay-Z as an executive so that he could imbue Def JamвЂ™s then-uncertain rap business with credibility, he leaves with a mixed legacy. It is not clear whether Universal will fill the job Jay-Z is vacating.

BalogunвЂ™s exit from RCA comes on the heels of the appointment of Columbia RecordsвЂ™ Imran Majid and Justin Eshak as co-CEOs of UMGвЂ™s Island Records in a deal to take effect from January 2022. His next move is unclear, though there has been speculation that he might strike a deal with the concert giant Live Nation, which has been seeking stakes in artistsвЂ™ various business lines beyond concerts. According to Variety, Balogun was hired by Def Jam after the music giant named Nicki Farag, a promotion veteran, as its executive VP and general manager. Gary He/Associated PressД«ut he is already one of musicвЂ™s most ambitious entrepreneurs, with business interests that include nightclubs, an investment in the New Jersey Nets and a fashion line. Jay-Z is not revealing his plans after he leaves Def Jam Recordings, but he will continue to record for the record label.

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