A legacy label just got shoved back into the spotlight, with new bosses betting nostalgia can still move the culture needle.
JIVE Records returns as a standalone label
JIVE Records returns as a standalone label
- JIVE Records is getting rebooted as an active frontline imprint.
- Sony Music Entertainment greenlit the reset under RCA Records.
- The label is positioned as fully independent inside the corporate structure.
- Mike Weiss takes a co-President seat after leaving UnitedMasters.
- David Melhado joins Weiss as the other co-President.
- Both report upward to Peter Edge and John Fleckenstein.
- JIVE Records launched in 1981 under Clive Calder.
- Barry Weiss steered the label for more than 25 years.
- Sony Music absorbed JIVE in 2004.
- RCA Music Group folded JIVE into its system in 2008.
- JIVE Records previously housed A Tribe Called Quest and Aaliyah.
- Backstreet Boys, Usher, and Outkast were part of its run.
- Justin Timberlake, P!NK, Chris Brown, NSYNC, and Britney Spears remain with RCA.
- JIVE Records will run from the Sony Music offices in New York City.
- Weiss reports directly to Peter Edge and John Fleckenstein.
- Melhado follows the same executive reporting structure.
- The revived label plans to chase new signings across all genres.
- Its strategy leans toward long-term artist building.
- Leadership frames the mission as modernizing a historic brand.
- RCA highlighted Weiss and Melhado’s work at UnitedMasters.
- Brent Faiyaz emerged during their tenure.
- BigXthaPlug, NLE Choppa, and Anycia were also developed.
- Sarz and Ekkstacy were named among successful collaborators.
- Peter Edge publicly praised the duo’s career results.
- Edge framed their hiring as a natural progression.
- Leadership views the move as reviving JIVE’s pop and hip-hop roots.
- RCA launched a joint venture with Bourne Creatives.
- The partnership targets new artists across multiple genres.
- Sony Music UK named Jerome Porritt Head of A&R at RCA Records UK.
