Interscope Records, Inc. is an American record label that operates as a division of Universal
Music Group.
It was founded in 1989 by Jimmy Iovine and Giorgio Saravia as an exclusive Hip hop label,
which was then owned by Atlantic Recording Corporation, until it was acquired by MCA
Inc. in 1995 over a contention in Gangsta rap.
Since 1999, the label is one of UMG's most pre-eminent labels and operates as the most
active under the Interscope Geffen A&M label group, which is headquartered in Santa Monica,
California.
The label's current artists include Eminem, Fergie, Phillip Phillips, Gwen Stefani, Maroon
5, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, M.I.A., Lana Del Rey, Schoolboy Q, OneRepublic, and Imagine
Dragons.
As of 2013, Interscope became the number-one charting label based on Mediabase, and also
with the largest label share on over four radio formats, with Adult Contemporary being
their largest share of the formats.
History Interscope Records was founded in 1989 by
Jimmy Iovine and Interscope Communications' Ted Field with financial support from Atlantic
Records, which owned a 53% stock 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.
MCA Inc. acquired Atlantic's stake in the label in 1995 due to controversy over gangsta
rap, a genre which Interscope championed.
Today 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, shock rocker Marilyn Manson, rock band Limp Bizkit, No Doubt and later the Latin
artist Kings Of Flow in a unique partnership with Los Angeles based indie Latin label.
Following UMG's acquisition of PolyGram in 1998, Geffen Records and A&M Records were
merged into Interscope.
In 2004, DreamWorks Records was merged into the Interscope-Geffen-A&M 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 as of 2011.
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, the latter of which reunited with its
original lead singer David Lee Roth.
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.
On May 28, 2014, Jimmy Iovine, announced that he has stepped down as CEO and Chairman of
Interscope Records, a statement on 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 joing Apple.
Before his job at the Interscope Department, he worked at Fueled By Ramen, a Warner Music
Group label.
Criticism 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 is currently signed with Columbia Records and no longer associates with Interscope.
About his album The Captain & the Kid, Sir Elton John explained to Cameron Crowe:
Interscope is heavily known for delaying albums in months and even years.
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.
In 2012, rapper Eve blamed Interscope for delaying her much-anticipated fourth album,
Lip Lock.
The album was delayed in approximately 6 years, being announced in 2007 but released only
in 2013.
In 2012, rapper and singer M.I.A.
announced her fourth album, Matangi, for a December 2012 release with Interscope.
The album was pushed back when Interscope shelved the original project claiming it was
"too positive".
M.I.A. wrote new songs and produced new beats, but the album was again subject to numerous
delays.
In September 2013, M.I.A.
threatened to leak the album on the internet; Interscope responded by announcing the release
date as November 5, 2013.
Also in 2012, rapper Azealia Banks announced her debut album, Broke With Expensive Taste,
for a September 2012 release with Interscope and Polydor.
However, the album was subject to multiple delays and remains unreleased.
The first single, "Yung Rapunxel", was also delayed in 2 months.
She has stated on her tumblr: In January 2014, Azealia slammed Interscope
on her twitter, stating: Associated record labels under Interscope
Records 19 Recordings
Aftermath Entertainment Bad Boy Records
Cherrytree Records Division1
DGC Records Dreamville Records
Hits Since '87 Insomniac Records
Konichiwa Records EarDrummers Entertainment
Mosley Music Group N.E.E.T.
Recordings Qwest Records
Shady Records Kidinakorner Records
Star Trak Entertainment Streamline Records
Tennman Records Will.i.am Music Group
Zone 4 Former associated labels under Interscope
Records A&M Octone Records
Atlantic Records eastwest Records
SKG Music Death Row Records
El Cartel Records G-Unit Records
Nothing Records Trauma Records
Artists Current Interscope Records artists
Former Interscope Records artists See also
List of record labels Interscope Records discography
A&M Octone Records References
External links Interscope.com
Interscope A&R team contact list Video Interview with Jimmy Iovine, Chairman
of Interscope Interview with Interscope A&R Mark Williams,
HitQuarters Apr 2006 Interscope Records discography at Discogs