Mariel Concepcion, N.Y.
Less than two years after becoming president of Island Records
Urban Music, Jermaine Dupri exited the post this week, according to
reports.
The Island Records Urban division was created within the Island Def
Jam Music Group a short time prior to Dupri's hiring in February
2007, just after he stepped down as president of urban music at
Virgin in October 2006.
In the position, Dupri oversaw the label's urban music operations
and reported directly to label chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid and
Steve Bartels, president of Island Music and COO of the Island Def
Jam Music Group.
In July 2007, Dupri's girlfriend, singer Janet Jackson, who also
departed from Virgin in the wake of two consecutive commercial
disappointments, was signed to Island Def Jam. But her label debut,
"Discipline," sold just 428,000 copies in the United States,
according to Nielsen SoundScan, and a Live Nation-promoted tour
also fared badly. Jackson left Island in September.
Dupri's other major initiative at Island was a joint venture with
Procter and Gamble's TAG brand. The partnership created a new
marketing module that allowed for new talent, like So So Def/Tag
artist Q, to be cross-promoted with TAG Body sprays through print,
television, radio and digital advertising.
A source confirms to Billboard that Dupri's departure from Island
won't affect his post at TAG. Island Def Jam had no comment.