Staffers and artists at Arista Records are awaiting word about their future as the label prepares for a massive restructuring, sources say.
Talk about Arista’s fate heated up after the announcement earlier this week that Arista Associated Labels would revert to the RCA Victor Group name and function as a stand-alone division of RCA Records.
Already, sources say, Arista Associated VP of A&R Joe McEwen and director of A&R Jonathan Miller have exited. As previously reported, David Weyner, left his post as executive VP/GM for Arista Associated Labels earlier this week.
Those sources confirm that most of Arista’s 170 staffers will be let go. The downsized label would retain a small A&R and marketing staff but be placed under the RCA Music Group banner.
The label’s artist roster will be divided among sister divisions Jive, RCA and J Records. It’s widely thought that the LaFace-affiliated acts (OutKast, Usher, Pink, Cee-Lo) will be transferred to Jive. Sarah McLachlan, Dido and Avril Lavigne would shift to RCA, and Whitney Houston, Kenny G and rap newcomer J-Kwon would go to J Records.
No definitive time frame for the reorganization could be confirmed.
Also unclear is the fate of Arista’s imprints, which include Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def (Dupri is also a senior VP at Arista), Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis’ Flyte Tyme and the Neptunes’ Star Trak.
BMG declined to confirm or deny any element of the impending reorganization. When contacted by Billboard, a spokesman issued the following statement: “BMG is in the process of evaluating the labels and staff in North America. We will announce any decisions or changes at the appropriate time.”
