AllHipHop.com has received an exclusive report that Atlanta-based
producer Jermaine Dupri’s tenure as President of Island Records Urban Music has
come to an end. A formal announcement of his departure from the position, which
he has held for nearly two years, may come as early as Thursday (Jan
8).
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source close to the situation
confirmed to AllHipHop.com that Dupri has in fact been terminated effective
immediately.
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. In the position, he oversaw
the label’s entire urban music operations, reporting directly to label Chairman
Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Steve Bartells, President of Island Music and COO of the
Island Def Jam Music Group.
Having enjoyed
tremendous success with Island Records songbird Mariah Carey on The Emancipation of Mimi, Dupri’s duties
also included providing production for the Music Group’s entire
roster.
In
April 2008, Island/Def Jam announced the creation of TAG Records, a new venture
with Procter & Gamble’s TAG brand to be helmed by Dupri. The partnership
created a new marketing module that allowed for new talent, like So So Def/TAG
artist Q, to be cross-promoted in conjunction with TAG body sprays through
print, television, radio, and digital advertising.
No
word on how Dupri’s departure will affect TAG Records, nor the roster of artists
on So So Def, which has been distributed through Island Urban since
2007.
