Super
producer Rick Rubin, founder of Def Jam Records, has been offered a job as co-chairman
of Columbia Records, according to an article published today (Feb. 5) in the New
York Times. Rubin,
44, is acclaimed for his work with major artists such as LL Cool J, Run DMC, Beastie
Boys and even Johnny Cash.His
own label, American Recordings, became a subsidiary label under Warner Bros in
July of 2005. Warner
Bros. was already scheduled to receive the rights to American’s catalog this
year, which includes recordings by Johnny Cash, Slayer, Danzig, the Jayhawks,
the Black Crowes and others.Rubin
is allegedly in negotiations with executives at Warner Bros. to be released from
his contract early. As
the new co-chairman of Columbia Records, Rubin would be expected to have a hand
in everything from signing artists to creating marketing campaigns and help to
attract new artists and to forge a more creative spirit for the label.Neither
Rubin, nor Warner Bros. offered comment.
Rubin founded Def Jam Recordings in 1982 while in high school in Long Beach, CA.
He later moved to New York to attend New York University, and while there, he
met Russell Simmons and eventually established Def Jam, which was originally distributed
by Columbia/CBS.American
Recordings was founded by Rubin in 1988 after a split with Def Jam due to differences
with then-president Lyor Cohen. Cohen is currently the CEO of Warner Music Group,
the parent company of Warner Bros. Records. Since
its inception, American Recording has made many musical discoveries, including
The Geto Boys, the Black Crowes and System of a Down.Rubin
is up for Grammy’s for his production on the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Stadium
Arcadium, the Dixie Chicks’ Taking the Long Way and Justin Timberlake’sFutureSex/LoveSounds.He
is also nominated for Producer of the Year. In
recent years he has also overseen Billboard Top 10 entries by System of
a Down, Shakira, Neil Diamond and Audioslave while collaborating on a critically
acclaimed series of late-career releases by Johnny Cash.
