R&B songstress Janet Jackson has left Virgin Records and has officially inked with Island Def Jam Music Group, a division of Universal Music Group.
According to Dupri, who heads up Island Def Jam’s Urban Music division, Jackson is signed to IDJG’s Island imprint and her new untitled album is being overseen by IDJG’s CEO/president Antonio “L.A.” Reid.
“I’m happy to see she’s back and part of company and a team of people that care about music,” Dupri told AllHipHop.com of Jackson’s departure from Virgin, which is a subsidiary of EMI Music Group.
Jackson’s departure comes during an attempted buy out EMI Music Group, Virgin Records’ parent company.
Private Equity firm Terra Firma has re-extended a deadline to buy out EMI Group for $4.9 billion, after the firm failed to gain total shareholder approval regarding the purchase.
Terra Firma has also won the approval of the European Commission, which found no antitrust issues to block the deal, but the firm may face a rival offer rumored to be in the works by Warner Music Group.
According to sources, Warner is exploring options to make another counter bid for EMI.
