Interscope records biography for kids
The “clutch your pearls” business model
Interscope didn’t play by the rules in the early days. The label was founded in 1990 by music producer Jimmy Iovine and film producer Ted Field. Interscope made a name for itself by signing artists that other labels wouldn’t touch. From Death Row Records to Nine Inch Nails to Tupac Shakur, the roster was stacked.
Controversy grew its awareness but quality built its loyalty.
That was the pop culture formula in the 1990s. “Clutch your pearls” was the business model that several companies succeeded with across industries. MTV took way more risks than VH1 did. The Sega Genesis released edgy video games that Super Nintendo wouldn’t touch. The same is true about Interscope. They pushed boundaries (without going too far) and reaped the rewards.
“I think that was Jimmy’s genius, being able to say ‘we shouldn’t shy away from controversy as long as it doesn't cross certain lines. Controversy can actually be good for a record label because it generates publicity.’ - Zack on Interscope’s approach.
Even when controversy reached a boiling point, Interscope prevailed. After the infamous 1994 CrimeBill, the American spotlight was (unfairly) on gangsta rap as one of the problems. In 1995, Interscope stakeholder Time Warner faced mounting political pressure to disassociate from the label. Time Warner sold its $115 million, 50% stake back to Interscope in 1995. The next year Interscope sold a 50% stake in the company to MCA for $200 million. The “controversial” label had an $85 million come up and nearly doubled its value. Thanks, Time Warner!
When Pac said that Bob Dole was “too old to understand the way the game is told,” this is what he meant.
Interscope continued its edgy persona with successful artists like Eminem and 50 Cent in the 90s. Eminem became the best-selling artist of the 2000s. 50 Cent’s 2003 is in the running for the best year any rapper has ever had. Several years later, L American record label Record label Interscope Records is an American record label based in Santa Monica, California, owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M imprint. Founded in late 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a $20 million joint venture with Atlantic Records of Warner Music Group and Interscope Communications, it differed from most record labels by letting A&R staff control decisions and allowing artists and producers full creative control. Interscope's first hit records arrived in under a year, and it achieved profitability in 1993. Chair and CEO until May 2014, Iovine was succeeded by John Janick. In 1992, Interscope acquired the exclusive rights to market and distribute releases from hardcore hip hop label Death Row Records, a decision that ultimately put the label at the center of the mid-1990s gangsta rap controversy. As a result, Time Warner, then the parent of Warner Music Group, severed ties with Interscope by selling its 50 percent stake back to Field and Iovine for $115 million in 1995. In 1996, 50% of the label was acquired for a reported $200 million by MCA Inc., later known as Universal Music Group. Interscope's artist roster includes Sting, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Lady Gaga, OneRepublic, Dermot Kennedy, Blackpink, Dr. Dre, DaBaby, Billie Eilish, Finneas, Imagine Dragons, Olivia Rodrigo, Selena Gomez, Camila Cabello, Playboi Carti, Kendrick Lamar, Jennifer Hudson, Ken Carson, GloRilla, Destroy Lonely, Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q, Lana Del Rey, JID, Maroon 5, Moneybagg Yo, Gwen Stefani, Rae Sremmurd, Gracie Abrams, Zedd, Machine Gun Kelly, U2, Yeat, Yungblud, Cuco, Juice Wrld, d4vd, Homixide Gang, Reneé Rapp, Nettspend, J. Cole and Karol G. In 1989, Ted Field began to build Interscope Records as a division of his fil Interscope Records is an American major record label. It is owned by Universal Music Group. The label was founded by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field. It was made as a joint venture with Atlantic Records. One of the main features of the company was weak control over the musicians. This allowed them to freely implement their ideas in creativity. Already in 1993, a year after its founding, the label's profits recouped the $20 million invested in its opening. Until May 2014, the CEO of the company was Iovine, after which he was replaced by John Yanick. In 1992, Interscope acquired the exclusive distribution rights for the releases of hip-hop-specialized label Death Row Records, whose artists included Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur. Later, due to the distribution of the gangsta rap albums by the company, the label was embroiled in great conflict with members of the public. As a result, in 1995 Time Warner, owner of Universal Music Group, severed ties with Interscope, selling 50% of the shares to Field and Iovine for $115 million. In 1996, 50% of the shares were bought for $ 200 million by MCA Music Entertainment Group, later known as Universal Music Group. This short article about music can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This is a list of artists who have recorded for Interscope Records. The names of Interscope affiliated labels, under which the artist recorded, can be found in parentheses. Interscope Records
History
1990–1995: Origins, early success, and joint ventures
Interscope Records
History
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List of Interscope Records artists
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