Jump to content

Interscope Records

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Interscope Records Inc.
Parent companyUniversal Music Group (UMG)
Founded1990; 34 years ago (1990)[1]
Founder
Distributor(s)
GenreVarious
Country of originUnited States
LocationSanta Monica, California, U.S.
Official websiteinterscope.com Edit this at Wikidata

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,[2] it differed from most record labels by letting A&R staff control decisions and allowing artists and producers full creative control.[3] Interscope's first hit records arrived in under a year, and it achieved profitability in 1993.[4] Chair and CEO until May 2014, Iovine was succeeded by John Janick.[5]

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.,[4][6][7] 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, 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.

History

[edit]

1990–1995: Origins, early success, and joint ventures

[edit]

In 1989, Ted Field began to build Interscope Records as a division of his film company, Interscope Communications. To run it, he hired John McClain, who had played a central role in Janet Jackson's success at A&M Records, and Tom Whalley, who had been the head of A&R at Capitol Records. Separately, Iovine, who had produced records for U2, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks, and John Lennon, among others, was trying to raise money to start a label. "I thought, 'Music is going to change,'" Iovine said in 1997. "'Young bands aren't going to be asking for me.' But I love working with the new thing. I always liked the part of the business that's the first time you hear something, and I knew I wasn't in that business anymore."[8]

Iovine and Field were introduced by Paul McGuinness, then U2's manager. After a series of negotiations led by David Geffen, they came to an agreement, and in 1990, Interscope Records was founded as a joint venture with Atlantic Records. In a 1997 article in Rolling Stone, David Wild wrote: "Interscope's start-up coincided with a period of incredible change in the music world. Nirvana had ushered in the alternative revolution... While the major labels were packed with rosters full of expensive veteran artists who had to redefine themselves for a new rock era, Interscope was in the business of signing new artists and could – as Iovine puts it – 'move on a dime.'"[8][9][10][11]

Based in Los Angeles, California in the Westwood neighborhood at an office building on 10900 Wilshire Boulevard, Interscope was run by "music men". It was a departure from the music industry practices of the 1970s and 1980s, when labels traditionally appointed lawyers and promotion executives to senior positions. A founding tenet of the label was that artists would have complete creative control.[4]

Interscope's first release was "Rico Suave" by Ecuadorian rapper Gerardo in December 1990; the single reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in April 1991. Primus' Interscope debut, Sailing the Seas of Cheese, was released in May, followed by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch's Music for the People in July. It included the number-one single "Good Vibrations". Two days after first hearing his demo, Whalley signed Tupac Shakur in August 1991, and by November, Interscope released 2Pacalypse Now, Shakur's studio debut.[12]

Interscope began to develop a significant presence in the genre of alternative rock in 1992. In addition to a second Primus album, the label released No Doubt's self-titled debut, Helmet's Meantime, 4 Non Blondes' Bigger, Better, Faster, More!, acquired and re-released Rocket from the Crypt's Circa: Now!, and, through a joint venture with TVT/Nothing Records, the Nine Inch Nails EP Broken. However, Interscope's success with alternative and rock music was eclipsed by controversy which began in September 1992, when Vice President Dan Quayle called on Interscope to withdraw 2Pacalypse Now, stating that it was responsible for the death of a Texas state trooper, who was shot to death in April by a suspect who allegedly was listening to the album on the tape deck of a stolen truck when he was stopped by the officer. The trooper's family filed a civil suit against Shakur and Interscope, claiming the record's violence-laden lyrics incite "imminent lawless action".[12][13]

Earlier in 1992, Interscope negotiated a $10-million deal with Dr. Dre and Marion "Suge" Knight to finance and distribute their label, Death Row Records. It was initiated by McClain, who met Dre when he was recording his solo debut, The Chronic. Original plans had called for the album to be released through Sony, but Sony passed on The Chronic due to "the crazy things going on around Death Row" and the contractual status of Dr. Dre. After hearing the album, Iovine agreed to put it out, although doing so required a complicated distribution agreement with Priority Records, Dre's label as a member of N.W.A. The Chronic was released in December 1992.[14][15]

By the end of the following year, The Chronic had sold almost 3 million copies. Snoop Dogg's debut Doggystyle had sold more than 800,000 copies in its first week alone, and Primus and 4 Non-Blondes had released records which hit the US Top 20. In 1993, with an estimated gross of $90 million, Interscope became profitable ahead of projections.[16][17]

Interscope further established its strength in the alternative and rock genres in 1994. A $2.5 million investment to establish a joint venture with Trauma Records yielded three number-one Modern Rock tracks and a platinum-certified album with Bush's Sixteen Stone. The Nine Inch Nails album The Downward Spiral went to number two on the US charts and was widely acclaimed. Marilyn Manson's Portrait of an American Family, The Toadies album Rubberneck and Helmet's Betty were commercially successful and critically embraced.[18][19]

1995–2000: Gangsta rap controversy, acquisition by MCA, Aftermath and Shady

[edit]

In May 1995, the controversy related to gangsta rap and explicit lyrics intensified as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole accused Interscope of releasing music that glorified violence and degraded women. Among others, the label was criticized by William J. Bennett, a former Education Secretary, and C. DeLores Tucker, the chairwoman of the National Political Congress of Black Women. In September, Time Warner announced it would disassociate itself from Interscope by selling its half-interest in the company to Field and Iovine for $115 million.[16][20] Ownership in Interscope was aggressively pursued by EMI, BMG, PolyGram and MCA. On December 1, 1995, the Los Angeles Times noted that with five albums on that week's pop charts and sales of $350 million over the previous three years, "what may have been a smart move politically for Time Warner is now looking like a financial fiasco."[21] In February 1996, MCA Records—then owned by Seagram—bought 50% of Interscope for a reported $200 million. Under the agreement, Interscope retained complete creative control over the label's recordings. MCA was not required to distribute material that it deemed offensive.[22]

Dre left Death Row in mid-1996 due to what was then reported as tension over the creative direction of the label, and founded Aftermath Entertainment, a new joint venture with Interscope. In November that same year, Aftermath debuted with the album Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath. The Death Row deal remained in place until 1997, when Knight was imprisoned for parole violations.[23][24][25]

In November 1996, with records by Bush, Snoop Dogg, No Doubt, and Tupac Shakur, Interscope became the first label in 20 years to hold the top 4 positions on the Billboard charts. Six additional Interscope releases were in the Top 100. The label was frequently criticized for overspending on artist acquisitions and joint ventures, however, with revenue for 1996 estimated at $250 million, it operated at a profit.[26]

In 1996, MCA Music Entertainment was renamed Universal Music Group. In 1998, the Universal Music Group parent company Seagram acquired PolyGram Records. MCA's Geffen Records and PolyGram's A&M Records were merged into Interscope, and in early 1999, Interscope Records began operating under the umbrella of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, with Iovine and Field serving as co-chairmen.[27]

Iovine's assistant (and former intern) Dean Geistlinger saw Eminem perform at the Rap Olympics in Los Angeles in 1997 and passed Eminem's CD on to Iovine; Iovine, in turn, passed it on to Dre. In February 1999, Interscope and Aftermath released The Slim Shady LP.[28] The album entered the charts at number two, and won two Grammy Awards.[29] Later in 1999 Eminem and his manager, Paul Rosenberg, founded Shady Records.[30]

In 1998, Interscope signed a joint-venture deal with Ruff Ryders.

On June 22, 1999, Interscope/Flip records released Limp Bizkit's second studio album Significant Other selling 643,874 copies in the first week. In the second week, it sold an additional 335,000 copies. It would go on to sell 7,000,000 copies in the US. Being certified 7x Platinum in 2001. It would go on to sell 16,000,000 copies worldwide.

By the close of the decade, Interscope sales accounted for nearly one-third of Seagram's 27% share of the U.S. music market. Records by Limp Bizkit, Eminem, Dre, Eve, Nine Inch Nails, Enrique Iglesias, Blackstreet, Smash Mouth and others generated an estimated $40 million in profit during the final six months of 1999.[31]

2000–2010: Departure of Field, DreamWorks, Cherrytree Records and Beats

[edit]

Interscope/Shady released Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP on May 23, 2000. The fastest-selling rap album in history, it sold 1.76 million copies in its first week.[32] On October 19, 2000, Interscope/Flip records released Limp Bizkit's third studio album, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water and it would shift 1.05 million copies in its first week in the United States, becoming the fastest-selling rock album in history. Cementing Nu Metal's status in pop culture as a top selling genre during the 2000s. Also Interscope began its relationship with U2 after it acquired the US rights to market and distribute the album All That You Can't Leave Behind. Iovine had been trying to sign U2 since 1990.[4]

In 2001, Field resigned as co-chairman of Interscope to start a new label.[33] Described as an amicable parting, Field said he was "anxious to become an entrepreneur again." An agreement with Universal allowed Field to resign a year before his contract was set to expire.[34][35] Conversely, Whalley, Interscope's president since 1998, accepted the position of chairman of Warner Bros. Records in May 2000 and was not released from his Interscope contract until it expired in August 2001.[36]

Interscope/Shady released The Eminem Show, in May 2002 and the soundtrack for Eminem's semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile in October; the two titles combined sold more than 11,000,000 records before the end of the year.[37][38] In 2002, New York City rapper 50 Cent signed to Interscope with a $1 million advance.[39] 50 Cent's major-label debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' was released on February 6, 2003, through Interscope. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and the album went on to be certified 9× platinum in America. In April, it was announced that 50 Cent would sign and develop artists for release on G-Unit Records, which would be marketed and distributed through Interscope.[40] 50 Cent's success allowed G-Unit artists to release their own projects. G-Unit's Lloyd Banks released his debut studio album, The Hunger for More in June 2004 through Interscope. Anchored by the success of the single, On Fire, the album debuted atop the Billboard 200 and achieved platinum status in America.

On September 23, 2003, Interscope/Flip Records released Limp Bizkit's fourth album Results May Vary, selling 325,000 copies in the first week. Debuting at No. 3 on Billboard 200, ending Limp's number 1 streak from their previous releases. It would go on to be certified Gold in 2003 and later Platinum in 2008. Ending Limp Bizkit's commercial peak, the album would be their lowest-selling of their career up to that point. The band would go in hiatus in 2006, after releasing The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1), their first EP and later their first greatest hits album called Greatest Hitz in 2005. They both would sell 2,000,000 and 3,500,000 for a combined total of 5,500,000 worldwide.

In November 2003, Universal Music Group acquired DreamWorks Records and in 2004 it was merged into Interscope Geffen A&M. The DreamWorks A&R staff was retained, and the label's artists were divided between Geffen and Interscope. Among others, Interscope inherited Blink-182, The All-American Rejects, and Nelly Furtado.[41]

In March 2005, Interscope launched Cherrytree Records with Martin Kierszenbaum, its head of international operations. Kierszenbaum, also a producer and A&R executive, focused initially on developing artists from outside the United States. Feist and Robyn were among Cherrytree's first artists.[42][43]

Four of Interscope's releases were in the top 10 of the year end sales charts in 2005: The Massacre (50 Cent) at number one, Encore (Eminem) at number two, Love.Angel.Music.Baby. (Gwen Stefani) at number six, and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (U2) at number eight. The Game's The Documentary appeared at number 16, and The Black Eyed Peas album Monkey Business charted at number 18.[44]

In 2006, Dre and Iovine established Beats Electronics. Dre had been approached by his attorney to start a line of sneakers, and when he told Iovine about the idea, Iovine said: "You know speakers, not sneakers." 'Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Headphones' were introduced in January 2008 at the annual Consumer Electronics Show. "It took us two years to get them right, but when I heard I knew it was going to be big," Iovine said in 2010. "It's just like listening to a hit record." The marketing for Beats integrated endorsements from Interscope artists including Gwen Stefani, M.I.A. and Pharrell, Lady Gaga, and will.i.am. [45][46]

Lady Gaga's studio debut The Fame was released in August 2008; it was re-released with eight new songs as The Fame Monster in November 2009. Interscope held the top four positions on the 2009 year-end Hot 100 charts with The Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow" (number one) and "I Gotta Feeling" (number four); Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" charted at number two and "Just Dance" was at number three.[47]

2010–2020: Lady Gaga, Madonna, Eminem, departure of Iovine and appointment of John Janick

[edit]

In June 2010 Eminem's Recovery entered the Billboard 200 at number one, his sixth album to do so. Born This Way by Lady Gaga was released in May 2011, and debuted at number one in 23 countries. In the US, with more than one million copies sold in its first week, it had the highest first-week album sales in five years. Four of the album's singles—"Born This Way", "Judas", "The Edge of Glory", and "You and I"—charted in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.[48][49]

Interscope signed Madonna and Van Halen in 2011. Both artists were previously signed to Warner Bros. Records; both released their first records for Interscope in 2012.[50]

In October 2012, John Janick was named president and COO of Interscope Geffen A&M. The founder of Fueled By Ramen, Janick had previous success with artists including Jimmy Eat World, Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco and Paramore. At the time of his appointment, it was reported that Iovine had chosen Janick as his eventual successor—Iovine's attention had increasingly turned to Beats, which dominated the headphone market with 2012 revenues of $512 million.[51][52] In May 2014, following Apple's acquisition of Beats, Iovine resigned. As anticipated, Janick was named chairman and CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M.[53][54]

Six Interscope releases appeared in the Billboard year end album charts in 2014: The Marshall Mathers LP 2 by Eminem, Ultraviolence by Lana Del Rey, V by Maroon 5, Native from OneRepublic, Lady Gaga's ARTPOP, and Oxymoron by Schoolboy Q.[55] In December 2014 it was announced that Selena Gomez, previously signed to Hollywood Records, had signed with Interscope.[56]

Imagine Dragons' Smoke + Mirrors debuted on the Billboard album charts at number one in March 2015. A week later, Kendrick Lamar's album To Pimp a Butterfly appeared at number one, a position it held for two consecutive weeks.[57] Lamar won five Grammys in 2016.[58] In August 2017, JoJo announced she had re-signed to Interscope, in a joint venture deal to launch her own music imprint, Clover Music.[59]

In October 2018, YG Entertainment teamed up with Interscope Records in a global partnership for Blackpink. Interscope and Universal Music Group would represent the girl group worldwide, outside of Asia.[60]

In May 2019, Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer signed with Interscope Records, following their departure from Capitol Records. On March 27, 2020, the band released their fourth studio album Calm. The album was a commercial success and received generally positive reviews from critics who praised the band's artistic growth and maturity.[61] The album charted in more than 25 countries on several charts,[citation needed] the album peaked in the top 10 on 17 charts and debuted atop the charts at number one in Australia,[62] the UK[63] and Scotland.[64]

2020–present: Interscope Capitol Labels Group

[edit]

Interscope became the flagship label of Interscope Capitol Labels Group beginning in 2024. The label also signed American singer Jennifer Hudson, her first time being under a UMG label after being under four different labels with Sony Music since 2006. The singer also announced she will release her fourth album, The Gift of Love, her first ever Christmas album which is set to be released on October 18, 2024.

Criticism and controversies

[edit]

Album delays

[edit]

Several artists have criticized Interscope for delaying albums. The label was embroiled in controversy over delaying the release of the singer Bilal's second album, Love for Sale, because of its creative direction.[65] Dr. Dre had assisted Bilal's production for the album in a limited role.[66] After it leaked in 2006, Interscope notoriously shelved the release indefinitely,[67] giving rise to rumors that the label had leaked it on purpose.[68]

In 2013, M.I.A. said her album Matangi was held because the label felt the record she turned in was "too positive" for her fans.[69] In 2010, rapper Eve left Interscope after a three-year delay of her album Lip Lock.[70] Blink-182, All Time Low, and 50 Cent have similarly criticized Interscope.[71]

Elton John

[edit]

In discussing his 2006 album The Captain & the Kid with Cameron Crowe in Rolling Stone, Elton John said: "I was so furious with Interscope Records because they put it out and they dropped it. I had meetings in the South of France, and I said, 'I know this isn't a commercial album, I just want you to do your best,' and they dropped it like a fucking turd. It's probably why I didn't make another solo record. It was pure heartbreak."[72] John would later return to Interscope in the US in 2019.

Nine Inch Nails

[edit]

In 2007, Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor criticized Universal Music Group for the inflated price of Year Zero in Australia. In an interview with the Herald Sun in Melbourne, he said that an employee of UMG stated that NIN had "a core audience that's gonna buy whatever we put out, so we can charge more...True fans will pay whatever."[73] Nine Inch Nails signed with Columbia Records in 2013.[74]

Die Antwoord

[edit]

On November 7, 2011, it was reported that the South African hip hop/rave group Die Antwoord was leaving Interscope Records over a dispute with the label wanting their second studio album Tension to be re-worked for "mainstream appeal".[75][76] Problems with Interscope first arose when the group decided the lead single for their second album would be "Fok julle naaiers" (loosely translated to "Fuck you fuckers"). Tension was ultimately released through Zef Recordz in early 2012.[77]

Kendrick Lamar and Top Dawg Entertainment

[edit]

On March 15, 2015, Kendrick Lamar's album, To Pimp a Butterfly, was released on iTunes, Spotify and Google Play eight days ahead of its scheduled release date (March 23). The CEO of Top Dawg Entertainment, Anthony Tiffith, blamed Interscope for the album's unintentional release, and tweeted: "I would personally like to thank Interscope for fucking up our release. Somebody has got to pay for this mistake. #TOP!"[78][79] The tweet was later deleted. On the following day, the option to purchase the album was removed from iTunes. The album debuted at number one when it was officially released.[80]

Alleged knowledge of Marilyn Manson sex abuse

[edit]

In January 2023, a sex abuse lawsuit was filed alleging that Interscope and its now defunct subsidiary Nothing Records knew about sex abuse committed by Marilyn Manson against a girl in the 1990s when he was signed with Nothing Records.[81][82]

[edit]

Rockit Cargo

[edit]

In September 2011, it was reported by federal prosecutors that the Interscope Geffen A&M Records building was used by a drug-trafficking ring as a transport center.[83] The Drug Enforcement Administration inspected the year-long case and stated that the Los Angeles offices of Interscope Records were used for pickups and deliveries of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine in 2010 and 2011. Rock-It Cargo, a shipping company which has an immense list of musical clients, shipped music cases that allegedly contained drugs to New York City studios.[84] [85] Interscope Geffen A&M responded to the claims with a statement that read: "There is no evidence that any employee of UMG or Interscope Records had any involvement in the drug trafficking ring being prosecuted by that office, nor any knowledge of the contents of any of the packages that were purportedly shipped to its offices. Further, neither UMG nor Interscope Records are a subject or target of the investigation. UMG and Interscope will continue to cooperate with the United States Attorney's Office regarding this matter".[86]

Trauma and JCOR

[edit]

In 1997, Trauma Records filed a $100 million lawsuit against Interscope that charged the company with fraud and the unfulfillment of a two-year promise to assign No Doubt to Trauma's roster. After a four-month dispute, the partnership was dissolved in an out-of-court agreement. Trauma Records principals reportedly received an additional $3 million; No Doubt remained with Interscope.[87]

In 2002, JCOR founder Jay Faires filed a $30 million breach-of-contract suit that alleged that Interscope had withheld millions of dollars in an effort to drive it out of business. Interscope responded that JCOR had hid its true financial position at the time it signed its distribution contract and had attempted to use Interscope's money to finance its business.[88]

Associated labels and imprints

[edit]

Formerly associated labels and imprints

[edit]

Artists

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Interscope". Complex Networks. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  2. ^ "Interscope: Inside the Hit Factory". Rolling Stone. April 3, 1997. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  3. ^ Foege, Alec (December 3, 1995). "Shunned, Scorned, and Doing Quite Nicely". The New York Times. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Hilburn, Robert and, Phillips, Chuck (October 24, 1993). "They Sure Figured Something Out : Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field have broken all the rules at Interscope". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 1, 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Christman, Ed (May 28, 2014). "John Janick Replaces Jimmy Iovine Atop Interscope Geffen A&M". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  6. ^ Fabrikant, Geraldine (February 22, 1996). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS;MCA Agrees to Buy Stake in Interscope Record Label". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  7. ^ PHILIPS, CHUCK (January 19, 1996). "MCA Offers $200 Million to Acquire a 50% Stake in Interscope Records". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  8. ^ a b Wild, David (April 3, 1997). "Interscope Records: Inside the Hit Factory". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  9. ^ Philips, Chuck (March 26, 1998). "Back in the Club". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  10. ^ Bailey, Diane (January 1, 2013). The Story of Interscope Records. New York: Mason Crest. p. 64. ISBN 978-1422221150. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  11. ^ "Interscope Records, Inc.: Private Company Information". Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  12. ^ a b Monjauze, Molly and, Robinson, Staci (February 1, 2008). Tupac Remembered: Bearing Witness to a Life and Legacy. Becker & Meyer. ISBN 978-1932855760. Retrieved September 16, 2015.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Broder, James (September 23, 1992). "Quayle Calls for Pulling Rap Album Tied to Murder Case". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  14. ^ Westhoff, Ben (November 19, 2012). "The Making of the Chronic". LA Weekly. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  15. ^ Phillips, Chuck (March 22, 1996). "Rapper Dr. Dre to part ways with Death Row, start new record label". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  16. ^ a b Hilburn, Robert and, Philips, Chuck (September 29, 1995). "COMPANY TOWN : Q & A : Vocal Session : Interscope's Iovine Reflects on Time Warner Split". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Markman, Rob (November 22, 2013). "20 Years Later, Snoop Dogg Has 'Never' Listened To Doggystyle". MTV. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  18. ^ Reilly, Patrick M. (April 10, 1997). "Dissonance Mars the Alliance Between Trauma and Interscope". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  19. ^ Harris, Keith (April 17, 2014). "1994: The 40 Best Records From Mainstream Alternative's Greatest Year". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 16, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  20. ^ Landler, Mark (August 10, 1995). "Time Warner Seeks to Sell Stake in Gangsta Rap Label". The New York Times. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  21. ^ Philips, Chuck (December 1, 1995). "Company Town : 4 Music Companies Wooing Interscope : Recording: Time Warner's move to distance itself from the controversial label may prove to be politically savvy but financially disastrous". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  22. ^ Philips, Chuck (January 19, 1996). "MCA Offers $200 Million Acquire a 50% Stake in Interscope Records". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  23. ^ Phillips, Chuck (October 13, 1996). "The Doctor, Unmasked". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  24. ^ "Dr. Dre Biography". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 28, 2010.
  25. ^ Strauss, Neil (January 28, 1998). "Rap Empire Unraveling As Stars Flee". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  26. ^ Philips, Chuck (November 28, 1996). "Interscope Is Golden on the Pop Chart". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  27. ^ Neil, Strauss (December 21, 1998). "A Major Merger Shakes Up the World of Rock". The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  28. ^ Lockett, Dee (April 2, 2015). "7 Fun Facts We Learned From Eminem's Genius Annotations". New York. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  29. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Slim Shady LP". AllMusic.
  30. ^ Graham, Adam (November 20, 2014). "Eminem looks back, forward on 15 years of Shady Records". Detroit News. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  31. ^ Phillips, Chuck (December 14, 1999). "Interscope Emerges as Star Act for Seagram". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  32. ^ Grahme, Charne (September 15, 2011). "10 RAPPERS IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS". Houston Press. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  33. ^ "Interscope Records' Co-Founder Steps Down". Los Angeles Times. February 3, 2001.
  34. ^ Pollack, Mark. "TED FIELD LEAVES INTERSCOPE". Hits Magazine.
  35. ^ Lieberson, Alison (February 3, 2001). "INTERSCOPE'S FIELD STRIKES OUT ON HIS OWN". New York Post. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  36. ^ Leeds, Jeff (August 14, 2001). "Whalley to Head Warner Bros. Record Label". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  37. ^ "Eminem Ends Year on Top, But Album Sales Tumble". Billboard. January 3, 2003. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  38. ^ Kreps, Daniel (December 9, 2009). "Eminem and The Beatles: The Top-Selling Artists of the 2000s". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 2, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  39. ^ "50 Cent Parts Ways with Interscope Records, Signs Independent Deal with Caroline/Capitol/UMG". Complex Networks. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  40. ^ "Interscope Gets on Board With 50 Cent's Label". Billboard. April 8, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  41. ^ Newman, Melinda (January 24, 2004). "DreamWorks Power Trio at Crossroads". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  42. ^ Pilato, Bruce (April 29, 2015). "At 10-Years, Cherrytree Label Continues to Bear Fruit". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  43. ^ Leeds, Jeff (December 5, 2007). "As U.S. Pop Wanes Abroad, Talent Scout Looks Wide". The New York Times. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  44. ^ "Year End Charts 2005". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  45. ^ Sanburn, Josh (January 16, 2013). "How Dr. Dre Made $300 Headphones a Must-Have Accessory". Time. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  46. ^ Boucher, Geoff (January 7, 2010). "A force in music turns to its sound". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  47. ^ "Hot 100 Songs: Year End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  48. ^ Ramirez, Erica. "Eminem's 30 Biggest Songs". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  49. ^ Amter, Charlie (February 18, 2011). "Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Fastest Selling Single Ever on iTunes". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  50. ^ Halperin, Shirley (February 8, 2012). "Jimmy Iovine on Sound, Vision and Why He Signed Madonna and Van Halen (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  51. ^ Gara, Tom (January 11, 2013). "Pop Quiz: What Is Beats By Dre's Market Share?". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  52. ^ Aswad, Jem (October 3, 2012). "It's Official: John Janick Named President/COO of Interscope Geffen A&M". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  53. ^ "John Janick to Succeed Jimmy Iovine as Chairman, CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M". Billboard. May 28, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  54. ^ Sisario, Ben (May 28, 2014). "Jimmy Iovine, a Master of Beats, Lends Apple a Skilled Ear". The New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  55. ^ "Billboard Year End Album Charts 2014". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  56. ^ Peters, Mitchell (December 14, 2014). "Selena Gomez Officially Signs with Interscope". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  57. ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 1, 2015). "Kendrick Lamar Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  58. ^ Sheffield, Rob (February 16, 2016). "Grammys 2016: King Kendrick Lamar Steals the Show". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  59. ^ a b Jefferson, J'na (August 18, 2017). "JoJo Announces Music Imprint "Clover Music" With Interscope". Vibe. United States. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  60. ^ "BLACKPINK Sign With Interscope Records & UMG in Global Partnership With YG Entertainment: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  61. ^ Calm by 5 Seconds of Summer, retrieved May 19, 2020
  62. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". aria.com.au. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  63. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". officialcharts.com. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  64. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". officialcharts.com. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  65. ^ Gray, Arielle (November 26, 2018). "Bilal Brings Creative Resistance to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum". The ARTery. WBUR. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  66. ^ Kellman, Andy (n.d.). "Bilal". AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  67. ^ "Bilal on World Cafe". NPR. January 26, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  68. ^ Aewing (August 5, 2010). "Bilal Talks 'Love for Sale' Leaks, Working with Nottz & 88-Keys". HipHopDX. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  69. ^ Makarechi, Kia (January 7, 2013). "M.I.A. Album Delayed Because Label Thinks It's Too Positive, Says Singer". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  70. ^ Cline, Georgette (July 5, 2012). "Eve Reveals Frustrations With Interscope Records Over 'Lip Lock' Album Delay". The Boombox. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  71. ^ Carroll, Grace (October 24, 2012). "BLINK-182 SPLIT FROM MAJOR LABEL INTERSCOPE, NOW UNSIGNED". Gigwise. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  72. ^ "Elton John: My Life in 20 Songs". Rolling Stone. October 10, 2013. Archived from the original on June 14, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  73. ^ "Q&A with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails". Melbourne Herald Sun. May 12, 2007. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  74. ^ Spin Staff (August 19, 2013). "Trent Reznor on Nine Inch Nails' Columbia Signing: 'I'm Not a Major Label Apologist'". Spin. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  75. ^ "Die Antwoord leave Interscope, will release 'TEN$ION' on their own new indie label". Boing Boing. November 7, 2011.
  76. ^ "Die Antwoord's Totally Insane Words of Wisdom". SPIN. February 7, 2012.
  77. ^ "Did Die Antwoord Dump Interscope Records?". The Hollywood Reporter. November 7, 2011.
  78. ^ "TDE CEO Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith Blames Interscope For Kendrick Lamar's Album Leak". AllHipHop.com. March 15, 2015.
  79. ^ "Kendrick Lamar 'To Pimp A Butterfly' Album Leaked By iTunes". Rapdose.com. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  80. ^ "Update: Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly' Gets Surprise Digital Release". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  81. ^ Johnson, Ted (January 30, 2023). "Marilyn Manson Sued By Woman Who Claims Singer Sexually Assaulted Her When She Was A Minor". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  82. ^ Pengelly, Martin (January 30, 2023). "Marilyn Manson faces more assault allegations". The Guardian. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  83. ^ "Cocaine Ring Used Music Label To Ship Drugs Feds: "Pickups and deliveries" made from Interscope". The Smoking Gun. September 15, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  84. ^ Perpetua, Matthew (September 16, 2011). "Feds: Drug Ring Used Major Record Label's Offices". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  85. ^ "Interscope Offices Used by Cocaine Ring, Federal Documents Say". Billboard. Billboard Staff. September 15, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  86. ^ "Interscope responds to drugs network claims". Complete Music Update. CMU Editorial. September 19, 2011. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  87. ^ Phillips, Chuck (August 20, 1997). "Interscope, Trauma Settle Legal Disputes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  88. ^ Strauss, Neil (November 22, 2002). "The Media Business; Lawsuit Spotlights Tensions Among Record Companies". The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  89. ^ "Aftermath Entertainment". Interscope Records. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  90. ^ "Amaru label to release Shakur CDs". Los Angeles Times. October 30, 1997. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  91. ^ "J. Cole "Revenge of the Dreamers" Mixtape, Announces Dreamville-Interscope Partnership". Complex. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  92. ^ "How Interscope Miami is Reimagining a Global Approach to Latin Music". May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  93. ^ "Kendrick Lamar announces final TDE album". The Independent. August 20, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  94. ^ "Shady Records". Interscope Records. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  95. ^ "Streamline Records". Interscope Records. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  96. ^ Oak, Jesica (November 8, 2020). "Somi Talks Interscope Deal & K-Pop Hit 'What You Waiting For'". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  97. ^ "Top Dawg Entertainment, Kendrick Lamar and Black Hippy Close Deal with Aftermath and Interscope". The FADER. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  98. ^ Herman, Tamar (October 22, 2018). "BLACKPINK Sign With Interscope Records & UMG in Global Partnership With YG Entertainment". billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  99. ^ "A&M Octone Records". Interscope Records. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  100. ^ "Sony Music Entertainment Acquires Alamo Records". Sony Music Entertainment. June 22, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  101. ^ Rosen, Craig (January 17, 1998). "Almo Inks Distrib. Deal with Interscope". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  102. ^ "DreamWorks Records – CDs and Vinyl at Discogs". Discogs. July 21, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  103. ^ "Death Row Records (2) – CDs and Vinyl at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  104. ^ Gowing, Liam (October 1, 2005). "Breaking Out". Spin. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  105. ^ "Pasquale Rotella's Insomniac & Interscope Geffen A&M Launch New Imprint (Exclusive)". Billboard. May 13, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  106. ^ "Insomniac Launches Music Group to Offer Distribution, Label Management: Exclusive". Billboard. December 3, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  107. ^ Newman, Melinda (January 15, 2000). "Outpost Ends Universal Venture, Will Likely Shut Down". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 3. pp. 5, 82. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  108. ^ "G-Unit Records". Interscope Records. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  109. ^ "Trauma Records (2) – CDs and Vinyl at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
[edit]