Following a string of commercial chart disasters, it is being reported today that Jennifer Lopez has been dropped by long-time label Epic Records. Ouch!

The singer/actress’ manager Benny Medina is said to have confirmed the news via email to Deadline.com, asserting that the split was an amicable one; one which occurred after the 40 year old mother of two had fulfilled her contractual obligations to the label upon the release of her last single ‘Louboutins’ – which tanked terribly on the charts upon its release early this year. Lopez’s team are said to have also shot down claims that her album ‘Love?’ was already completed, insisting that it has a been at an infant stage for a while yet (despite press listening sessions, and confirmed producer credits from the likes of Danja and D Mile).

However, such suggestion of Lopez’s departure being amicable is being rubbished by some close to the project. Instead, they reveal, it was Epic who sent Lopez packing after her series of chart flops. The label are said to ‘no longer know who Lopez’s audience are any more’. Worse still, Lopez’s forthcoming LP is said to have indeed been completed and ready for release in April.

Lopez is said to be in talks with LA Reid for a move to Def Jam.

———————————————–

This hardly comes as a surprise (and we actually exclusively revealed the fact not all was well with the project a while back). Despite several high-profile media appearances, Ms. Jenny From The Block just couldn’t strike it lucky with any of her new material. Which, when coming off the epic flop (pun intended) that was her 2007 effort ‘Brave’ as well as the current economy, never was going to bode well for her this go round.

In any case, it appears Ms. Marc-Anthony is pressing on and keeping it moving. The Def Jam deal doesn’t sound that far fetched either; some may recall the pics of Jennifer and her manager Benny Medina meeting with LA Reid and Rihanna earlier this month. I guess it wasn’t so much of a random gathering after all. (It would be rather wise for ol’ Jenny to look at Def Jam’s track record as of late with the likes of Janet Jackson and Amerie before signing on the dotted line).

Randomness: Should Jennifer sign to Def Jam, she’d be on the same label as old rival Mariah Carey (remember this? LMAO!). Then again, reliable word has it Mariah is on her way out from Def Jam, so maybe not?….

Your thoughts?

Kelly Rowland has been hard at work preparing for the debut of her new album. In a recent interview with Rap-Up.com, producer Jim Jonsin has provided some details about the yet entitled record which features contributions from Nelly, Rico Love, Jonsin and David Guetta. Here is an excerpt from the interview below:

“I’ve been working on her album with [songwriter] Rico Love,” Jonsin tells Rap-Up.com. “We’ve done four songs.”

Fans of her David Guetta collaboration, ‘When Love Takes Over’ will be in for a treat. “She’s doing a pop-house and R&B sound, like a mixture,” Jonsin reveals. “It’s really cool. Some uptempo stuff, some ballads, all around really nice—more like a Donna Summer sound.”

Although Rowland, who was formerly signed to Columbia Records/Music World Entertainment, hasn’t officially announced a new label deal yet, Jonsin dropped a hint as to where she may end up. “I believe she’s in talks with Universal Motown right now, and a couple others.”

This is certainly some interesting news. It’s great to see Rowland continuing to develop an international sound and target markets beyond the US. However, having not made a major impact on the Billboard Hot 100 since ‘Dilema’, it is crucial that she caters for her US consumers, something that Jonsin and the rest of her team seems to have considered by incorporating such a “mixture” of sounds. My only concern now is her voice. In recent performances, Rowland has been struggling to deliver on the vocal front. Whether it is fair comparison or not, people are always going to compare her to Beyonce in every aspect of her career, thus she has to make sure that she is on point, both in the studio and in her live showings. We all know what she is capable of doing and now it’s time for her to show it.

Sam Update On Kelly’s label situation:

Please note that, contrary to reports, no new label deal has been finalised with Kelly as at writing. She is in the advanced stages of negotiation with a number of labels – one of which is Universal Motown, however nothing has been signed. Kelly was indeed in New York this time last week and did meet with a Universal exec, but has yet to sign on the dotted line. This is the official word from Kelly’s camp. There’ll no doubt be official word out shortly, I’m sure though.

Thoughts?

Our good friends over at Rap-Up.com caught up with JoJo recently to talk about her return to the music scene. The 19 year old singing sensation opens up about the label drama which almost saw her quit the industry, her back-up plan, as well as the artist who have inspired her.

A great watch, I must say. Unashamedly a big supporter of JoJo, I’m ecstatic to see things back on track for her. Definitely anticipating her ‘All I Want Is Everything’ LP, which is pencilled in for an early 2010 release.

Your thoughts?

In a recent interview with London’s Metro newspaper, 50 Cent cited his label Interscope as to the reason he lost his 2007 chart battle with Kanye West, with the G-Unit general hinting that he may be done with the label – where his career really took off. Check an an extract from the feature below:

After building a career on being bulletproof, Fiddy came unstuck when his 2007 album release face-off with Kanye West – when he claimed he’d give up the rap game if West outsold him – didn’t work out so well.

‘Def Jam did a better job positioning Kanye West at that point,’ he concedes. ‘The entire time I’ve been at Interscope Records, they’ve been relying on my creative energy [read: feuds with other rappers] to move discs.’

Just as well latest album Before I Self Destruct, plus a greatest-hits compilation, see his obligations to Interscope completed. ‘Almost in the nick of time,’ he muses. ‘I didn’t even go to a staff meeting and play this album for them because they’re more confused than any group of people I’ve interacted with, ever.’ {Source}

If 50 put even half of the energy he does in running his mouth on his music, he’d be in a much better position than he is now. As great a business-man as he seems to be, I do question his logic in going off at everyone and their mother (see: Ja Rule, Jay-Z and co). For, in him knowing this business, no artist stays at the top forever and all eventually experience ‘the decline’ (in interest, sales etc). It’s just the way it is. Now he’s fishing for excuses as to why, whether he likes it or not, he’s becoming an increasingly fading entity (in the music realm). Sigh…

Your thoughts?

According to our good friends over at LeToya Online, things are going from bad to worse with Capitol Records‘ handling of LeToya’s latest project ‘Lady Love’.

Ever reliable, the site, run by Toya’s camp, assert that the label have pulled the plug on all promotion for the album, inclusive being new single ‘Regret’. A video for the song, which has been a surprise hit considering the lack of any promo, was commisioned soley due to the countless fan petitions calling the label out for ignoring the Ludacris-assisted song’s success. Yet many internally are scratching their heads at the point of giving Ms. Luckett the green light for a video, yet refusing point-blank to promote it. What’s more, a crossover remix of ‘Regret’, with all new lyrics, beat, melody (the full works) is ready to drop, however the label apparently aren’t willing to service it to radio. {Source}

Though the ‘done-wrong-by-label’ argument is levelled by many an artist and fan, I really feel LeToya is being mistreated here. I never understood  the logic of a label under-promoting a project from the jump, it goes on to perform badly, and they hastily drop all support (and usually the artist). Itjust doesn’t make any sense. Here’s hoping things work out for LeToya in the long-run – she seems to have a thick, media/industry-savvy skin, so I’m sure it will.

In other LeToya news, the video for ‘Regret’ premieres this Friday on BET’s 106 & Park.

Your thoughts?

After publically battling her record label Blackground for the better part of a year over the release of her third studio album ‘All I Want Is Everything’ (a period which saw her also file a $500,000 lawsuit against them), JoJo has confirmed that the issue has been resolved. The 18 year old star confirmed on her Twitter page that  the album now set to be released as a joint venture between Blackground and Interscope. {Source}

As a big JoJo supporter, I’m real glad this whole mess has been mopped up, with her able to press ahead. Her last album ‘The High Road’ was the epitome of the business, so I’m definitely looking forward to what she’s gonna be serving up with this one. In an industry that today seems quite short on (successful) raw talent, I’m hoping she manages to sell well after all this drama too.

Your thoughts?

Following several weeks of industry mumerings, it has been confirmed that Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is leaving Warner / Atlantic Records, and reportedly joining Jimmy Iovine’s Interscope label. Perhaps most shocking, however, is that his Bad Boy imprint will REMAIN over at Atlantic, hence after launching the careers of Day26, Cherri Dennis and everyone’s favourite ‘sanger’ Cassie, the mogul is leaving them behind to persue his career elsewhere. Ouch. Peep the report below:

With his contract wrapped, Sean “Diddy” Combs is ankling Warner Music Group/Atlantic Records as an artist, a source confirmed Friday.

Much-rumored departure does not affect WMG’s joint venture with hip-hop impresario’s imprint Bad Boy Entertainment and its acts, which will continue to move through Atlantic.

Bad Boy catalog remains at WMG in perpetuity.

Combs had not been prolific during his five years with WMG: He issued one album, “Press Play,” in 2006. Set debuted at No. 1 nationally.

Recent industry scuttlebutt has placed Combs’ forthcoming album “Last Train to Paris” at Interscope.

Implying a new Bad Boy-styled imprint may be in the offing, Combs said in a statement, “Now that the term of the Warner deal has ended, I have elected to accept an opportunity to move my recording career and future label venture to another company.”

{Source}

With next to no one really checking for Diddy as an artist (I mean come on now…), the real story here lies with the fact that Day26, Cassie and co are set to remain over at Bad Boy. If there was ever a time I was certain an act was set to be dropped, it’s now – unfortunately. That said, for some reason, I feel we’ll probably be seeing the oh-so-talented Cassie have her contract bought out and her make the move over with her lover boss.

Your thoughts?

That JoJo singer chick is finally old enough to file a lawsuit — 18 — and guess what?! She’s already picking a legal war with her record company!

In a lawsuit just filed in NYC courts, JoJo claims her record company shoved her into a musical “limbo” because they wont let her out of her contract — and they won’t let her record a new album either!

JoJo, real name Joanna Levesque, now wants a judge to force Da Family Entertainment to cut her loose — plus she wants at least $500,000 for her troubles.

Two months after being signed to Young Money Entertainment, Omarion has been dropped from the giant recording company. Spilling the beans about the matter is the label’s president Mack Maine on his Twitter which reveals that Omarion is fired because he has allegedly leaked his duet song with Lil Wayne.

“ATTN: Omarion is no longer Young Money … the song they leaked ft. Wayne is not official .. good luck 2 him in his future,” so Mack wrote. Shortly after that, one of Young Money’s artists Jae Millz re-tweeted Mack’s short message, apparently trying to emphasize that the news is not a rumor.

Omarion was previously signed to Epic Records before he joined Young Money Entertainment in June. He is currently working on his next studio album titled “A New Me”. Now that he is out of Young Money, it seems that the singer has to seek a new home to release the effort.

Up to date, Omarion hasn’t offered any comment concerning him being axed from Young Money. {Source}

Last week, the internet was abuzz with the rumors that Kelly Rowland had been dropped by Columbia Records.

The day after the story surfaced online, the record company CEO, Robert Stringer attempted to quell the rumors by releasing a formal statement.

“Kelly Rowland is one of our finest contemporary artists and a musical force to be reckoned with. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with Kelly and we will continue our working relationship with her under the Destiny’s Child moniker. The decision for Kelly to seek other opportunities for her solo career was agreed upon mutually, and any reports to the contrary are false,” Stringer offered.

Anyone with a remote knowledge of the music business understood that since Rowland was signed to Columbia Records via a production deal with Music World Entertainment, the company founded by Mathew Knowles, it was inevitable that her deal with Columbia Records was compromised once the 28-year-old singer ended her management agreement with Knowles back in January.

Now my sources tell me that the real reason the story about Rowland leaked the way it did last week was so that no one would realize that Geffen/Interscope Records has opted not to further their relationship with Knowles’ daughter Solange Knowles.

The eclectic singer’s sophomore release ‘Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams’ has only sold around 138,000 units since its release in August of 2008 and Geffen/Interscope didn’t see the value in doing a new CD on her.

“Geffen did a one-off deal with Music World Entertainment for Solange and wasn’t interested in doing a new contract with her. People at the label really liked working with her because other than her infamous news outburst in Las Vegas, she was a constant professional. There were challenges dealing with her camp, but Solange was great to work with. In the end, the CD didn’t sell despite Solange’s countless high

profile appearances,” the record label source told me.

One of the record labels that Knowles has been meeting with about signing his youngest daughter is Epic Records.

Incidentally, Epic Records is also the label that had initially approached Rowland about a new recording contract upon learning that she would be dissolving her management and recording relationship with Music World Entertainment/Columbia.

Epic’s new president Amanda Ghost, a London-bred former recording artist and songwriter, recognized Rowland’s impact as an international recording artist and thought she would be able to duplicate her European success here in America.

“Amanda was really into signing Kelly and then Matthew started meeting with her about Solange. I’m told he used his influence in the Sony system with Beyonce to complicate the existing offer to Kelly and then the deal ultimately didn’t happen,” the source explained.

Ghost was recently spotted at the South By Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas where she was apparently scouting Solange, who performed on the last night event.

So both Rowland and Solange are now currently without record company homes; though I am told that Rowland will likely be announcing a new record deal in the coming weeks.

At press time, a rep for Music World Entertainment was unavailable for comment.

Wow! All I can say is: the plot thickens…

With Jay-Z having just finalized his multi-million dollar deal with Live Nation; reports are circulating that the rapper has formed a new record label with hit-makers Stargate – the duo behind big hits from the likes of Beyonce, Ne-Yo, Usher, Mary J and more:

Hot on the heels of his deal with Live Nation, which reportedly has the live music promotions giant contributing $5 million each year in overhead for five years, $25 million to finance Jay-Z’s external acquisitions and investments, plus $10 million per album for a minimum of three albums within the deal’s term, as well as aanother $20 million for other rights including publishing and licensing, Jay-Z is reportedly in the process of starting a new joint venture project with Norwegian based production crew Stargate.

The Stargate team of Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen will join Jay-Z in the formation of the StarRoc record label imprint. {Source}

There really is no stopping Jay these days, is there? With Stargate on board, it’ll be interesting to see what the label will deliver in terms of artists and overall sound.

Any thoughts?