RCA folds Jive, Arista, J

The brand new the new sony Music Entertainment's RCA Records unit is clearing its decks using removing its Jive, Arista and J Records imprints. Company mentioned in the statement, "To be able to refresh RCA Records, all label imprints (J Records, Arista Records and Jive) is going to be beneath the legendary RCA Records label." The expunged imprints all carry some historic baggage. Jive was helmed for virtually 20 years by Craig Weiss, who ankled SME taken being chairman-Boss at Universal Music Group's Universal Republic and Island Def Jam Motown models. Jive - purchased from Clive Calder by SME's onetime partner BMG for $2.7 billion in 2002 -- remains where you can such major functions as N'Sync, Backstreet Boys, Britney Warrior warrior spears and Justin Timberlake. Arista was founded in 1975 within the ashes of Bell Records by former CBS Records topper Clive Davis it developed Whitney Houston in to a major celebrity. After Davis was dethroned at Arista in 2000, he founded J Records, which launched Alicia Keys' multiplatinum career. RCA's brief statement did not address Davis' ongoing role at SME. The veteran professional, who turns 80 next season, is chief creative officer at SME in 2008, Weiss needed his role as chairman-Boss from the products wound up being referred to as BMG Label Group. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com