Despite the news yesterday that album sales are up over last year, it looks like the ongoing music-industry apocalypse is still in full swing. The Hollywood Reporter reveals that RCA is folding two long-running labels that have represented some of the biggest pop stars of the past four decades. Arista, which was founded by Clive Davis in 1974, and Jive, launched three years later by Clive Calder and helmed by Barry Weis since 1991, will both be shuttered, and their artists funneled to RCA Records. According to RCA execs, the move is a branding decision: “The concept is that there is value in branding RCA and not having it confused or diluted by other labels,” RCA president Tom Corson told THR. Although Arista only represented a handful of big names (Jennifer Hudson, Santana, Whitney Houston), Jive — the label that was largely responsible for the turn-of-the-millennium teen-pop boom — still boasts an enormous roster ranging from Pitbull and Rick Ross to Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. A full list of artists currently on each label is after the jump.
Arista: Whitney Houston Jennifer Hudson Santana Sarah McLachlan Barry Manilow Dido
Jive: 311 Kris Allen Apocalyptica Atom Smash Bei Maejor Blow Pop Chris Brown Crystal Bowersox Bullet for My Valentine Cage The Elephant Kevin Cossom Asia Cruise The Dares Daisy Dares You E-40 Mickey Factz Michael Fredo Gady GS Boyz Buddy Guy Anthony Hamilton Hotstylz Hot Chelle Rae Huey Kourtney Heart Issa Thompson Isaiah Roulac Samantha Jade JLS Bobby Johnson Jennifer Lopez Jessie J Jacob Latimore Jawan Harris Juke Lantern R. Kelly Letoya Luckett Jacob Latimore Lil’ Mama Living Things Locnville Crosby Loggins Luke Latoya Jackson Lemar Lily Allen Lloyd Lloyd Banks Lil Boosie Mac Miller Mademoiselle Juliette Bei Maejor K.Michelle Miguel Mullage Mýa Miley Cyrus Newtrament Noé Nelly N Dubz Nayomie a One Day O Wavy Pitbull Priscilla Ryan Leslie Rick Ross Relient K RichGirl Nathan Robinson Britney Spears Jordin Sparks Steps Sway Scorcher Six D Tyrese Tina Turner T-Pain Tay Dizm Three Days Grace Travis Porter Justin Timberlake Usher Vitamin C Wakefield Wretch 32 Youngbloodz