So today, CNET reported that hip hop mogul and Def Jam Records founder Russell Simmons has teamed up with Universal Music to launch a new label All Def Digital which will scour YouTube for talent. It will become the first label created solely for the purpose to develop YouTube artists that is tied to a major music distribution and development company already.
Reading the tea leaves analysis: Simmons saw the mega dollar “Pyramid Scheme”-type money successful R&B stars like Akon and Usher Raymond are getting after signing pop artists, particularly Caucasian ones that are able to become instant pop stars out the box without the need to slowly crossover like the Rihannas and the Nicki Minaj‘s of the world.
In 2007, Senegalese-born West Coast R&B artist Akon signed Lady GaGa to his Konvict Muzik label and three years later announced he could retire from the industry off the royalties from the deal alone.
A year later, Raymond signed Justin Bieber to a label he created with Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun called Raymond Braun Media Group. Braun discovered Bieber on YouTube. The Group later inked a deal to Island Record Island Records via exec LA Reid and the rest is history!
Today, you have other R& B artists like Chris Brown and Lil Wayne bringing out White artists perhaps in hopes of getting their pop hit wonder retirement check too. Brown signed Rock Diva Sabrina Antoinette to his Chris Brown Entertainment label under Interscope Records.
And Lil Wayne, earlier this year signed rapper Chanel West after also signing heiress Paris Hilton a year before (not sure where that is going though).
My how the tables have turned, eh!?
Jay Jay Ghatt is also editor at Techyaya.com, founder of the JayJayGhatt.com and JayJayGhatt.com where she teaches online creators how to navigate digital entrepreneurship and offers Do-It-For-You Blogging Service. She manages her lifestyle sites BellyitchBlog, Jenebaspeaks and JJBraids.com and is the founder of BlackWomenTech.com 200 Black Women in Tech On Twitter. Her biz podcast 10 Minute Podcast is available on iTunes and Player.fm. Follow her on Twitter at @Jenebaspeaks. Buy her templates over at her legal and business templates on Etsy shop!
