Get your motor runnin'. Head out on the highway. Lookin' for adventure and whatever comes our way
While everyone at 550 Madison Ave. eagerly awaits the exit of Rick Rubin, speculation has risen that the barefoot producer’s next stop will be Universal Music. Uni owns Def Jam Records, co-founded by Rubin and Russell Simmons, and could conceivably be the last stop for the Hagrid look-a-like who went from the pre-UMG Def Jam to a label deal with Sony for his American Records. From there he took his label to Warner Music which eventually “sold” him back to Sony. The first time around at Sony Don Ienner at least got the Dixie Chicks out of him. This time Columbia Records co-chairman Steve Barnett (Barnett is one of three co-chairman at Columbia along with Rubin and Rob Stringer) got Adele out of him. Or did he?
It’s been reported here and in the mainstream media that Barnett and Rubin have been feuding over who should get the credit for Adele. Sony, of course, denies it and claims that all is perfectly zen between the two. (Barnett has gone so far as to deny his credit grab for Adele here.) This, of course, is patently false. Barnett was sick of Rubin way before Adele released her first album, 19, back in 2008. Insiders claim that Rubin really botched his first attempt at recording Adele’s 21, but XL Records in the UK (Adele’s realrecord label) was able to salvage four tracks for the album.
Two of three Columbia Records chairmen: Steve Barnett (L) and Rick Rubin (R). Has Barnett cast a spell on Rick?
Rubin’s Sony contract is reportedly set to expire in February and he has been rumored to be shopping a new deal, but since EMI is in the process of being absorbed by Universal Music, his options are limited. The rumors have Rubin resuming his relationship with former Warner Music president Tom Whalley, now a Uni employee. However sources very familiar with the situation tend to disagree. According to one highly placed source, ” (UMG CEO) Lucian Grainge is way too smart to fall for the American Records deal. Rick is too tainted after the Sony debacle. Lucian plays his cards very close to the vest but I would be shocked if he went down that path.” Why? Well, according to a source, when Grainge made his mega-deal with David Foster, the star producer was prohibited from working on outside projects as he has done in the past. Foster is exclusive to Universal. As everyone knows by now, exclusivity is not part of Rubin’s lexicon. He’s famously produced more hits and revenue for Warner Music than he has for Sony during his 5 year tenure as co-chairman of Columbia Records. Ergo the end run credit grab for Adele. So that leaves Rick with only one option: his old pal Lyor Cohen, the Moe Green of also-ran Warner Music. Maybe Thomas Wolfe was wrong when he said you can’t go home again.
For their part, Barnett and old chum Rob “Fredo” Stringer seem to have staked their future with Simon Cowell. According to The Guardian’s Helienne Lindvall, ”In the UK it appears Sony has put all its eggs in The X Factor basket (Simon Cowell’s Syco label is a Sony imprint and is partnered with the talent show), possibly arguing the number of votes an act gets is ample enough consumer research to make a signing a sure bet. It can also leave you stuck with a roster of old contestants no one is interested in.” Throw in reality tv star and part-time Epic Records chairman L.A. Reid, whose X-Factor ratings fell far short of expectations, and Sony Music becomes a talent show waste receptacle. Glee’s ratings have been slipping significantly and the bloom may very well be off the rose. Maybe septuagenarian Sony Music CEO Doug Morris will summon up the ghost of Ted Mack.
So Steve, Doug, Fredo–who’s the next tv star to partner with Sony Music? Donald Trump?
© 2012, Wayne Rosso. All rights reserved.
