Music Industry Profile: Jimmy Iovine of Interscope Records
Jimmy Iovine
Jimmy Iovine is Chairman of Interscope/Geffen/A&M Records, a label group in the Universal Music Group family. Originally a producer and engineer, Iovine had a hand in creating some of the most enduring albums of the 1980s, working with artists like Bruce Springsteen, U2, Meatloaf, Tom Petty, Patti Smith and Stevie Nicks. As the founder of Interscope Records, one of the most successful independent labels of the 1990s, Iovine made his permanent mark on pop music with hits by No Doubt, Limp Bizkit, Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch and Nine Inch Nails (among others), and by partnering with Death Row Records to release influential albums by artists like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. and others. After parlaying his success with Interscope into an executive position with UMG, Iovine has continued to produce hits by artists as diverse as Feist, Eminem and 50 Cent, and the Pussycat Dolls.
Interscope Records head Jimmy Iovine talks about many aspects of running a record label in today’s industry, from how to find talent to how to stay relevant when your prime product can be had for free. He also offers advice to aspiring artists and producers on how to stack the deck in their favor, and discusses some possible new businesses for record companies to explore if they are going to survive.
