Julie Greenwald Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Julie Greenwald has been elevated to chairman & CEO of the newly created Atlantic Music Group. In her new post, Greenwald oversees Atlantic Records — including the Atlantic, Atco, Big Beat, and Canvasback labels — as well as 300 Elektra Entertainment, which encompasses 300, Elektra, Fueled by Ramen, Roadrunner, Low Country Sound, DTA, and Public Consumption. Greenwald and Craig Kallman will continue to jointly lead Atlantic Records, with Kallman continuing as chairman & CEO. Late last year, the company launched 300 Elektra Entertainment with Kevin Liles as chairman-CEO, merging the two labels as part of Atlantic parent Warner Music’s acquisition of 300 Entertainment.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music As expected, Atlantic Music Group announced on Monday that it will be laying off around two dozen people, with the majority coming from the radio and video departments. In an internal memo to the company’s staff obtained by Variety, chairman-CEO Julie Greenwald said Atlantic will be “bringing on new and additional skill sets in social media, content creation, community building and audience insights” in an effort to “dial up our fan focus and help artists tell their stories in ways that resonate.” The move reflects similar ones at the major labels recently, as they recalibrate to meet the leveling-off of streaming growth.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Jesse Rutherford, singer-songwriter-producer of the Neighbourhood, has signed a new solo deal with Atlantic Records. Operating under the name Jesse®, returns with two new songs, “Joker” and “Rainbow,” that will be live at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The new songs are the first releases from the musician’s new solo chapter with Atlantic Records. “It’s been a minute since I’ve shared anything,” Jesse® said. “It feels like I moved away from home & got a new phone number. This is my message letting you know I’m back in town & trying to get together.” “Joker” arrives with a companion visual directed by Ramez Silyan; the songs will be followed by another, “Me & Universe,” on April 28, with a full-length album due out later this year.

120 Minutes, KROQ radio DJ, and A&R senior at Island Def Jam Records, has died at the age of 58.Largent died on February 20 after a long illness, his family confirmed to Variety this week.He fronted MTV’s alternative music show 120 Minutes in the early to mid-’90s after joining the brand as Vice President of Music Programming, interviewing acts including David Bowie, Trent Reznor, Radiohead, Björk and Smashing Pumpkins.The southern California-raised tastemaker began his music industry with an internship at Los Angeles’ famed alternative rock radio station, KROQ. He began working for the station full time in 1985 and was promoted to a music director position in 1989.Largent stepped down from presenting 120 Minutes for MTV in 1995 but continued to serve as a programmer for MTV until 1999 before joining Island Def Jam Records as Senior Vice President of A&R.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Lewis Largent, who was known to millions in the 1980s and ‘90s as an influential alternative-music MTV VJ and DJ on KROQ, died on Feb. 20 after a long illness, his family confirms to Variety. He was 58. A native of Southern California, Largent was an enthusiastic golfer as a teen, and he met the general manager of the Los Angeles alternative-radio powerhouse KROQ while working at a country club. Impressed with Largent’s knowledge of music, the GM offered him an internship at the station that led to a full-time role in 1985. He rose quickly through the ranks and was named music director in 1989. In 1992, Largent left the station to take a VP of music programming post at MTV, where he soon began hosting “120 Minutes.” That show, a 1990s Sunday-night tradition on the channel, expanded the genre’s reach nationwide — and Largent’s. (This writer can recall a certain major label president striving to impress executives in a meeting with his ability to get Largent to take his call.) David Bowie, Bjork, Trent Reznor, Radiohead and PJ Harvey were among the many artists he hosted on “120 Minutes.”

Steve Boom — who, as MusiCares chair, also played a huge role in the organization’s distribution of more than $25 million in pandemic relief to the music community — will be honored as the UJA’s Music Visionary of the Year with a luncheon on June 7 at New York’s Ziegfield Ballroom. He will be saluted for his professional and philanthropic leadership, and the UJA will amplify its substantial efforts in confronting antisemitism and helping those in need. Previous recipients have included SiriusXM’s Scott Greenstein, Sony Music Group CEO Rob Stringer, Republic Records co-founders Avery and Monte Lipman, iHeartMedia chief Bob Pittman, Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek, Warner Records co-chairman and COO Tom Corson and Atlantic Records co-chairman and COO Julie Greenwald.

sporting a super chic, slicked back ponytail and electric blue hooded gown designed by Indian fashion designer Gaurav Gupta. The awe-inspiring number, which premiered five days ago in Paris at Fashion Week, partially concealed Cardi B's face and hair in a serious fashion-making statement. But don't worry, the rapper's makeup is clearly visible, and we suspect that is intentional, as Cardi's perfectly crafted cat-eye eyeliner matched the sculpturesque ensemble. Celebrity makeup artist completed the look with brownie-lined lips and a glowing bronzed glow, courtesy of tanning water mousse.

Rapper Gunna has issued a statement about his arrest last month – and current incarceration – in relation to charges made under the US Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organisations Act. He insists that he is innocent of all the charges, adding that the way he is being portrayed by prosecutors is “ugly and untrue”.Gunna and fellow rapper Young Thug were among 28 people arrested in the US state of Georgia last month accused of involvement in a gang that allegedly committed murders, shootings and carjackings.The arrests have put the spotlight on the so called ‘Rap On Trial’ campaign.

Young Thug made a surprise statement from jail during New York radio station Hot 97’s annual Summer Jam concert.The rapper was due to be playing the New Jersey show on Sunday (June 12) but was still in jail, having been denied a prison release on bond earlier this month.According to HipHopDX, the show featured a voice message from Thug that played on the Summer Jam screen, preceded by a video in which artists like Polo G and G Herbo pledged their support to the rapper.“I just want to say thank you to all of my friends and my family for coming out and supporting us,” Thug said. “You know, your support during this time means a lot to us, ya know.”He then asked the crowd to support a petition that music executives Kevin Liles and Julie Greenwald launched, asking legislators to prohibit courts from using rap lyrics during cases.Thug continued: “You know, this isn’t just about me or YSL.

Young Thug has been virtually silent since his May arrest on charges of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and participation in criminal street gang activity. He’s also been charged with seven additional felonies stemming from drugs and firearms found during a search of his Atlanta home the night of his arrest. Since then, he’s been incarcerated in Fulton County Jail, denied bond twice by judges in the county’s magistrate and superior courts.

The ongoing YSL RICO indictment in Georgia has reignited a long-running debate about the legal admissibility of rap lyrics as evidence of criminal wrongdoing. In response to recent events, 300 Entertainment co-founder and recently appointed CEO Kevin Liles and long-time Atlantic Records COO Julie Greenwald have circulated “Rap Music on Trial: A Petition to Protect Black Art.” “Weaponizing creative expression against artists is obviously wrong,” Liles and Greenwald write.

It’s been a busy few months for Lizzo and there’s no sign of slowing down.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Clive Davis pre-Grammy gala has been called off for this year, but that’s not stopping the legendary mogul from throwing a big party — his 90 th birthday is April 4, the day after the big show, and he’s throwing a star-studded bash at Casa Cipriani in New York two days later, on Wednesday the 6th, a rep for Davis confirms to Variety. The event is sure to include a guest list that outshines even his famously star-studded pre-Grammy parties — while many of these names are longtime Friends of Clive, the New York Post says invitees include Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Pat Houston, David Geffen, and entertainment lawyer Allen Grubman, as well as label heads such as Monte Lipman, Tom Corson, Rob Stringer and Julie Greenwald. Davis wrote on the invite: “I personally hope you will one day be told that the next birthday you celebrate will be your 90th.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorKevin Liles is a name that people in the music industry have been hearing for more than 30 years, for an impressive variety of reasons. He was a top executive at Def Jam and Warner Music, he managed Mariah Carey, D’Angelo and Trey Songz, and he was even a recording artist who had one of his songs covered by Milli Vanilli, of all people, on their multi-multi-platinum 1990 debut album.But he got his biggest look yet in January, when the company he co-founded, 300 Entertainment, was acquired by Warner Music for a reported $400 million.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLanre Gaba has been promoted to co-president of Black music for Atlantic Records, the company announced on Tuesday. Gaba, who celebrates her 20 th anniversary with the label this year, was most recently Atlantic’s GM/executive VP of Black music A&R, and in her new post she will work alongside fellow co-president Mike Kyser and report jointly to chairman-CEO Craig Kallman and chairman-COO Julie Greenwald. “Lanre’s growth over the past two decades has been a wonderful thing to witness,” said Kallman and Greenwald.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAlong with her “Caprisongs” mixtape on Friday came the news that FKA Twigs has “partnered with Atlantic Records for this next exciting phase of her art,” according to the announcement. In the U.K., she will continue to release music via the Young label (formerly Young Turks) through Beggars Group.“FKA twigs is the kind of artist you dream of signing — one with truly original vision, voice, and presence,” said Atlantic chairman-COO Julie Greenwald.  “She’s among the most compelling talents, always pushing her creative envelope to deliver emotionally honest music that’s both intensely personal and universal. We’re thrilled that she’s chosen Atlantic to be her home as she continues on her fantastic musical adventure.” “The progression of FKA twigs’ music over the past decade has been extraordinary,” said chairman-CEO Craig Kallman. “She’s never content to stay in one place – constantly crossing musical boundaries, embracing fresh sounds, telling new stories, and exploring what’s next.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAtlantic Records VP of marketing Ryan Brady was killed Thursday morning in a car accident in Los Angeles. He was 34.