JAY-Z + APPLE: LAUNCHING A RECORD LABEL?

This is one we’ve heard before. Jay-Z leaves Def Jam, starts revolutionary digital record label with Apple. The first part has already happened and now Boy Genius Report is saying that the label is definitely a go.

Jay flat out denied this when somebody asked him about it back in October. The folks over at Crunchgear are already calling bullshit on BGR’s rumor, but they also offer some more realistic possibilties.

I can’t tell you if this is actually going to happen or not, but I do know that the music industry needs some kind of earth shattering wake up call. This may or may not turn out to be it. Something needs to be done sooner rather than later.

“It’s not the music; people ingest music the same way. It’s just that the model of selling CDs has changed. So doing things the typical way is not in the best interests of anyone and not exciting for me.” – Jay to Billboard last month. (Via: Nah Right)

UPDATE: Now that you’ve heard the news, we thought it was time to break things down and add a little more of what we know. When we said Apple and Jay-Z were starting a record label, it doesn’t mean that Jay is running it. It just means they are doing it together. What we think will happen is Jay will be on as an “urban” artist, and Apple will go out and make similar deals with other rock and country artists. But Jay-Z has 2 albums left at Def Jam, right? Well, he’s going to develop and attract artists like he did at Def Jam as president. Jay has the power to get artists on the radio, get them media ops, etc. Having him on board for urban artists is the ultimate stamp of approval, and makes total sense. We see this working as a straight distribution model, with little, but some marketing support. I guess Ringles weren’t enough to satisfy the fans… (Via Boy Genius Report)