RCA Reboots JIVE Records With Weiss, Melhado

David Melhado and Mike Weiss (Daniel Prakopcyk)

As expected, RCA is relaunching JIVE Records as a frontline stand-alone label, with former UnitedMasters execs Mike Weiss and David Melhado serving as co-presidents.

Founded by Clive Calder in 1981, JIVE will aim to “honor its legacy while reimagining it for today’s music landscape” in part thanks to the institutional knowledge of Weiss, whose father, Barry, ran the label for more than two decades. Calder sold Zomba Group, which included JIVE, to BMG in 2002 for approximately $2.7 billion.

JIVE was best known as label home to Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, USHER, Chris Brown, P!NK, A Tribe Called Quest and the late Aaliyah. P!NK, Brown, Timberlake and Spears remain signed to RCA to this day. Sony bought out BMG in 2008, at which time RCA became part of Sony Music Entertainment.

The rebooted imprint will be based at Sony’s New York HQ, from which Weiss and Melhado will report to RCA Chairman/CEO Peter Edge and COO John Fleckenstein.

At United Masters, Weiss and Melhado helped develop artists such as Brent Faiyaz, BigXthaPlug and NLE Choppa.

Said Weiss, “JIVE Records is deeply personal to me—it shaped entire generations and the way I learned this business. Relaunching this iconic label with David allows us to carry forward JIVE’s legacy of creative and operational excellence while proving that major labels can deliver both innovation and fairness for artists. The same artist-first philosophy that guided us at UnitedMasters is what we plan to bring to JIVE.”

Added Melhado, “I’ve spent much of my career developing artists from the ground up, which has shaped my perspective on this business and what artists need to build lasting careers. Relaunching JIVE alongside Mike is an opportunity to honor its independent spirit and double down on developing artists while shaping the culture.”

Edge said welcoming Weiss and Melhado “feels like a natural evolution—and a poetic way to revive a label that has been at the forefront of hip-hop and pop" and that "their sharp instincts and proven ability to discover and develop artists make them a great team to launch JIVE’s next era.”

Calder was busy making origami swans out of $1,000 bills on his superyacht, which is moored at his superisland, and could not be reached for comment.