AUSTIN UPS WITH ISLAND: Veteran Grammy-winning producer, composer and musician Dallas Austin has joined Island Records as SVP A&R, it was announced today by Universal Republic/IDJ Motown Chairman & CEO Barry Weiss. Austin will oversee current and new artist projects, while actively seeking out, discovering and signing new talent. Said Weiss: “Dallas is a modern-day music man: a veteran who has been supplying chart hits to this industry for more than two decades, across multiple genres and around the world. The work he has just done on new Island artist Nikki Williams is nothing short of stunning.” Austin has with such artists as Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Monica, P!nk, Shakira, Gwen Stefani, Usher and will.i.am, among others. He has contributed his talents to landmark debut albums ranging from Boyz II Men’s Cooleyhighharmony and TLC’s Ooooooohhh…on the TLC Tip to Carly Rae Jepsen’s Kiss, twice sharing the Grammy for Best R&B album for TLC’s CrazySexyCool and Fanmail. (10/15a)