Jive Records Relaunched by RCA with New Leadership

RCA is breathing new life into Jive Records, relaunching it as a standalone label. The announcement, made today, February 3rd, marks a significant return for the imprint, which was once a powerhouse in the music industry.
Spearheading this revival are Mike Weiss and David Melhado, former executives from UnitedMasters, who will serve as co-presidents. They will be based out of Sony Music’s New York City headquarters.

This move comes over a decade after RCA shuttered Jive, alongside Arista Records and J Records, in the wake of Sony’s 2008 merger with BMG, RCA’s parent company. Arista was relaunched by RCA as a standalone imprint in 2018.

Founded in 1981 by Clive Calder, Jive was later steered by Barry Weiss—Mike Weiss’ father—from 1995 through 2011. Mike Weiss, who joined in 1982, was instrumental in developing Jive into a launchpad for prominent 90s rap acts like A Tribe Called Quest, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Boogie Down Productions.

Jive also became a major player in the pop music scene. During its peak commercial years in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, the label was home to Britney Spears, Aaliyah, NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys and Usher, solidifying its place in music history. BMG acquired Jive in 2002.

Mike Weiss shared his enthusiasm in a statement: “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.”

Jive Records Relaunched by RCA with New Leadership

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