Interscope Records facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Interscope Records Inc. |
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| Parent company | Universal Music Group (UMG) |
| Founded | 1990 |
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| Genre | Various |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
Interscope Records is a famous American record label based in Santa Monica, California. It is owned by the Universal Music Group, one of the biggest music companies in the world. A record label is a company that helps artists record, publish, and promote their music.
Interscope was started in 1990 by music producer Jimmy Iovine and movie producer Ted Field. They wanted to create a different kind of record label. They gave their artists and producers full creative control, which meant musicians could make the music they truly wanted to make. This new idea worked, and Interscope became successful in just a few years.
Today, Interscope is home to many of the world's biggest music stars. Its artists include Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Imagine Dragons, Selena Gomez, Maroon 5, Blackpink, and U2.
Contents
History
How Interscope Got Started (1990–1995)
In the late 1980s, Jimmy Iovine was a well-known music producer who had worked with stars like U2 and John Lennon. He wanted to start his own record label. At the same time, Ted Field wanted to add a music division to his film company. A friend introduced them, and they decided to team up.
In 1990, they launched Interscope Records. It was a time of big changes in music. New styles like alternative rock were becoming popular. Interscope was a new company, so it could quickly sign new and exciting bands. One of the label's core rules was to let artists be in charge of their own music.
The label's first big hit was "Rico Suave" by the rapper Gerardo in 1990. Soon after, they had a number-one hit with "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. They also signed rock bands like Primus and No Doubt.
Big Debates and Big Success (1995–2000)
In the mid-1990s, Interscope became involved in a major debate. The label was distributing music from a hardcore hip hop label called Death Row Records. Some of the lyrics in this music, known as gangsta rap, were seen as very controversial. Some politicians, like Senator Bob Dole, publicly criticized Interscope. They said the music promoted negative messages.
Because of this controversy, the company Time Warner, which owned half of Interscope, decided to sell its share in 1995. But Interscope was very successful, so other companies wanted to invest. In 1996, MCA Inc., which later became Universal Music Group, bought 50% of Interscope for $200 million.
During this time, Dr. Dre left Death Row and started a new label called Aftermath Entertainment as a partnership with Interscope. In 1999, Dr. Dre discovered a rapper from Detroit named Eminem. They released Eminem's first major album, The Slim Shady LP, which was a huge success and won two Grammy Awards. Eminem later started his own label, Shady Records, also under Interscope.
By the end of the 1990s, Interscope was one of the most successful labels in the world, with hit records from artists like Limp Bizkit, Nine Inch Nails, and Gwen Stefani's band, No Doubt.
A New Century of Hits (2000–2010)
The 2000s started with massive success for Interscope. Eminem's album The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) became the fastest-selling rap album in history. Limp Bizkit's album Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000) became the fastest-selling rock album. The label also signed a deal to release U2's music in the United States.
In 2003, the label signed rapper 50 Cent, whose debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin'] was a huge hit. Interscope also merged with DreamWorks Records, bringing artists like Blink-182 and The All-American Rejects to the label.
In 2006, Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre started a new company called Beats Electronics. They created the famous "Beats by Dr. Dre" headphones. Many Interscope artists, like Lady Gaga and will.i.am, helped promote the headphones, making them incredibly popular.
The end of the decade saw the rise of Lady Gaga. Her debut album The Fame (2008) and its follow-up The Fame Monster (2009) made her a global superstar. In 2009, the top four songs of the year on the Billboard Hot 100 chart were all from Interscope artists.
New Leadership and Global Stars (2010–2020)
Interscope continued its success into the 2010s. Lady Gaga's album Born This Way (2011) sold over a million copies in its first week in the U.S. The label also signed legendary artists like Madonna and Van Halen.
In 2014, co-founder Jimmy Iovine left Interscope. He had been focusing more on his company, Beats, which was bought by Apple. John Janick, who had started the successful label Fueled By Ramen, became the new Chairman and CEO of Interscope.
Under Janick's leadership, the label continued to release hit albums from artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lana Del Rey, and Imagine Dragons. In 2014, pop star Selena Gomez signed with the label. In 2018, Interscope made a global partnership with the K-pop group Blackpink, helping to bring their music to a worldwide audience.
A New Chapter (2024–Present)
Beginning in 2024, Interscope became the main label of a new division called the Interscope Capitol Labels Group. That same year, the label signed the famous singer and actress Jennifer Hudson. She released her first Christmas album with Interscope in October 2024.
Associated Labels
Interscope works with many smaller record labels, helping them produce and distribute music. This allows Interscope to work with a wide variety of artists and music styles. Some of these partner labels include:
- Aftermath Entertainment (Dr. Dre's label)
- Shady Records (Eminem's label)
- Darkroom Records (Billie Eilish's label)
- Dreamville Records (J. Cole's label)
- Top Dawg Entertainment (label for Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q)
- YG Entertainment (for Blackpink's releases outside of Asia)
Artists
- List of Interscope Records artists
See also
In Spanish: Interscope Records para niños
- List of record labels
