Jimmy Iovine
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Iovine is an American music producer, entrepreneur and chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M
.
, Iovine began his career as a recording engineer in the mid-1970s, working with Raspberries
, John Lennon
and Bruce Springsteen
. He went on to produce albums for U2
(Rattle & Hum), Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Stevie Nicks
, Simple Minds
, Dire Straits
, Flame (featuring Marge Raymond, Jimmy Crespo
, Bob Leone, and others), and Patti Smith
. Iovine established Interscope Records
in 1991 with the release of Gerardo
's Mo' Ritmo
. It went on to become Interscope-Geffen-A&M
following Universal's acquisition of PolyGram
when Iovine was named co-chairman; in 2001, he became chairman.
He is credited with having given Eminem
's demo tape to Dr. Dre
, who signed him to his Aftermath label. In 2002, Iovine co-produced the hit Eminem movie 8 Mile and in 2004, he and Paul Rosenberg
signed a first look deal
with Paramount Pictures and MTV Films for their Interscope/Shady/Aftermath banner. Iovine co-produced the first film under the deal, Get Rich or Die Tryin', starring 50 Cent
. In 2003, he was co-executive producer of Enrique Iglesias
's album Seven
. In January 2008, Iovine, Dr. Dre and Monster Cable released Beats by Dr. Dre
high-performance headphones. Iovine is also an executive producer with LeBron James
and Maverick Carter of the documentary More Than A Game, which was released in the fall of 2009.
Lady Gaga
has thanked him several times during her acceptance speeches, as he was the one to sign her to Streamline/Interscope shortly after her 2007 performance at Lollapalooza. Eminem also has mentioned him several times during his acceptance speeches.
Bruce Springsteen's song Ain't Good Enough For You referenced Iovine: "And babe I tried to make the latest scene, Hip and cool, just like Jimmy Iovine."
, author of The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy, and has four children. He owns the Beats By Dr. Dre
brand with Dr. Dre under exclusive license to Monster Cable Products
. Jimmy Iovine was also involved in a romantic relationship with Stevie Nicks
. He has been a 'mentor' on American Idol season 10.
Interscope-Geffen-A&M
Interscope-Geffen-A&M is an umbrella label, owned by Universal Music Group. The company was formed in 1999, when Geffen Records and A&M Records were merged into Interscope Records—the flagship imprint of the operation....
.
Biography
Born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, Iovine began his career as a recording engineer in the mid-1970s, working with Raspberries
Raspberries (band)
Raspberries is an American power pop/pop rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. They had a run of success in the early 1970s music scene with their crisp pop sound, which Allmusic later described as featuring "exquisitely crafted melodies and achingly gorgeous harmonies." The members were known for their...
, John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
. He went on to produce albums for U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
(Rattle & Hum), Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
, Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
, Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
, Flame (featuring Marge Raymond, Jimmy Crespo
Jimmy Crespo
James "Jimmy" Crespo Jr. is an American guitarist. He was the lead guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith from 1979 until 1984. Jimmy co-wrote Rock in a Hard Place with Steven Tyler...
, Bob Leone, and others), and Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
. Iovine established Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
in 1991 with the release of Gerardo
Gerardo
Gerardo Mejía , better known as simply Gerardo, is a Latin rapper and singer who later became a recording industry executive. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, he has based his career in Los Angeles, California since his family moved to Glendale, California, when he was 12 years old. He became known for...
's Mo' Ritmo
Mo' Ritmo
Mo' Ritmo is the debut album of Latin rap artist Gerardo. It was released on January 29, 1991 on Interscope Records, the first such album to be released by the record company...
. It went on to become Interscope-Geffen-A&M
Interscope-Geffen-A&M
Interscope-Geffen-A&M is an umbrella label, owned by Universal Music Group. The company was formed in 1999, when Geffen Records and A&M Records were merged into Interscope Records—the flagship imprint of the operation....
following Universal's acquisition of PolyGram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
when Iovine was named co-chairman; in 2001, he became chairman.
He is credited with having given Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
's demo tape to Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
, who signed him to his Aftermath label. In 2002, Iovine co-produced the hit Eminem movie 8 Mile and in 2004, he and Paul Rosenberg
Paul Rosenberg (music manager)
Paul Rosenberg is an American music manager known for his association with hip hop artists Eminem, The Knux and pop punk band Blink-182. As well as managing said artists, Rosenberg is also the co-founder of hip hop record label Shady Records, founded in 1999...
signed a first look deal
First look deal
A first look deal is an arrangement, usually in the film industry, where either a company or in some cases an individual enters into a commercial agreement with a studio under which they must allow the studio the right of first refusal in relation to developing and/or producing a project the...
with Paramount Pictures and MTV Films for their Interscope/Shady/Aftermath banner. Iovine co-produced the first film under the deal, Get Rich or Die Tryin', starring 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
. In 2003, he was co-executive producer of Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish pop music singer, a son of singer Julio Iglesias.Enrique started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa...
's album Seven
7 (Enrique Iglesias album)
-Chart positions:-Certifications:-External links:* * * *...
. In January 2008, Iovine, Dr. Dre and Monster Cable released Beats by Dr. Dre
Beats By Dr. Dre
Beats By Dr. Dre is a brand of headphones and loudspeakers marketed by hip-hop/rap musician Dr. Dre and Interscope-Geffen-A&M Records chairman Jimmy Iovine under Beats Electronics LLC. There are six versions of the headphones and six versions of the earphones, which are manufactured and...
high-performance headphones. Iovine is also an executive producer with LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
and Maverick Carter of the documentary More Than A Game, which was released in the fall of 2009.
Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
has thanked him several times during her acceptance speeches, as he was the one to sign her to Streamline/Interscope shortly after her 2007 performance at Lollapalooza. Eminem also has mentioned him several times during his acceptance speeches.
Bruce Springsteen's song Ain't Good Enough For You referenced Iovine: "And babe I tried to make the latest scene, Hip and cool, just like Jimmy Iovine."
Work outside Interscope
He was formerly married to writer and former model Vicki IovineVicki Iovine
Vicki McCarty Iovine is an American model, writer, and lawyer.-Biography:Iovine received her undergraduate degree in Journalism from University of California, Berkeley. She earned a law degree from Hastings College of the Law and an LL.B...
, author of The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy, and has four children. He owns the Beats By Dr. Dre
Beats By Dr. Dre
Beats By Dr. Dre is a brand of headphones and loudspeakers marketed by hip-hop/rap musician Dr. Dre and Interscope-Geffen-A&M Records chairman Jimmy Iovine under Beats Electronics LLC. There are six versions of the headphones and six versions of the earphones, which are manufactured and...
brand with Dr. Dre under exclusive license to Monster Cable Products
Monster Cable Products
Monster Cable Products Inc. owns the Monster Cable brand of consumer audio and video cable, which is primarily used to connect audio and video components...
. Jimmy Iovine was also involved in a romantic relationship with Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
. He has been a 'mentor' on American Idol season 10.