Jive Records
Jive Records is a music record label relaunched in February 2026 as a standalone imprint under RCA Records and Sony Music Entertainment, focused on signing and developing new hip-hop and pop artists using Sony's global distribution infrastructure.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Jive Records does
Jive Records is a music record label that was relaunched in February 2026 by RCA Records as a frontline, standalone imprint under Sony Music Entertainment, headquartered in New York City. The label focuses on signing and developing new artists across genres, with particular emphasis on hip-hop and pop, and operates with an artist-first approach that pairs independent label culture with major-label infrastructure. Its go-to-market relies on Sony Music's global distribution network covering all major streaming platforms, digital retailers, and physical retail channels, supplemented by RCA's radio promotion, publicity teams, and industry relationships.
The underlying business model is built on recorded music revenue streams — streaming royalties, digital downloads, and physical sales — supplemented by live event and merchandise income tied to signed artists. Deals and revenue-sharing arrangements with artists are negotiated individually rather than publicly disclosed, consistent with industry norms. Customer-facing segments are recording artists (the primary signing targets) and end music consumers who access releases via global streaming platforms.
Operationally, Jive Records is led by co-presidents Mike Weiss and David Melhado, both former UnitedMasters executives, signaling an intent to bring tech-influenced, artist-friendly distribution expertise to a legacy brand. The imprint inherits the original Jive Records catalog and brand equity associated with foundational hip-hop and pop acts, which provides immediate brand recognition but limited current roster at relaunch. There are no disclosed proprietary technology platforms, AI capabilities, or standalone financial metrics for the imprint itself.
Jive Records firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Jive Records
- Legal name
- Jive Records
- Website
- https://jiverecords.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Jive Records is a music record label relaunched in February 2026 as a standalone imprint under RCA Records and Sony Music Entertainment, focused on signing and developing new hip-hop and pop artists using Sony's global distribution infrastructure.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Jive Records industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Record Label
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Record Production and Distribution (512250), Music Publishers (51223)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sync Rights Representation (Pitching, Clearance, Negotiation) (MPAIABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Brand Partnerships & Music Placement Services (Non-Exclusive Brand Deals) (MPAIALAM)
Keywords
Where Jive Records is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Jive Records business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Recorded Music Revenue: Revenue from recorded music including streaming, digital downloads, and physical sales. Sony Music reported recorded music revenue of 355 billion yen with 13% growth, driven by streaming performance from artists including Rosalía and Peso Pluma.
- Artist Signings and Catalog: Revenue generated through artist contracts, record sales, and catalog management for signed artists across hip-hop and pop genres.
- Live Events and Merchandise: Live events and merchandise revenue associated with signed artists. Sony Music reported live events and merchandise sales jumping 30% to 90 billion yen.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Jive Records product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Jive Records is a frontline, standalone record label imprint under RCA Records and Sony Music Entertainment that signs, develops, and promotes recording artists across all genres with an emphasis on hip-hop and pop. The label coordinates recording, production, marketing, and global release strategy for its signed roster, leveraging Sony Music's worldwide distribution network to deliver music to streaming platforms, digital retailers, and physical outlets.
Product overview
Jive Records is a revived standalone record label imprint under RCA Records and Sony Music Entertainment, positioned as 'A Modern major' with 'Independent spirit.' The label is being reintroduced as a frontline imprint focused on new artist signings across all genres, aiming to honor its legacy of hip-hop and pop success while applying an artist-first approach to modern music industry operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Jive Records Label Services A revived frontline record label imprint offering artist signings, artist development, record deal structures, music production coordination, catalog management, and global release strategy for emerging and established artists across hip-hop, pop, and other genres. Operates under RCA Records and Sony Music Entertainment.
Companies that use Jive Records
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Jive Records technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Jive Records partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- RCA Records (Sony Music)coreRCA Records, a division of Sony Music, is relaunching Jive Records as a frontline, standalone imprint. RCA provides label infrastructure, industry relationships, and distribution resources to Jive Records while allowing the imprint to operate independently with its own identity and artist-first approach.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Jive Records competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- UnitedMasters: Tech-enabled independent music distribution platform. Not a direct label competitor, but Jive's co-presidents came from here, and UnitedMasters represents the structural alternative to traditional labels that Jive's artist-first positioning must address.
Direct peers
- Republic Records: Universal Music's flagship frontline imprint, dominant in hip-hop and pop with artists like Drake and Taylor Swift. Most aggressive external comparable in signing and developing mainstream commercial artists.
- Epic Records: Another Sony Music frontline imprint focusing on pop and hip-hop. Most directly comparable as a Sony sister label competing for similar artist signings and working from the same parent distribution network.
- Def Jam Recordings: Universal Music imprint historically synonymous with hip-hop. Closest single comparable as a hip-hop-anchored label; competes directly with Jive's genre emphasis.
- Atlantic Records: Warner Music's flagship frontline label spanning hip-hop, pop, and R&B. Directly comparable as a major-label imprint with global distribution and major artist development focus.
- Columbia Records: Sister Sony Music imprint with comparable artist development mandate across genres. Competes internally with Jive for Sony's A&R budget and artist signings.
- RCA Records: Jive's parent imprint within Sony Music. Directly comparable as a flagship frontline label signing hip-hop and pop artists; Jive explicitly operates as a standalone imprint within RCA's structure.
- Interscope Records: Universal Music imprint with deep hip-hop and pop catalog. Competes directly with Jive for major label artist signings and global distribution leverage.
Emerging players
- Quality Control Music: Independent hip-hop label with strong Atlanta roots (Migos, Lil Baby). Comparable as an artist-friendly independent hip-hop label pursuing similar signing strategy to Jive but with genuine structural independence.
- 300 Entertainment: Independent hip-hop and pop label (Young Thug, Gunna). Comparable as an artist-first independent label that competes with majors for talent through differentiated deal structures.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Jive Records social profiles
Digital presenceJive Records financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Jive Records leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Jive Records funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Jive Records M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Jive Records
What does Jive Records do?
Jive Records is a frontline, standalone record label imprint under RCA Records and Sony Music Entertainment that signs, develops, and promotes recording artists across all genres with an emphasis on hip-hop and pop. The label coordinates recording, production, marketing, and global release strategy for its signed roster, leveraging Sony Music's worldwide distribution network to deliver music to streaming platforms, digital retailers, and physical outlets.
Is Jive Records a public or private company?
Jive Records is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Jive Records founded?
Jive Records was founded in -1. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Jive Records based?
Jive Records is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Jive Records make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Recorded Music Revenue is the primary driver. The others are artist Signings and Catalog and live Events and Merchandise.
Who are Jive Records's main competitors?
UnitedMasters is listed as an others. Direct peers are Republic Records, Epic Records, Def Jam Recordings, Atlantic Records, Columbia Records, RCA Records and Interscope Records. Emerging players are Quality Control Music and 300 Entertainment.
Does Jive Records have an API?
No public API is recorded for Jive Records.
What industry is Jive Records in?
Jive Records's product category is Music Record Label. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIABAF, Sync Rights Representation (Pitching, Clearance, Negotiation), with a secondary code of MPAIALAM, Brand Partnerships & Music Placement Services (Non-Exclusive Brand Deals). Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 2741.