John Janick Joins Interscope Geffen A&M As President And Chief Operating Officer

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Interscope Geffen A&M announced today that John Janick has been named President and Chief Operating Officer. Janick joins the company after sixteen years spent running the highly regarded indie label he co-founded, Fueled By Ramen, where artists such as Fall Out Boy, fun., Paramore, and Panic! at the Disco became commercial and critical hits.  Since 2009, Janick was simultaneously co-president of Elektra Records, which he relaunched with the success of artists Bruno Mars and Cee Lo Green. 

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Said Jimmy Iovine, Chairman and CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M, a unit of Universal Music Group, the global music leader: "I'm really excited to have John come on board as President and COO; he's exactly what we needed at this time.  Everything he accomplished at Fueled By Ramen reminded me of the early days of Interscope.  Combine that with John's experience running a bigger company at Elektra, and it makes him the perfect fit for us."

"I'm looking forward to what lies ahead for Interscope Geffen A&M, and I'm thrilled to be working with Jimmy Iovine," said Janick, who will report directly to Iovine.  "Because he is here, I would not have gone anywhere else. I've been entrusted to help build this company for the future. Interscope Geffen A&M has great artists and great employees. It's fantastic to be joining a company that has been built on such exciting artists and music; that's something I intend on continuing."

Janick began his career when he co-founded Fueled By Ramen in his dorm room while an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Florida in Gainesville.  Over the next few years, the small indie label grew even as Janick earned a B.A. in Finance and Business Management and then an M.B.A. at the University of South Florida.  In 2003, the label broke through with the release of Fall Out Boy's Take This To Your Grave, FBR's first gold album.  2005 brought the platinum A Fever You Can't Sweat Out from Panic! at the Disco.  Paramore's platinum Riot! followed in 2007, as did a move for the label from Florida to New York City.  In 2010, Janick personally signed fun.  The following year he was tasked with helping to relaunch the Elektra label for Atlantic Records in addition to his continuing role as head of Fueled By Ramen.  While he was at Elektra, he reestablished the legendary imprint as Doo-Wops & Hooligans from Bruno Mars went platinum and Cee Lo Green became a star with the quintuple platinum single "F**k You/Forget You."  

Janick has relocated to Los Angeles for his new position, where he will be working at the Interscope Geffen A&M offices in Santa Monica.    

ABOUT INTERSCOPE GEFFEN A&M:

Combining the legacies of three of the most influential record labels in modern music history, Interscope Geffen A&M embarked on a new tradition of musical achievement with its unification on January 1, 1999.  Headed by Chairman and CEO Jimmy Iovine, Interscope Geffen A&M is a major force in global music, developing chart-topping artists across a wide range of musical genres including rock, rap, pop and alternative. Interscope Geffen A&M is part of Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company.

ABOUT UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP:

Universal Music Group is the world's leading music company with wholly owned operations in 60 territories. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's leading global music publishing operations.

Universal Music Group's record labels include A&M/Octone, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Geffen Records, Interscope Records, Island Records, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Polydor Records, Universal Music Latino, Universal Republic and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalogue of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG's catalogue is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes Global Digital Business, its new media and technologies division and Bravado, its merchandising company.

SOURCE Interscope Geffen A&M