Specialist Record Label - Def Jam

Specialist Record Label - Def Jam

Background Information

⇨Def Jam Recordings is an American Record label focused predominantly on hip hop, pop and urban music owned by Universal Music Group

⇨It was founded in 1984 by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons

⇨There are current artists such as Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Kanye West, Alessia Cara, Jhene Aiko and Desiigner

⇨In the UK, the label takes on the name Def Jam UK and is operated through Virgin EMI Recrods, while in Japan, it is known as Def Jam Japan, operating through Universal Music jAPAN

How the company works?

⇨It began independent label inspired by downtown New York City’s vibrant street culture and the emerging sound of hip-hop, pioneered by iconic stars like LL Cool J, Slick Rick,

⇨ Def Jam has reaffirmed its passion for and commitment to hip-hop culture, and has expanded its global brand reach to become the most-followed major label on all major social media platforms.

⇨The first Def Jam singles garnered enough attention to allow the label to land a major label distribution deal with Columbia Records

How does it target its audience?

⇨They promote the artists they work with and promote them and their music 

⇨They reach out to its viewers through social media; Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter; they mainly reach out asking for opinions or answers to polls. 

⇨The artists itself give credit to the record label they work with so other artists could work with them. In music videos, it is mentioned that they were produced with Def Jam