DEF JAM LOSES LONGTIME EXEC AND FRIEND

Kevin Liles is stepping down as the Executive Vice President of Warner Music Group he officially announced today.



Liles says his departure is due to the desire for him to focus more on his entrepreneuiral endeavors.:

He told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “I am thankful for the opportunities that Edgar and Lyor have given me, most recently in entrusting me with driving the company's global artist services strategy, which is redefining the way labels and artists work together. My work here is now complete and I'm excited about the next chapter of my life."

Kevin Liles started his career at Def Jam as an unpaid intern in 1991. By 1993, he was the Mid-Atlantic Marketing Manager.

By 1998, he was anointed President of the Def Jam Music Group. During his time at the label, he doubled the company’s revenues, by signing acts like Jay-Z, Irv Gotti and Murder Inc., DMX and numerous others.

Liles was named EVP of Warner Music Group in 2004, shortly after Def Jam Chairman Lyor Cohen took over as CEO of Warner Music Group.

"Kevin and I have worked together since the day he joined Def Jam as an intern 18 years ago,” said Lyor Cohen, WMG’s Chairman and CEO of Recorded Music. “He has become a trusted friend, a brilliant executive and an incredible business partner. Together, we have built companies, signed and developed fantastically talented artists, and brought some outstanding music to the world. Even though Kevin’s chosen to pursue a new challenge, we’ll continue to work together in many aspects of the entertainment industry. I’m so excited to see what’s next for Kev, and he takes with him all my love and respect."

Liles will continue to act as a consultant to Warner Music Group, in addition to pursuing other business ventures.

I'm sure he'll succeed with whatever he does!

ANSWER THE CALL WITH JAY-Z

Jiggaman and his wifey Beyonce were on hand for the Blueprint 3 September 11th benefit concert for family and friends affected by the lost lives of our city's finest police and firefighting heroes at Madison Square Garden.




Press from all around the world was there, including NYC's Governor, important officials, Executive Vice President of Warner Music Group Kevin Liles and of course Jay-Z. Skip towards the last 3 minutes of the video to listen to Hov speak:

I hear because of all the leaked music recently, Jay is planning to add extra bonus tracks for the 9/11 release of BP3 and for a re-release slated for Christmas.




Get your earplugs ready!

JAY-Z SIGNS TO ATLANTIC RECORDS

There's been much speculation as to where Jay-Z was going to go after he bought out his contract at Def Jam for $5 million of his own hard earned cash.

There were talks that he was heading to Sony, or taking his Roc Nation label through Live Nation to who knows where & rumors of him having secret meetings with his former colleagues Lyor Cohen & Kevin Liles who he's known for a long time when all 3 worked together at Def Jam during the years.

Well those meetings hold true because it's official.


Jay-Z has signed with Atlantic Records & his Roc Nation label will go to Sony.

Jigga's Blueprint 3, which he's been working on with Kanye West, among other producers to bring back the old Jay-Z, will be released on the label on September 11th, the anniversary of the first Blueprint album.

HELLOOOO BROOKLYNNNNNN!

* squealing like a little girl.