Originally founded in 1981 by Clive Calder as part of the Zomba Group, which he co-established with Ralph Simon, Jive Records grew from a niche new-wave imprint into a global music powerhouse. The label recorded early success with acts such as A Flock of Seagulls and hip-hop group Whodini, under the guidance of its U.S. operations head at the time, Barry Weiss.
Jive later became a dominant force in hip-hop, releasing influential projects from artists including DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, A Tribe Called Quest, Boogie Down Productions, and R. Kelly. By the 1990s, the label had evolved into the epicenter of the global pop explosion, playing a central role in launching the careers of Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. Its influence extended into the 2000s with major releases from Justin Timberlake, Pink, Outkast, Usher and others.
Calder ultimately sold Zomba to Bertelsmann’s BMG Music for $2.74 billion, after which the company was absorbed into the BMG-Sony merger. While the original label structure was dissolved, Jive’s catalog has remained under Sony Music’s ownership.
The relaunch will be spearheaded by Weiss and Melhado, both credited with helping to build United Masters into a formidable independent music company. Founded by Steve Stoute, United Masters has seen notable success in recent years with artists such as Big X Tha Plug, Brent Faiyaz, Cris MJ and FloyyMenor.
Mike Weiss, the son of former Jive executive Barry Weiss, joined United Masters more than seven years ago following a stint at Maverick Management, where he worked with artists including Noah Cyrus and Labrinth. Melhado also spent several years at United Masters, having previously held roles at Roc Nation, Streamcut Media, MBM Management, Atlantic Records and iHeartMedia.
Describing the relaunch as a personal milestone, Weiss said Jive Records played a foundational role in shaping his understanding of the music business. He noted that the revived label would prioritize artist-first principles, innovation and fairness, drawing from the leadership approach he and Melhado applied at United Masters.
Melhado echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing artist development and cultural impact as central pillars of the new Jive. He described the opportunity as a chance to honor the label’s independent roots while building sustainable, long-term careers for artists.
RCA Records Chairman and CEO Peter Edge praised the duo’s track record, calling their appointment a natural and symbolic step in bringing Jive back to the forefront of hip-hop and pop music. He cited their proven ability to identify talent and guide artist growth as key reasons for the relaunch.
Jive Records will operate from Sony Music’s New York City headquarters, with Weiss and Melhado reporting directly to Edge and RCA COO John Fleckenstein, as the label begins its next chapter.