In a move that's being pitched as a way to "to refresh RCA," the massive record company has decided to shut down three of its best-known subsidiary labels: Arista, Jive, and J. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, RCA COO Tom Corson said shuttling the labels is a way of "branding RCA and not having it confused or diluted by other labels.” This shouldn't affect the artists on those labels—some of the bigger names include Usher and Pink—and Corson insists that "artists have all been supportive. We didn’t make this move without consulting our artists, and we haven’t had any push-back. Frankly, they’re the brand. We’re defined by our artists.”
RCA has recently worked to downsize in other areas, including laying off executives and reducing its roster of artists (including American Idol winner Lee DeWyze). “We’ve learned to work with less and hopefully accomplish the same or more,” Corson told THR. “But by definition, the business has shrunk—the staffing has shrunk, our rosters are smaller. But we’re still profitable.”