CEO Peter Edge and COO Tom Corson told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview that they were shutting down Jive and Arista immediately, and focusing on the RCA brand. Well as they cleverly put it, "the artists are the brand."

Which is a good way of saying they're going to downsize and they have no clue how to continue to thrive in the business so they'd much rather keep the heavy hitters and get rid of the excess.

“The concept is that there is value in branding RCA and not having it confused or diluted by other labels,” Corson said.

Jive, which was the home to Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and A Tribe Called Quest was run by Barry Weiss for years, who is now over at Def Jam. Arista gave birth to Usher, Whitney Houston and the Bad Boy label at one point. Even the J Records roster is falling under RCA.

There was no full list of who is staying and who's going, but they were a bunch of employee cuts and of course some acts were let go. American Idol season 9 winner Lee DeWyze was one of those artists that got the axe.
Edge said,  "The big initiative here is to spend more money on artist development, making more records and making better records and less on all of the other stuff."

Do you believe?

Tinie Tempah Is Giving Away An iTunes Gift Card & More... Register Now!!!

CEO Peter Edge and COO Tom Corson told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview that they were shutting down Jive and Arista immediately, and focusing on the RCA brand. Well as they cleverly put it, "the artists are the brand."

Which is a good way of saying they're going to downsize and they have no clue how to continue to thrive in the business so they'd much rather keep the heavy hitters and get rid of the excess.

“The concept is that there is value in branding RCA and not having it confused or diluted by other labels,” Corson said.

Jive, which was the home to Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and A Tribe Called Quest was run by Barry Weiss for years, who is now over at Def Jam. Arista gave birth to Usher, Whitney Houston and the Bad Boy label at one point. Even the J Records roster is falling under RCA.

There was no full list of who is staying and who's going, but they were a bunch of employee cuts and of course some acts were let go. American Idol season 9 winner Lee DeWyze was one of those artists that got the axe.
Edge said,  "The big initiative here is to spend more money on artist development, making more records and making better records and less on all of the other stuff."

Do you believe?

Tinie Tempah Is Giving Away An iTunes Gift Card & More... Register Now!!!

The contestants of America's most popular reality television singing competition are obviously getting to the money.

Forbes Magazine recently released their latest Top Earning American Idols list, and R&B favorites Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson were among the Top 10.

Unfortunately, 2003 American Idol winner Ruben Studdard was not (c'mon, Ruben).

(The list was based on estimated pretax income earned from May 2010 to May 2011).

Check out the top breadwinners on the next pages.

In addition to gaining a reported 45 pounds to play Mahalia Jackson in a new film role, singer Fantasia Barrino is set to gain more money in her wallet.

As previously reported, the singer nabbed the lead role in the film about the gospel singer based on Jules Schwerin's 1993 book 'Got To Tell It: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel.'

Now according to The New York Post, the songstress has signed a deal to earn a percentage of the film's box office gross, an unheard of practice for a beginning actress like herself.

Additionally there are reports that the film already has a budget of $23.9 million.

The movie has also received the blessing of Jackson' estate who has granted worldwide rights to Mahalia's story, the name “Mahalia” and “Mahalia Jackson” and several of her recordings.

After premiering her new video on the program last week, Beyonce returned to American Idol for the season finale where she performed her hits and debuted her brand new single.

The “Run The World” songstress took the stage Wednesday and sang “Crazy In Love”, “Single Ladies” and “Déjà Vu” but it was her performance of her new track that stole the show.

As previously reported Beyonce's set to release her new album 4 June 28 and released the tracklisting late Wednesday night on her Facebook page.
The album boasts only one feature, Andre 3000 who accompanies her on the track “Party.”

While on last night's “Idol” stage, Bey performed the first cut from 4, “1+1” a love ballad that she said was one of her favorites.

Check out Bey on Idol and her tracklisting for 4 below.

1. “1+1″
2. “I Care”
3. “I Miss You”
4. “Best Thing I Never Had”
5. “Party” feat. André 3000
6. “Rather Die Young”
7. “Start Over”
8. “Love on Top”
9. “Countdown”
10. “End of Time”
11. “I Was Here”
12. “Run the World (Girls)”

Snoop Dogg was banned from entering the UK following a brawl between his entourage and security at Heathrow airport in 2006, but since the ban has been lifted he's enjoying his time in England.
In fact, the 39-year-old rap vet held a press conference in a London strip club announcing his plans to launch a new "X Factor" or "American Idol"-style talent show that he says would go "straight to the hood."  

"I want to find that raw untamed talent that hasn't been dressed up all nice for the TV. Any TV companies want to help me, then they know where I am," Snoop said.
Snoop also made mention that he wants to open a chain of supermarkets called "Snoopermarkets."

Earlier this week, the D-O Double G performed in Brighton as part of his promotional tour for his LP, Doggumentary. Take a look at some flicks from his trip to London.

The man behind the careers of Diddy, 50 Cent, Soulja Boy and LL Cool J is offering a chance for artists to be heard. Chris Lighty, the head of Violator Management, will launch the interactive website for unsigned artists, Pleaselistentomydemo.com.

For only $10, rappers can upload their music and Lighty, co-founder Michael Dizon, and other staff will then take a listen and give feedback.

Chris got the idea a few years ago watching American Idol but states that the site is not meant to be harsh and that he will not "Simon Cowell" artists with negativity. "There are so many creative people out there. We are not reaching everybody. Just listen to the radio. It's the same 15 artists all day everyday," said Chris.

The site will feature the best songs and make them available to the public. The best ones will go to Hot 97 FM and program director, Ebro Darden states, "This will hopefully help music as a whole."

Some people are worried about ideas being stolen, others view it as a great opportunity to be discovered. What do you think?

MORE  HIP-HOP WIRED NEWS AND VIDEO

Find Out Why The Clipse's Malice And Bun B Respect Christian Hip-Hop Artist Lecrae So Much [Video Interview]

Police Officer Injured At Tyler The Creator Autograph Signing

Dr. Steve Perry Gives Advice To Obama, Talks Bill Cosby & Russell Simmons Beef And New Book

Chris Brown Freestyles For Funk Flex [Video]

Bangin Candy - Dolce Meeyah [Photos]

Young Money maiden Nicki Minaj is being considered as a judge for the new season of the talent show, X Factor.

According to the New York Post, Nicki and the show's producer former American Idol judge Simon Cowell spoke in person about her involvement in the show some weeks ago in Los Angeles.

The Post's source is quoted as saying, “Simon thinks Nicki is fantastic. She's sassy, she looks great and she has bags of personality."

While adding, “This isn't a done deal yet, but Nicki would be great for the show. She fits the ideal that 'X Factor' will be exciting, vibrant and different. And the show would also be great for her career.”

The "X Factor" show is slated to begin this fall with auditions starting this coming Sunday (March 27).

As previously reported, Cowell has already enlisted former Chairman and CEO of Island Def Jam L.A. Reid to become a judge for the American version of the popular British talent series. Reid resigned from his post at the at the storied label on last Thursday (March 17).

MORE  HIP-HOP WIRED NEWS AND VIDEO

"Love And Hip-Hop's" Emily B Talks Relationship With Fabolous, "He's The Star Not Me" [Photos/Video]

Toccara And Lance Gross Host National Launch Event For African Pride's 'My Pride, My Way' Campaign [Photos/Video]

Big Heed And Alien Talk Their Single "Tipsy", Skinny Jeans And Being 106 And Park's House Band [Video]

Jennifer Hudson Performs At The "Hennessy Black V-103 Soul Sessions" [Photo/Video]

Erykah Badu & Odd Future Perform At Fader SXSW Fort [Photos] [Video]

According to Entertainment Weekly, Lo would be joined by Maroon 5's Adam Levine and another yet named female judge.

The reality series is similar to American Idol in principal, but judges on The Voice must listen to the contestants while facing a different direction, to focus strictly on the singer's voice. The winner takes home a $100,000 cash prize.

Producers have also considered Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Lenny Kravitz and Roger Daltrey of the legendary rock band The Who as judges, according to EW.

The Voice, debuts on NBC this Spring.

MORE  HIP-HOP WIRED NEWS AND VIDEO

UGK Alumni Cory Mo Speaks On Texas Hip-Hop Scene & In-Fighting Which Halted The Movement [Video]

Rihanna Brings Out Drake And Kanye West For NBA All-Star Performance [Video]

R&B singer, Fantasia Barrino has been involved in a whirlwind of controversy since becoming a celebrity.

From rumors about her ability to read, her dealings with a separated man and aborting his child, and her suicide attempt last year, drama has seemed to surround the former American Idol winner.

As of late there have been even more speculations about her weight-gain and another pregnancy but now the truth has been revealed.

"Fantasia is 100% not pregnant. The only thing she's pregnant with is prosperity," her manager, Brian Dickens told RadarOnline.com.

He continued, "In fact, she's just signed on to play the lead in Mahalia and has been told to gain 30 to 45 pounds for the role."

Mahalia is the title of a biopic about the life of powerful gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson.

The film, based on the 1993 book "Got to Tell It: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel," will start shooting in April in Pittsburgh and Chicago and is slated to be released in December.

Check out more of Fantasia preparing for her film below.

Can you see the difference?