Year end cuts continue in the music industry. Days after the first wave of cuts were made at Def Jam Records and Sony BMG, layoffs are also still looming at Geffen. Though only one employee has confirmed their exit from the Interscope/Geffen/A&M unit, there are thought to be as many as 60 layoffs already and more on the way. There is also some speculation that the label could be on its way to being defunct as part of a larger restructuring of its parent company. The move is intended to allow Interscope/Geffen/A&M to maintain the artist equity and name of the label while cutting much of the cost associated with operating it. The reason for these cutbacks? Industry insiders are claiming nearly $20 Million have been spent on Will.I.Am, Nicole Sheringzer and Eve‘s albums. While Will.I.Am has already proven to be a commercial flop, Eve and Nicole‘s albums, which have yet to be released, have also been a cause of concern.
Not only has comedian Eddie Murphy launched a new record label, Murphy Entertainment, he has found his cornerstone artist: Karrine ‘Superhead’ Steffans, author of the book “Confessions of a Video Vixen” in which she chronicles her sexual exploits with some of todays most popular Hip Hop artists. The rap groupie is said to release her first album in March but can be heard freestyling on King magazine’s annual mixtape, available next month.
In support of his upcoming album titled The Cool, Lupe Fiasco will hit the road for a tour that stretches from December to March. Check out the dates below and see if Lu is coming to a city near you.
DECEMBER
18 New York, NY The Fillmore at Irving Plaza
27 Honolulu, HI Pipeline Café
JANUARY
10 Portland, OR Roseland Theatre
11 Seattle, WA Showbox Sodo
13 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
14 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
15 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern
17 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
18 Las Vegas, CA House of Blues
19 Albuquerque , NM Sunshine Theatre
20 Denver , CO Gothic Theatre
22 Austin , TX Emo’s
23 Dallas , TX House of Blues
25 Atlanta, GA The Roxy
27 Baltimore, MD Sonar
28 Norfolk, VA The Norva
30 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
31 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore at TLA
FEBRUARY
1 Richmond, VA Stuart C. Seigel Center
2 New York, NY Nokia Theatre
MARCH
1 New Haven, CT Yale University
25 Fredricksburg, VA Great Hall
