JIVE Records Returns as Standalone Imprint Under RCA, Led by Mike Weiss and David Melhado
One of the most influential names in modern music is officially back.
JIVE Records, the legendary label known for shaping hip-hop, R&B, and pop culture, has been relaunched as a standalone frontline imprint operating under Sony Music’s RCA Records. Steering the revival are industry executives Mike Weiss and David Melhado, who have been appointed co-presidents of the reborn brand.
After more than a decade of dormancy following its absorption into RCA, JIVE’s return signals a renewed commitment to artist development and creative risk-taking. According to the label, the new chapter is rooted in respecting JIVE’s historic impact while redefining what a major-label imprint can look like in today’s rapidly evolving music ecosystem.
The revived JIVE plans to sign and nurture artists across multiple genres, with a strong emphasis on long-term growth, creative freedom, and cultural relevance. The leadership describes the approach as artist-first, blending modern strategy with the label’s legacy of breaking boundary-pushing talent.
Weiss, son of former JIVE and Island Def Jam chairman Barry Weiss, and Melhado come to the role following successful runs at UnitedMasters. During their time there, the duo played key roles in developing and supporting artists such as Brent Faiyaz, NLE Choppa, BigXthaPlug, FloyyMenor, and Ekkstacy, helping advance a development model that prioritized ownership, independence, and sustainable careers.
With its return, JIVE Records aims to reclaim its position as a tastemaker and incubator for future icons this time equipped with a modern blueprint built for the streaming era.
For Beatselector Magazine, the relaunch of JIVE isn’t just nostalgia it’s a statement that legacy, when paired with vision, can still move culture forward.
