Mercury Records rises in U.S. again

Mercury Records recording artist Elton John celebrates his 60th birthday and 60th Madison Square Garden performance in New York, March 25, 2007. Island Def Jam is reviving the legendary Mercury Records imprint in the United States, eight years after it was mothballed in the wake of a corporate merger.

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Island Def Jam is reviving the legendary Mercury Records imprint in the United States, eight years after it was mothballed in the wake of a corporate merger.

The label continues to operate overseas, serving as the home for many Island Def Jam acts, such as Bon Jovi, Elton John and Lionel Richie.

The resurrected Mercury will be headed in New York by David Massey ,a former executive at Sony Music, where he worked with the likes of Shakira, Oasis, Franz Ferdinand and Travis.

Mercury -- which over the years has served as the U.S. home to such acts as John Mellencamp, Def Leppard, Kiss, Rush, Rod Stewart, Cinderella, Fine Young Cannibals and Tears for Fears -- ceased operating as a frontline label in North America in 1999 in the wake of Seagram Co.'s purchase of Mercury's PolyGram parent. The deal led to the formation of Universal Music Group, which is now controlled by Vivendi Universal.

Mercury was founded in Chicago in 1945, and found success with such acts as Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, the Platters and Louis Armstrong.

Just how many releases come out this year under the Mercury banner remains to be seen, but the number figures to be a handful. Massey said the plan is to build the imprint slowly.

Reuters/Billboard