Jive Records

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Jive Records

Parent company	Sony BMG
Founded	1981
Founder(s)	Clive Calder
Distributing label	Zomba Music Group (US)
Genre(s)	Various
Country of Origin	US
Website	Official site of Jive Records

Jive Records is a major American record label that specializes in producing and releasing pop and hip hop music. It is a sub-label of Zomba Music Group, originally founded in England in 1975, while the US division in 1981 in New York City by Clive Calder.

The name for Jive Records was named after Township Jive, a form of South African music and dance.

Initial distribution was by Arista Records until 1987. Following the creation of BMG the same year, which was a result of a venture of the music holdings of Bertelsmann: RCA and Arista. Distribution of Jive Records switched over to RCA Records that year. Early signings to Jive included Whodini, A Flock of Seagulls and Billy Ocean. After the departure from Arista Records in 1987, Jive would later sign controversial rappers, Too Short and Schooly D. Clive Davis, head of Arista Records, at the time was known to be opposed to Rap. Distribution from RCA Records followed until 1991, when Jive was sold to BMG. That same year, Barry Weiss became CEO and president of Jive Records. A position he holds to this day.

Britney Spears is the best selling artist on Jive selling more than 88 million albums. The Backstreet Boys are the best selling group with more than 98 million albums sold.

In 2003, So So Def, Jive Records and LaFace Records were absorbed into the Zomba Music Group, which is now part of Sony BMG Music.