Interscope Records

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Interscope began in 1990 when Ted Field built it as a division of Interscope Communications, hiring John McClain and Tom Whalley. Jimmy Iovine joined after being introduced by U2 manager Paul McGuinness, agreeing that the label should sign new artists who could "move on a dime." Their first release was Gerardo's "Rico Suave" in November 1990, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 by April 1991. The label quickly signed Tupac Shakur after Whalley heard his demo just two days prior; 2Pacalypse Now followed in November 1991. By 1992, Interscope faced controversy when Vice President Dan Quayle criticized the lyrics of 2Pacalypse Now in relation to a Texas state trooper's death. Despite this, and a $10 million deal to distribute Death Row Records' The Chronic in December 1992, the label achieved profitability by 1993 with an estimated gross of $90 million.

In Their Own Story

In November 1996, Interscope made history as the first label in 20 years to hold the top four positions on the Billboard charts simultaneously with releases from Bush, Snoop Dogg, No Doubt, and Tupac Shakur. The following year, Dr. Dre left Death Row due to creative tensions and founded Aftermath Entertainment as a new joint venture with Interscope. In 1997, Iovine's assistant Dean Geistlinger heard Eminem perform at the Rap Olympics in Los Angeles and passed his CD to Iovine, who then shared it with Dre. This chain of events led to the February 1999 release of The Slim Shady LP. Later that year, Shady Records was founded. By the close of 1999, records by Eminem, Dre, Limp Bizkit, and others generated an estimated $40 million in profit during just the final six months.

Reader's Guide

Interscope operates under a founding tenet granting artists complete creative control, differing from industry norms where lawyers often held senior roles. The label's structure allows A&R staff to drive decisions while maintaining full oversight over recordings. In 1996, MCA Inc. (later Universal Music Group) acquired 50% of the label for $200 million, retaining Interscope's creative autonomy. Following Seagram's acquisition of PolyGram in 1998, Geffen and A&M records were merged into Interscope, operating under the umbrella of Interscope Geffen A&M Records by early 1999 with Iovine and Field as co-chairmen. The label's success relies on signing new talent like Eminem and distributing through partners while navigating controversies, such as the mid-1990s gangsta rap debates that led Time Warner to sell its stake in 1995.

Did You Know?

• Interscope was founded in 1990 as a $20 million joint venture between Tommy Mottola and Jimmy Iovine, later acquired by Time Warner (Warner Music Group), differing from other labels by letting A&R staff control decisions
• Tom Whalley signed Tupac Shakur just two days after hearing his demo for the first time.
• In November 1996, Death Row Records (distributed by Interscope) became the first label in 20 years to hold the top four positions on the Billboard charts simultaneously.
• The Slim Shady LP entered the charts at number two and won two Grammy Awards at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in February 2000.
• Interscope achieved profitability in 1993, just three years after its founding, with an estimated gross of $90 million.