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# Universal’s Island Def Jam Begins Layoffs
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/universals-isla/
- Published: 2007-12-03T01:01:00.000Z
- Updated: 2007-12-03T01:01:00.000Z
- Description: CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING STORY. First came word of executive layoffs at Sony BMG. Now Universal’s Island Def Jam group has started layoffs of their. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2007/12/universals-isla.html]
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: Uncategorized, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 11:06

[![Island_def_jam_2](https://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/images/2007/12/02/island_def_jam_2.jpg "Island_def_jam_2")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/12/02/island%5Fdef%5Fjam%5F2.jpg&ref=hypebot.com)

**CLICK [HERE](http://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/2007/12/layoffs-at-univ.html?ref=hypebot.com) FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING STORY.**

First came [word](http://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/2007/12/exec-layoffs-ru.html?ref=hypebot.com) of executive layoffs at Sony BMG. Now Universal’s Island Def Jam group has started layoffs of their own.

Billboard.biz has [reported](http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content%5Fdisplay/industry/e3i7fbfc47257d2db0d0b586a39e272db92?ref=hypebot.com) that VP of Promo Greg Thompson has left the company and will not be replaced. A&R staffer Sarah Lewitinn and her developing artist label [Stolen Transmission](http://stolentransmission.com/st/index.asp?ref=hypebot.com) have also been cut loose. She points to broader restructuring at IDJ and vows to keep the label’s acts moving forward on her personal [blog](http://ultragrrrl.blogspot.com/2007/12/thanks-everyone-for-all-your-kind-words.html?ref=hypebot.com).

[Radio Facts](http://radiofacts.blogspot.com/2007/12/def-jam-layoffs-reflection-of-new.html?ref=hypebot.com) calls the IDJ layoffs "massive" and says Jay Z was offered $10 million to stay on. Other rumors have Jay Z leaving to start his own label. The label group had already shed 40 staffers in [May](http://www.vibe.com/blog/vc/2007/05/more%5Ftrouble%5Fat%5Fdef%5Fjam%5Flayoff.html?ref=hypebot.com) of this year.

**Read about the layoffs at Sony BMG and commentary [here](http://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/2007/12/exec-layoffs-ru.html?ref=hypebot.com).**