As of February 3, 2026, RCA Records has announced that JIVE Records will be returning as a standalone label. Operations for the revival will take place at Sony Music’s New York City Headquarters and be run by former UnitedMasters executives Mike Weiss and David Melhado, who will serve as co-presidents.
The reemergence of JIVE Records comes more than a decade after its disbandment in 2008. Originally founded in 1981, Jive was run by Mike Weiss’ father, Barry, who helped build the label into the powerhouse it was. The label housed the likes of several prominent music acts from A Flock of Seagulls and Boogie Down Productions to Aaliyah and the Backstreet Boys.
On the resurgence, both Mike Weiss and David Melhado had much to say. Weiss delivered the following statement:
“JIVE Records is deeply personal to me—it shaped entire generations and the way I learned this business. Relaunching this iconic label with David allows us to carry forward JIVE’s legacy of creative and operational excellence while proving that major labels can deliver both innovation and fairness for artists. The same artist-first philosophy that guided us at UnitedMasters is what we plan to bring to JIVE, and I’m grateful to Rob Stringer, Peter Edge, and John Fleckenstein for trusting us with this legendary brand.”
David Melhado also shared his view:
“I’ve spent much of my career developing artists from the ground up, which has shaped my perspective on this business and what artists need to build lasting careers. Relaunching JIVE alongside Mike is an opportunity to honor its independent spirit and double down on developing artists while shaping culture. I’m excited to work with Rob Stringer, Peter Edge, John Fleckenstein, and the entire team to bring this vision to life.”
