Super producer Rick Rubin, founder of Def Jam Records, has been
offered a job as co-chairman of Columbia Records, according to
an article published yesterday (Feb. 5) in the New York Times. Rubin, 44, is acclaimed
for his work with major artists such as LL Cool J, Run DMC, Beastie Boys
and even Johnny Cash. His own label, American Recordings, became
a subsidiary label under Warner Bros in July of 2005.

Warner Bros. was already scheduled to receive the rights to American’s
catalog this year, which includes recordings by Johnny Cash, Slayer,
Danzig, the Jayhawks, the Black Crowes and others. Rubin is allegedly
in negotiations with executives at Warner Bros. to be released from his contract
early.

As the new co-chairman of Columbia Records, Rubin would be expected to have
a hand in everything from signing artists to creating marketing campaigns and
help to attract new artists and to forge a more creative spirit for the label.
Neither Rubin, nor Warner Bros. offered comment.

Rubin founded Def Jam Recordings in 1982 while in high school in Long Beach,
CA. He later moved to New York to attend New York University, and while there,
he met Russell Simmons and eventually established Def Jam,
which was originally distributed by Columbia/CBS. American Recordings was founded
by Rubin in 1988 after a split with Def Jam due to differences with then-president
Lyor Cohen. Cohen is currently the CEO of Warner Music Group, the parent company
of Warner Bros. Records.

Since its inception, American Recording has made many musical discoveries,
including The Geto Boys, the Black Crowes and System
of a Down. Rubin is up for Grammy’s for his production on the Red Hot
Chili Peppers’ Stadium Arcadium, the Dixie Chicks‘ Taking the
Long Way and Justin Timberlake‘s FutureSex/LoveSounds. He is
also nominated for Producer of the Year. In recent years he has also overseen
Billboard Top 10 entries by System of a Down, Shakira, Neil Diamond
and Audioslave while collaborating on a critically acclaimed
series of late-career releases by Johnny Cash.