Recording Industry Layoffs

Music: More than 20% of the staff at Walt Disney's troubled Hollywood Records were laid off Thursday as part of a move to trim overhead costs, the company confirmed. The 14-worker layoff brings the number of employees to 50. The company said the cuts affected all areas except publicity and artists and repertoire.

Sony Music Cuts Jobs: The New York-based company, which recently slipped from second to third place in the domestic market share race, issued pink slips Friday to more than four dozen employees at Columbia and Epic Records. According to sources, the cuts were implemented to slash costs and are likely to be followed by small trims in the artist roster in the months ahead.

At a time when the record industry in general is booming, MCA Records on Friday issued pink slips to at least 25 employees in its New York and Universal City offices. Among those fired, according to industry sources, were the entire staff of the company's New York-based Uni record label and a number of people in its West Coast creative services and A&R departments. The A&R department, standing for "artists and repertoire," is responsible for signing and developing artists.

At a time when the record industry in general is booming, MCA Records on Friday issued pink slips to at least 25 employees in its New York and Universal City offices. Among those fired, according to industry sources, were the entire staff of the company's New York-based Uni record label and a number of people in its West Coast creative services and A&R departments. The A&R department, standing for "artists and repertoire," is responsible for signing and developing artists.