Virgin Records

Ailing music giant EMI will merge two of the music industry's best-known labels, Capitol Records and Virgin Records America, in a sweeping reorganization prompted by the company's financial troubles. EMI on Thursday unveiled the new Capitol Music Group, retaining the name of its iconic label whose roster once included the Beatles and Frank Sinatra. Capitol President Andy Slater was forced out, six months into a five-year contract extension.

JERMAINE DUPRI -- superproducer, rapper, and the boyfriend of Janet Jackson -- has confirmed to the Associated Press that he has quit as a top executive at Jackson's label, Virgin Records, amid disappointing sales of Jackson's new album. "Since there are so many rumors running rampant about my position at Virgin Records, I feel that it is necessary to set the record straight," Dupri said Wednesday in a statement to AP. "I was not forced out of the company; I made a decision to leave."

Robbie Williams "Reality Killed the Video Star" Virgin Records "This is a song full of metaphors," Robbie Williams sneers over some dusted-off mid-1970s guitar crunch in the party anthem "Do You Mind," which comes right in the middle of this bullishly diverse album. What song isn't? Dwelling on the obvious is an easy pop star move, but the witty Mr. Williams is usually sharper than that. Perhaps he's decided that being obvious is his only hope. The attitudinal crooner and former boy band star remains a novelty stateside, though in England he's basically Justin Timberlake minus the grace.

The Smashing Pumpkins are suing Virgin Records, saying the record label has illegally used their name and music in pro- motional deals that hurt the band's credibility with fans. In a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed in L.A. Superior Court on Monday, the rockers said they have "worked hard for over two decades to accumulate a considerable amount of goodwill in the eyes of the public" and that Virgin's use of the band in a "Pepsi Stuff" promotion with Amazon.com and Pepsi Co. threatens their reputation for "artistic integrity."

The chief executive of Virgin Records, Matt Serletic, resigned Tuesday, according to a statement released by Virgin's parent company, EMI Group. Sources close to the label said Serletic's departure was prompted by EMI's desire to replace him with Jason Flom, who was ousted as chief executive of Warner Music Group Corp.'s Atlantic Records in August. Sources close to EMI said a deal with Flom was in the works but had not been finalized. Serletic did not return phone calls seeking comment.

EMI Group, the nation's fourth-largest music company, announced the appointment of Jason Flom to head Virgin Records. The move was expected. Flom was ousted as head of Warner Music Group's Atlantic Records in August, after clashing with Warner's U.S. music chief, Lyor Cohen. Flom had joined Warner in 2004 as part of a group that bought the company from Time Warner Inc. Before that, Flom headed Lava Records, where he developed such acts as Twisted Sister, Tori Amos and Matchbox Twenty.

If your evening commute takes you by the Hollywood & Highland shopping hub you may want to start planning an alternate route for next Tuesday; pop star Mariah Carey, one of the hottest stars in music this year, is setting up a table at the complex's new Virgin Records Megastore to meet fans and sign copies of her hit CD. Carey's "Emancipation of Mimi" has sold 3.7 million copies in the U.S.

Mariah Carey label -- A Quick Takes item in Friday's Calendar section described Mariah Carey as a Virgin Records recording artist. She records for Island Records.

Two years ago, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo turned up the heat under Britney Spears by writing and producing her sexed-up single, "I'm a Slave 4 U." Lately, a lot of people in the record business have been singing that tune about Williams and Hugo. Known professionally as the Neptunes, the two 30-year-olds were honored this month with a Producer of the Year award at the Grammys.