Dupri: Label germane to Janet's CD flop

Janet Jackson's boyfriend, Jermaine Dupri, is said to be blaming fellow execs at Virgin Records for the miserable sales of her new CD.

We hear Dupri has threatened to quit as president of the Virgin Urban division because he feels label chairman Jason Flom and his team didn't market Jackson's album "20 Y.O." correctly.

The CD's sales plummeted 74% in its second week, dropping from No. 2 to No. 9 on the Nielsen SoundScan chart.

"Jermaine blames Virgin for not getting it enough radio play — not working it," says an insider.

In a desperate move to breathe life into "20 Y.O.," a source says Dupri is courting Mariah Carey to have a duet with Jackson on a track that would be added to a new version of the disk — even though some estimate Virgin still hasn't moved about 200,000 of the first batch.

Dupri has made no secret of his displeasure with the way Virgin handled Jackson's last album, "Damita Jo," telling The New York Times' Lola Ogunnaike, "They didn't push the project."

Flom has said that was before he came to the label. But another source says, "Jermaine and Jason haven't gotten along from the start."

Reps for Dupri, Virgin and Carey didn't return calls. But one of Flom's defenders argues, "Jason wants the CD to be a hit as much as anyone, but she didn't have the goods."
[Edited 10/17/06 12:09pm]

I have a feeling JD's misguided marketing and producing of this album, plus his recent tantrums are going split him and Janet up.

Tessa said:

She'll be better off without him - especially profesionally. Mind you, given her astonishing lack of judgement and good taste vis-a-vis 20 YO, she probably thinks he's being chivalrous.

I have a feeling JD's misguided marketing and producing of this album, plus his recent tantrums are going split him and Janet up.

Shapeshifter said:

She'd definitely be better off without him. Hell, she'd have been better off with just Jame & Lewis if they'd waited another 2 years and built up enough decent songs and production ideas for a comeback album. She could've paid them herself to not waste any work on other artists.

or just put out a greatest hits. but i imagine that's all that's left on her contract, so they had to go through the motions and get this one out of the way.
[Edited 10/17/06 12:28pm]

Well if they did just throw something out there to fulfill a contract it would seem to be the best time to experiment instead of hype up an album of original material so much that you even name it after it's supposed inspiration only for it to be chock full of poo. Then try to sell it with four different covers with whispers of a re-release before it even drops? JD wants to talk about loyal fans? You don't rip off loyal fans.

I'd like to think they just missed on this one because believing they just wanted out is even more of a disappointment.

I'm thinking even if he leaves Virgin, he'll probably still be involved in her career. I wonder if that would be a case of same story different label...

Not that I think Janet has a bad voice, but it has very little range. I can't say she's the worst singer in her family(that undoubtly goes to Latoya), but she's not the best either, and she's lightyears away from having Michael's voice.

This, like the other older artsits albums are well done and have good sons on them i.e. Prince's 3121, Maddy and janet, but I think the buying public is not seeing enough of them or they arent even being played on the radio. I have yet to hear "So Excited" Black Sweat" "Hung Up" or even "Get Otgether" on the radio AT ALL and it is rediculous.

paisleypark4 said:

black sweat and so excited are only ok AND their performed by older artists. i heard hung up all over the place when it was new. even get together i've heard a bit, but again, its one of the weaker tracks on the cd. when you're older in the entertainment biz you better bring it hard cuz if not ain't nobody gonna pay attention to your depends wearin' ass.

This, like the other older artsits albums are well done and have good sons on them i.e. Prince's 3121, Maddy and janet, but I think the buying public is not seeing enough of them or they arent even being played on the radio. I have yet to hear "So Excited" Black Sweat" "Hung Up" or even "Get Otgether" on the radio AT ALL and it is rediculous.

Oh and maybe those of us that aren't big fans see the album and think "20 years old she ain't" Or is it a retrospective album? I saw it and have nothing against JJ, but that's what I thought. Maybe folks were put off the title like I was. It's a small thing, but maybe I am not alone.

I think Hung Up is the exception to the rule though. When it came out, it got good radio play and was all over MTV. And while the rest of the singles bombed on the charts, the album still had overall healthy sales. Then again, Madonna knew who to cater the album to(the 18-35 yearold demographic and clubgoers) and didn't even try impressing the kiddos...

I dont know what to say about Janet anymore. I dont even think Janet cares what we think anymore anyway. Shes going to do what she wants to do. Or what her JD tells her to do.

paisleypark4 said:

black sweat and so excited are only ok AND their performed by older artists. i heard hung up all over the place when it was new. even get together i've heard a bit, but again, its one of the weaker tracks on the cd. when you're older in the entertainment biz you better bring it hard cuz if not ain't nobody gonna pay attention to your depends wearin' ass.