Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Link With MCA

LOS ANGELES (Reuter) - The Grammy award-winning producing and songwriting team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have agreed to create a new record label with MCA Inc.'s Universal Records, the label said Wednesday.

The pair, known for their chart-topping hits with acts including Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Prince and New Edition, will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the label, which has yet to be named, as well as finding new talent for the enterprise.

Universal will provide marketing, promotion and sales. MCA is a unit of Seagrams Co. Ltd.

Jam and Lewis, among the most sought-after producers in the business, also have agreed to be available to work with other artists signed to record labels owned by MCA.

In September A&M Records, a unit of PolyGram, ended its relationship with the producers' Perspective Records.

Industry insiders said that while Jam and Lewis had enjoyed huge sucess with other artists, the Perspective imprint was not making money for A&M. Since then the pair were reportedly courted by Sony Music and other labels before signing the MCA deal.

Jam and Lewis have won a number of Grammy Awards, have been nominated for an Oscar and in 1992 were named Songwriters of the Year by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. This year ASCAP honored the duo with an award for song of the year for "On Bended Knee," which was a hit for Boyz II Men.

Along with the Jacksons and Prince, Rod Stewart, Boyz II Men, Luther Vandross, Lionel Ritchie, Gladys Knight, The Human League, Patti LaBelle, New Edition, Robert Palmer and George Michael all have worked with the producing duo.

They have writing and producing credits on more than 40 singles and albums certified gold or platinum.

Reuters/Variety