Editing Geffen Records (section)

=== PolyGram merger and Interscope Geffen A&M (1999–2003) ===
On December 10, 1998, Seagram completed its seven-month $10.6 billion plan to acquire PolyGram. As a result, PolyGram's music division was merged into Universal Music Group.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Strauss |first=Neil |date=1998-12-21 |title=A Major Merger Shakes Up the World of Rock |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/21/arts/a-major-merger-shakes-up-the-world-of-rock.html |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Philips |first1=Chuck |last2=Eller |first2=Claudia |date=1998-05-22 |title=Seagram Uncorks $10.6-Billion Deal to Buy PolyGram |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-22-mn-52474-story.html |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Geffen now became sister labels to [[A&M Records]], [[Island Records]], [[Mercury Records]], [[Def Jam Recordings]] and [[Motown]] (which had previously been a part of UMG during its preceding MCA days from 1988 to 1993). In the ensuing months, a number of corporate reshufflings occurred,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sandler |first=Adam |date=1998-12-11 |title=Music will boot 3,000 |url=https://variety.com/1998/music/news/music-will-boot-3-000-1117489335/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> resulting in Geffen and A&M, on New Year's Eve 1998, being merged into [[Interscope Geffen A&M Records]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The end of an era for A&M and Geffen |url=https://ew.com/article/1999/02/05/end-era-am-and-geffen/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref> Interscope Geffen A&M became one of Universal Music Group's four new label factions alongside the [[Verve Records|Verve Label Group]], [[Universal Motown Republic Group]] and the [[The Island Def Jam Music Group|Island Def Jam Music Group]]. However, the IGA merger resulted in Geffen firing 110 of its employees.<ref name=":0" /> Unlike A&M, which was closed entirely, Geffen was able to continue existing as a one-off brand under [[Interscope Records]]. At the same time, international distribution of Interscope and Geffen releases respectively switched from [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG Distribution]] and Island Records UK to ex-PolyGram label [[Polydor Records]], which had already been distributing A&M releases overseas (in return for A&M handling Polydor releases in the U.S.); A&M was forced to remain as a one-off active label for Interscope following a lawsuit by its co-founders [[Jerry Moss]] and [[Herb Alpert]], which was later settled in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A&M Founders Sue Universal |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/ih6bwd/am-founders-sue-universal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213205130/https://www.mtv.com/news/ih6bwd/am-founders-sue-universal |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 13, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=MTV |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leeds |first=Jeff |date=2003-03-12 |title=Herb Alpert's Vivendi Deal Has $200-Million Encore Performance |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-12-fi-alpert12-story.html |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

In October 1999, [[Jordan Schur]] (of [[Flip Records (1994)|Flip Records]]) was declared Geffen's new president; this led to Schur stepping down as the head of Flip, but he still managed to maintain control of the label, while certain acts from Flip's roster, such as [[Cold (band)|Cold]] and [[Professional Murder Music]], were transferred over to Geffen.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Sandler |first=Adam |date=1999-11-01 |title='Days' start for Schur, Geffen |url=https://variety.com/1999/music/news/days-start-for-schur-geffen-1117757578/ |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Geffen's first release under Schur's leadership was the [[End of Days (soundtrack)|''End of Days'' soundtrack]], released in November 1999. Geffen became a predominantly rock music-based label.<ref name=":1" />