Warner Bros. Records joins with J.R. Rotem and his Beluga Heights label

Warner Bros. Records is pleased to announce that it has established a joint venture with multi-platinum songwriter and producer J.R. Rotem and his record label Beluga Heights.

"I'm very excited about our new partnership with Warner Bros. Records," Rotem says. "Both of our companies have a unique set of ideas, resources, and strengths, which will make for a winning recipe in the world of music. I feel confident that this joint venture between Warner Bros. Records and Beluga Heights will successfully put great music into the hands of a world-wide audience."

Rotem established Beluga Heights with his manager and business partner Zach Katz and younger brother Tommy Rotem (who now manages the company's A&R department), in November 2006 as a way to foster the development of new artists, including break-out superstar Sean Kingston. Kingston became an overnight success, selling more than a million albums worldwide in addition to eight million ringtones and singles. Rotem has also worked with Rihanna, Rick Ross, and Leona Lewis, among many others.

"There are a handful of producers out there who can actually break artists and have continuous hits in multiple formats. J.R. Rotem is one of them," says Warner Bros. Records Senior Vice President of A&R Kara DioGuardi. "He has assembled a forward-thinking team whose main focus is to find talent and sell records. The partnership between Warner Bros. Records and J.R.'s label is further proof of our commitment to aligning ourselves with the best and brightest creative people in the music industry. As someone who has worked with J.R. as a writer and music executive, I am confident we will be seeing many great things from him and Beluga Heights."

The first artist signed to Warner Bros./Beluga Heights is up-and-coming pop singer, songwriter, and performer Jason Derulo, who has written songs for Lil Wayne, Sean Kingston, and Danity Kane among others. Derulo's first single, "Whatcha Say," is currently at radio and the Miami native, who recently performed at KIIS FM's Wango Tango, is currently recording his debut album in Los Angeles with Rotem. Also signed through this joint venture are Auburn and Iyaz, whose debut releases are forthcoming.