LOS ANGELES, July 15 (UPI) -- U.S. pop singer Janet Jackson reportedly has left her longtime label, Virgin Records, to join her producer boyfriend Jermaine Dupri at Island Def Jam.
Jackson's decision to leave Virgin is not a complete surprise. Rumors had swirled in recent months that she would find a new home after the lackluster sales of her last two albums -- "Damita Jo" and "20 Y.O." -- and following Dupri's ascension to president of Island Urban last year.
Dupri told Billboard.com the label's chief executive officer, Antonio "L.A." Reid, will be working directly with Jackson.
"I let him deal with that on a day-to-day basis," Dupri said. "Janet's record is one that he's wanted to do for a long time. He's very passionate about it."
Dupri said he can't help Jackson with her latest disc because he is too busy putting together Mariah Carey's next record.
"I'm going to do Mariah, and we're going to make it seem like we're in competition to see who's going to have the biggest album of the year," Dupri said.
No release date has been set for the new Jackson album, although the buzz is it may be out before the end of the year.
