LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Columbia Records has offered a co-chairmanship to producer Rick Rubin, whose name is on three Grammy nominees for album of the year, The New York Times said.
Rubin, who has produced hit records for such artists as Jay-Z and the late Johnny Cash, would have to negotiate a release from his contract with Warner Brothers Records before he could accept the offer from Columbia, the newspaper said. Citing associates of Rubin, the newspaper said Warner has Rubin's own label under contract for three more years, and those involved are trying to avoid a public showdown.
Rubin's associates said any arrangement would permit Rubin to continue producing for Warner artists, and the label has dropped its initial resistance, and now appears ready to work something out.
Rubin is still working on records with two of Warner's biggest acts, Linkin Park and Metallica.
He produced the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Stadium Arcadium," which has sold 1.8 million copies for Warner and is up for an album of the year Grammy.
He also produced album of the year nominee "Taking the Long Way" for the Dixie Chicks on Columbia, and worked on Justin Timberlake's album of the year nominee, "FutureSex/LoveSounds."
