Rifkind update

RIFKIND/A.D.D.—UPDATE: Last Wednesday, we told you that hip-hop entrepreneur Steve Rifkind was back in the game with a pair of new entities to be launched in conjunction with UMG. This morning, Universal confirmed one of the two ventures, announcing that it has partnered with Russell Simmons, Brian Robbins and Rifkind on All Def Music, describing the newco as “the first major label-affiliated music company created specifically to sign, develop and promote artists on YouTube,” with Rifkind as President/CEO, will operate the All Def Digital platform, a new channel and a forthcoming multi-channel YouTube network founded by Simmons and Robbins with funding from YouTube. From the original 6/19 item: HE'S BAAAAAAAAAACK: Informed sources tell us that Steve Rifkind [will] helm a pop label, Awesomeness, and an urban label dubbed A.D.D.; both of these will be able to release records through any label in the Universal system. (7/23a)