J.R. Lindsey Joins Columbia

WHO UPPED J.R.? Look for Urban vet J.R. Lindsey to be named Sr. Director of A&R for Columbia Records Group by President Ashley Newton, to whom the L.A.-based exec will report. J. R. will scout, sign and develop talent for the label, provide A&R direction and fend off any old Dallas jokes. He comes to Columbia after a four-year stint at Chrysalis Music Group (now BMG Chrysalis), where he'd served as head of Urban A&R since April 2008, with signings including Kardinal Offishal (whose hits include "Dangerous" with Akon), Bluetooth (Jordin Sparks' "No Air"), David Brown (Ne-Yo and Jamie Foxx's "She Got Her Own") and Dirty South rapper Yo Gotti. He’s also worked with writer/producer No ID (Kanye West's "Heartless," Jay-Z’s "Run This Town" and "Death of Auto-Tune," Drake's "Find Your Love" and Big Sean's "My Last”), which led him to sign writer/producer Kevin Randolph (Jay-Z, Richard Ashcroft, The Underdogs). Said Lindsey: "When do I get to meet Mr. Yetnikoff?" (9/20p)