January 15, 2010

By By Antony Bruno, Denver

While new media and digital positions are typically immune from the downsizing taking place across the music industry, Billboard has learned Universal Music Group's layoffs this week included Island Def Jam senior VP of new media and Commerce Christian Jorg and VP of web and mobile marketing Mark Lehmann.

Both Jorg and Lehmann came to Island Def Jam from mobile media company Flycell, Jorg in July of 2007 and Lehmann in December of the same year. While at IDJ, Jorg led the implementation of several mobile and digital initiatives, including the IDJMobile.com mobile portal, and made Billboard's 2008 Top Mobile Executives list.

There's no indication yet who will fill Jorg and Lehmann's positions, nor whether the initiatives they established will continue. Their departures are part of a broader staff reduction at a number of Universal labels, including Interscope, Verve Music Group and Lost Highway Records, as well as Universal Music Group Distribution and Fontana. All told, about 50 positions were eliminated to this point.

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