Power Shift at Island Records: Johnny Barbis,...

Power Shift at Island Records: Johnny Barbis, the domestic president of Island Records, is taking an immediate leave of absence from the PolyGram-owned label, the company said. Sources say Barbis had been feuding recently with Island founder Chris Blackwell, who will take over the day-to-day operations at the New York-based label, home to such acts as U2, Melissa Etheridge and P.J. Harvey. Barbis is expected to return eventually to PolyGram, which acquired Island seven years ago, in an as-yet-to-be-determined capacity.