Business

Justin time on album

Sony Music bosses are gently trying to coax Justin Timberlake to share details of a prospective album, sources say.

Timberlake has been back in the studio recording, according to several sources, but the big question is, will he deliver an entire album? And if so, when?

Timberlake has a long-term deal with Sony Music and still has a commitment for many more albums. But rumors of a current album have been quashed by Timberlake’s team.

Labels generally have a hard time enforcing deadlines with big-name artists, if they even try to at all.

“There’s a lot of conversations, about a lot of things, but it’s very 50,000 feet,” said one source close to the Timberlake talks, which have been heating up lately.

After a six-year wait since his last major release, the label is eager to know when Timberlake might deliver the new material, how big his advance is to be and how the prospective album would be marketed.

Timberlake’s last album was the 2006 release “FutureSex/LoveSounds.”

Timberlake lately has been more focused on his movie career with recent releases including Clint Eastwood’s “ Trouble With the Curve” and last year’s “Friends With Benefits.” He also appeared in the Facebook-themed movie “The Social Network,” playing Sean Parker.

Until he or the label have anything more concrete to say, fans will have to “cry them a river.” –Claire Atkinson

Minaj magic

Last week, fashion and entertainment industry insiders, professional athletes and a bevy of beautiful models braved a torrential downpour to raise money for kids in foster care at New Yorkers for Children’s fall gala.

But one of the most talked-about celebs at the benefit wasn’t even there. Brand-new “American Idol” judge Nicki Minaj was a hot topic as Estée Lauder group president John Demsey, who’s worked with Minaj through the MAC Cosmetics brand he oversees, was honored with the inaugural business leadership award.

Although Demsey indicated that he didn’t yet have any specific plans to use Minaj’s new gig to promote makeup, he predicted that their MAC spokeswoman being on the show would be beneficial for the brand.

“We’re super-excited for her, and we think [her being a judge on ‘American Idol’] will be good for us,” he said.

Demsey was also pleased by all of the attention Minaj was getting.

“In the midst of this election year, everyone’s talking about Nicki Minaj, so it’s good for us.” –Hilary Lewis

Hot air

How many more blowout hairstyling salons can New York handle? The city is saturated with them, but fashion stylist Rachel Zoe and her business partner, Robin Moraetes, believe there is room for one more.

She and a group of investors including Jay Galluzzo of Flywheel Sports are plunking several million dollars into Zoe’s first DreamDry salon in Chelsea. Stylists will be taught “specific styles developed by Ms. Zoe” at the salon, opening in November. She plans to open a second location in the city by the first quarter of 2013.

Drybar is a California-based chain with two shops in New York and another three opening in Gotham by year-end. “We have more locations in LA, but New York is our strongest market,” said Alli Webb, founder of Drybar and a stylist for 15 years. “We welcome competition. There’s plenty of room for everyone.”

The service costs $40 at most blow-dry-only salons. Webb doesn’t believe it’s possible to charge less than $40.

Webb and Michael Landau launched Drybar three years ago. The company has 800 stylists, and will have 1,000 by the end of the year. Drybar is on target to do $20 million in sales for 2012, after $7.5 million in 2011.

They recently closed a round of financing with a Boston private-equity firm, Castanea, which invested $16 million for a minority stake.

Two partners of Castanea are former CEOs of Neiman Marcus.

Webb and Landau launched the company with $2.5 million from friends and single investors. Drybar counts celebrities Emma Roberts,
Zooey Deschanel, Cindy Crawford and Renée Zellweger among its fans. –Julie Earle-Levine

Chargin’ Pepper

Wondering what former Disney chairman and former Procter & Gamble CEO John Pepper has been up to since he stepped down?

He’s been writing a book called “Russian Tide,” about the difficulties of launching a business in Russia.

Marketing expert Mary Lou Quinlan is hosting a book party for the author Oct. 2. –Claire Atkinson