 In the ensuing years, Lipman helped foster joint ventures with Big Machine Records and Cash Money Records (among others) to bring artists like Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, Lil Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj under the Republic fold.In February 2013, Universal Music Group signed both Avery and Monte Lipman to long-term contracts, giving Avery the title of sole president and COO of Republic.By that point, the label's roster had expanded to include The Weeknd, Gotye, and PSY, among others.