Hollywood Records

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For earlier labels using the name Hollywood Records, see Hollywood Records (disambiguation).
Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records logo.svg
Parent company Disney Music Group
Founded 1989
Founder Michael Eisner
Distributor(s) Universal Music Distribution (Worldwide)[1][2]
Genre Various
Country of origin United States
Location Burbank, California
Official Website Hollywood Records

Hollywood Records is an American record label focusing on pop, rock, alternative and teen pop genres. It was founded in 1989 and is one of the major Disney Music Group labels. Its current roster includes notable artists such as Queen, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Plain White T's, and Breaking Benjamin, newcomers such as Lucy Hale, Valora, Cherri Bomb, Beatrice Miller, Stefano Langone, Coco Jones, McClain Sisters, and also Disney Channel stars such as Selena Gomez & The Scene, Demi Lovato, R5, Bridgit Mendler, Zendaya, and Bella Thorne.

Contents

History [edit]

Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of Disney Enterprises Inc. (then reduced to the release of the soundtracks of Walt Disney, Touchstone, and Hollywood Pictures films) and to develop and promote the careers of a wide variety of artists in various genres. However, the label struggled to launch a successful artist, and in 1991 the label had significant financial loss. The only major success was the agreement to be the catalog distributors of Queen, a fact affected by the death of vocalist Freddie Mercury.[3] Label problems continued and even years after the acquisition of Mammoth Records in 1997 was seen as a sign of the search by Disney for a record label that would give success to the company. However, Mammoth Records was dissolved and integrated into the label in 2003, after little success.[4]

In 1998, the company decided to integrate the operations of Walt Disney Records with Hollywood, Lyric Street, and Mammoth, with Walt Disney Music Publishing, creating Buena Vista Music Group, now Disney Music Group, and appointing Bob Cavallo as chairman of the group, and president of Hollywood Records.[5] The newly formed group then set out to create a more traditional music industry management structure and involvement with Disney Enterprises Inc. was minimized. Cavallo retired in January 2012, and Ken Bunt was appointed to his position.[6]

It was not until 2003, with the launch of Hilary Duff's musical career that the label would become a success. Her debut album sold more than 5 million copies worldwide and was the beginning of a successful business model for the label. A partnership with ABC, SOAP Net, A&E Networks, Disney Channel, and Radio Disney was encouraged and brought its artists to have strong media exposure. Artists such as the Cheetah Girls, Raven-Symoné, Demi Lovato, Bridgit Mendler, and the Jonas Brothers replicated this model of marketing.[7] At the same time, the label continues to develop the careers of artists with a profile less commercial such as Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. The label also releases soundtracks from Marvel Studios, Touchstone, and Hollywood Pictures films and ABC television productions.

In 2010, Hollywood absorbed the country music label Lyric Street Records and subsequently inherited its roster of acts. In 2011, Queen's music was distributed by Universal worldwide for the first time, as outside the US, Queen left EMI for Universal-owned Island Records.

It was announced in early 2012 that Hollywood Records would sign the winner of the ABC talent competition "Duets" that summer.

Hollywood BASIC [edit]

Hollywood BASIC.jpg

Hollywood BASIC [sic] was Hollywood’s short-lived hip-hop subsidiary, run by Dave Funkenklein, which existed from 1990 to 1995.[8] It did not survive the distribution transition its parent made to PolyGram Records, and all of its recordings were deleted, save for those by Organized Konfusion, which were repressed under the new deal. It was the first label to record DJ Shadow, releasing his "Lesson 4" (a reference to Double Dee and Steinski) as the B-side of a 1991 single by Lifers' Group, a hip hop group composed of convicts serving sentences at Rahway Prison in New Jersey. It also released Shadow's Legitimate Mix on the B-side of a single by the group Zimbabwe Legit in 1992.[9] Other notable releases came from Organized Konfusion; its challenging second album, Stress: The Extinction Agenda (1994), was widely acclaimed.[10] The label was also home of Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf, although, following the shooting death of Charizma in 1993, the music the duo recorded for the label was not released. This would later inspire Peanut Butter Wolf to found Stones Throw Records in order to make this music available.[11] Acts on Hollywood BASIC's roster included Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf, Lifers' Group, Organized Konfusion, Raw Fusion, Hi-C, and Zimbabwe Legit.

Distribution [edit]

Upon its 1989 launch, Hollywood was distributed by Elektra Records in the United States and Canada. Distribution in North America switched to PolyGram (now Universal Music Group) in 1995 (partnered with A&M in Canada until Universal's purchase of PolyGram in 1999). Today, Universal Music Group markets and distributes Hollywood Records catalog in North America, Asia, Latin America and India; while Avex markets and distributes Hollywood Records catalog in Japan. Also, several Hollywood artists including Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez & the Scene, Nick Jonas & the Administration, Joe Jonas, Jonas Brothers and Annel Cereceres are directly signed to Universal Music UK's Fascination Records.[12] In other territories, EMI, Disney's partner in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, distributes the label. There were reports in 2011 that Disney Music Group would start an independent US distribution arm for its label's releases,[citation needed] but as of February 2012, those plans have yet to be enacted. Universal Music Group acquired EMI in 2012, but pledged not to renew its European license with Disney.[13]

Artists [edit]

Albums [edit]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Graser, Marc (27 March 2013). "Ken Bunt Promoted to President of Disney Music Group". Variety. Retrieved 30 March 2013. 
  2. ^ "Universal Music Group (UMG) & Disney Music Group (DMG) Expand Agreement Globally". PR Newswire. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2013. 
  3. ^ "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Memo Cites Disney Records' Woes". The New York Times. 27 November 1991. 
  4. ^ Gabriel, Trip (28 July 1997). "The Corporate Wooing and Winning of Mammoth Records". The New York Times. 
  5. ^ "Regrouping, Disney Music Names Chairman". The New York Times. 12 January 1998. 
  6. ^ Finke, Nikki. "Ken Bunt Will Run Disney Music Group In 2012 When Bob Cavallo Retires". Deadline.com. Retrieved 12 August 2012. 
  7. ^ Sisario, Ben (8 February 2006). "A Musical For Tweens Captures Its Audience". The New York Times. 
  8. ^ "Label: Hollywood BASIC". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2012-12-06. 
  9. ^ Peter Shapiro, Rough Guide to Hip-Hop, 2nd ed. London: Rough Guides/Penguin Books, 2000 (p. 102).
  10. ^ Peter Shapiro, Rough Guide to Hip-Hop, 2nd ed. London: Rough Guides/Penguin Books, 2000 (p. 291).
  11. ^ Peter Shapiro, Rough Guide to Hip-Hop, 2nd ed. London: Rough Guides/Penguin Books, 2000 (pp. 349–351).
  12. ^ "UNIVERSAL MUSIC, DISNEY MUSIC FORGE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND: Forthcoming Releases Include Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana". Universal Music Group. Retrieved 2012-12-06. 
  13. ^ http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1084095/universal-emi-merger-approved-by-canadian-regulators

External links [edit]

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