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Republic Records

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Republic Records
Parent companyUniversal Music Group
Founded1995; 29 years ago (1995)
Founder
Distributor(s)
Genre
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City, New York
Official websiterepublicrecords.com

Republic Records is an American record company that operates as a division of Universal Music Group. The label was endowed by Monte Lipman and Avery Lipman in 1995; it was later paired into the Universal Motown Republic Group in 1999. After the separation of Motown Records from Universal Motown Records, the Universal Motown Republic Group was shuttered, the label was temporarily reincarnated as Universal Republic Records in 2006, until it was revived in late 2012. The label's main offices are located in New York City, New York, United States, other offices of the record label are located at the Interscope Center in Santa Monica, California, U.S.

Since Republic's contraction to a mainly rightsholder role, Republic Records has long been a stand-alone label under UMG and is one of the group's premier labels, with Interscope Records and Island Records. According to Mediabase, Republic Records was 2012's top charting U.S. label.[1] The label's best selling artists include Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Amy Winehouse, Drake, Demi Lovato,Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, The Weeknd, and Lorde.

History

According to Avery Lipman, he and his brother Monte Lipman first conceived of Republic Records at the kitchen table of their apartment:

"My brother and I had been working at record companies. He was in between jobs and we started putting records out as a hobby. We had a grassroots approach to the business. The first record we put out happened to work really well. That was the Bloodhound Gang."[2]

Frustrated by the limitations of being an independent with a very small staff, the Lipman brothers accepted an offer from Universal. One of several labels that comprise Universal Motown Republic Group, the newly named Republic Records was formed in 1995 as a sub-label of MCA's Geffen Records. Avery Lipman told HitQuarters that the pairing was a "complete disaster", saying: "Our ideas and vision didn’t fit with the label. We didn’t trust our own instincts. We let others decide what was right for the project."[2]

Universal Records: 1999–2005

Universal Music Group acquired the Lipman brothers' Republic Records as a fully owned subsidiary in 1999, and named Monte Lipman as President of the newly established Universal Records label, and Avery Lipman the COO; both reporting to Doug Morris (Chairman of Universal Music Group), and Mel Lewinter, (Chairman of Universal Records Group). During their tenure, the Lipmans shaped the newly formed company and took on new acts including Nelly, Lil Wayne, Elton John, and co-ventures with Cash Money Records, Master P's No Limit Records, and Sean "Puffy" Combs (Bad Boy Records).[citation needed]

Universal Republic Records: 2006–12

As of 2006, Universal Republic has adopted an A&R and partnership-based growth strategy. In an era of music industry transition they have proven effective, as Universal Republic has continued to grow in the industry's declining years. In the summer of 2011, changes were made at the Universal Motown Republic Group umbrella, Motown Records was separated from Universal Motown Records (causing it to shut down and transfer its artists to either Motown Records or Universal Republic Records) and the umbrella label and merged into The Island Def Jam Music Group, making Universal Republic Records a stand alone label and shutting down Universal Motown Republic Group.[3]

Republic Records Revival: 2012–present

In mid-2012, Universal Republic Records changed its name to its former name Republic Records. All Universal Republic Records roster were moved to Republic Records. The label has since released albums by Lil Wayne, Kid Cudi and Tyga among others. The new Republic became the number one label in soundtrack production and sales.[4] On March 31, 2014, it was announced that Big Machine and Republic Records revived Dot Records, it was announced that Chris Stacey would be head of the label.[5]

On June 20, 2014, it was announced that Republic has partnered with VH1 to create the "Make a Band Famous" campaign, which will pick a pristine star for the network to appear in new spots and a band will be added to Republic's growing roster. VH1 and Republic has both used Social media in this campaign.[6] In 2015 Republic Records had songs in six of the spots in the top 10 of the Mediabase Top 40 Chart, which tied a record that had been set in 2013.[7]

Collaborations

Republic Records' former logo.

In the earlier days, Republic Records released the Bloodhound Gang's EP, Dingleberry Haze, as well as their first LP, Use Your Fingers. Universal Republic has created strategic partnerships and co-ventures. Singer Jay Sean and producer Kevin Rudolf of Cash Money Records. Rudolf's single, "Let It Rock" was certified 3x Platinum[8] and licensed by multiple television networks for sports and other entertainment endorsements. Jay Sean's debut single "Down" sold 3 million copies in the United States and 6 million worldwide.[9] Sean's follow-up single "Do You Remember" also sold over a million copies.[10] American singer Taylor Swift with Nashville-based Big Machine Records. Swift today is a Diamond artist with 4 Grammys and 20 million records sold worldwide (Recording Industry Association of America: 4× Platinum).[11] Jack Johnson on Brushfire Records who has achieved multi-Platinum certifications twice and is estimated to have sold about 8 million albums worldwide (Recording Industry Association of America: Platinum).[11] Damian Marley with Jr. Gong Records, whose debut album reached Gold certification and sold 1 million worldwide.[12]

Artists

Main article: List of Republic Records artists

Notable artists

Labels

References

  1. ^ "Decision 2012. - Mediabase 24/7 Chart" (PDF). Universal Republic Records. 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Interview with Avery Lipman". HitQuarters. 7 Aug 2006. Retrieved 23 Nov 2010.
  3. ^ "Ethiopia Habtemariam Named Senior Vice President of Motown Records | Billboard". Billboard.biz. 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  4. ^ Phil Gallo (February 4, 2014). "Q&A: Charlie Walk, Republic's New EVP, on Returning to a Major, Long-Term Strategy". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved February 5, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "BIG MACHINE LABEL GROUP AND REPUBLIC RECORDS REVIVE LEGENDARY DOT RECORDS". universalmusic.com. 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  6. ^ Hugh McIntyre. "VH1 and Republic Records Use Social Media To". Forbes. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Republic Records Promotion Dominates Top 40 Scoring 6 Spots In Top 10". All Access. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  8. ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum – September 4, 2010: Kevin Rudolf certified singles". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  9. ^ Dawson, Kim (February 27, 2010). "Jay Sean's Boycott Plan Over Brits Snub". Daily Star. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  10. ^ Alan Jones (February 5, 2010). "Lady Antebellum top US chart". Music Week. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  11. ^ a b "RIAA – Gold & Platinum". RIAA.com. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 15, 2011. Cite error: The named reference "riaa" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  12. ^ Damian ”Jr. Gong” Marley’s Welcome To Jamrock Certified Gold by RIAA; Project Also Nominated for Two Grammy Awards. World Music Central.org (February 4, 2006).
  13. ^ "Review". Allmusic. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
  14. ^ (December 6, 2007). "The Envelope Please" Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2007.
  15. ^ The Envelope Please Los Angeles Times 6 December 2007. Theenvelope.latimes.com.
  16. ^ Blog Archive » Universal Republic Introduces Jessie J to the US w/Help From B.O.B.!. Clizbeats.com (January 14, 2011).
  17. ^ James Blake Signs to Universal Republic in the U.S. | News. Pitchfork (February 2, 2011).
  18. ^ "Lorde First Woman In 17 Years To Top Alternative Songs With 'Royals'". billboard.com. 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  19. ^ "Lorde's Royals becomes first track from New Zealand solo artist to top US Billboard chart". abc.au. 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  20. ^ "16-year-old singer Lorde is youngest person to score US Number One for 26 years". nme.com. 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  21. ^ "Will 17 year old Lorde have a career with longevity?". news.com.au. February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  22. ^ "Pitbull & Ke$ha's 'Timber' Still Tops Hot 100; Bastille, Lorde Reach Top 10". billboard.com. January 24, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  23. ^ "58th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees". The GRAMMYs. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
  24. ^ "The Weeknd Nos. 1 & 2 on Hot 100 With 'Can't Feel My Face' & 'The Hills'". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
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