Jump to content

Republic Records

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Enterjoke (talk | contribs) at 18:36, 20 June 2019. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Republic Records
Logo in use since November 2012[1]
Parent companyUniversal Music Group
Founded1995; 29 years ago (1995)
Founder
Distributor(s)
GenreVarious
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City, New York, U.S.
Official websiterepublicrecords.com

Republic Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). It was founded by Avery Lipman and Monte Lipman as an independent label in 1995, and was acquired by UMG in 2000. Republic was initially an imprint of the Universal/Motown Records Group, and was renamed Universal Republic Records after a reorganization in 2006 before reverting to its original name in 2012.[2][3][4]

Artists signed to Republic Records include Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Jonas Borthers, Lil Wayne, Amy Winehouse, Nav, The Weeknd, Jessie J, Greta Van Fleet, Taylor Swift, Nick Jonas, Black Veil Brides, Andy Black, Lorde, MIKA, Christina Grimmie, Florence and the Machine, Post Malone, Hailee Steinfeld, Julia Michaels, Austin Mahone, 3 Doors Down and DNCE.[5] Its country music subsidiary Republic Nashville has signed Florida Georgia Line, The Band Perry, and Eli Young Band.

History

According to Avery Lipman, he and his brother Monte conceived of Republic Records at the kitchen table in 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 grassroot approach to the business. The first record we put out happened to work really well. That was the Bloodhound Gang.[6]

The newly named Republic Records was formed in 1995 as a subsidiary of MCA's Geffen Records, but a little after the distribution changed to the newly Universal Records. The Lipman brothers accepted an offer from Universal in 2008, and resigned from UMG in 2011.[7][8]

Universal Records: 1999–2005

Universal Music Group acquired the Lipman brothers' Republic Records as a wholly owned subsidiary in 1999. Monte Lipman was named president of the newly established Universal Records label, and Avery Lipman was named its chief operating officer. They reported to Doug Morris (chairman of Universal Music Group) and Mel Lewinter, chairman of Universal Records Group.

Universal Republic Records: 2006–12

In 2006, Universal Republic adopted an A&R and partnership-based growth strategy. Changes were made at the Universal Motown Republic Group during the summer of 2011. Motown Records was separated from Universal Motown Records; it shut down, transferring its artists to Motown Records or Universal Republic Records. The umbrella label was merged with the Island Def Jam Music Group, making Universal Republic Records a stand-alone label and shutting down the Universal Motown Republic Group.[citation needed]

Republic Records revival: 2012–present

In October 2012, Universal Republic Records again re-branded itself as Republic Records to mark the arrival of producer Rick Rubin.[9] All artists on the Universal Republic Records roster were moved to Republic Records. The label has released albums by Lil Wayne, Kid Cudi and Tyga; according to executive vice-president Charlie Walk, the new Republic Records was the number-one soundtrack label.[10] On March 31, 2014, it was announced that Big Machine and Republic Records had revived Dot Records and Chris Stacey would head the label.[11] Dot was the third label (after Valory and Republic Nashville) introduced as part of the Big Machine Label Group.[12]

It was announced on June 20, 2014 that Republic had joined VH1 for a "Make a Band Famous" campaign, which would pick an artist for network appearances and Republic's roster.[13] VH1 and Republic used social media for the campaign.[14] Republic Records had songs in six of the top-10 spots on the Mediabase Top 40 Chart in 2015, tying a 2013 record.[15]

The label appointed former New Line Cinema senior music executive Dana Sano its first executive vice-president of film and television in July 2017. The position oversees film and TV projects and the Federal Films initiative, working with UMG's Polygram Entertainment.[16] In November 2017, the company was named Variety's Hitmaker Label of the Year.[17] The following year, Republic named Donna Gryn senior vice-president of marketing.[18]

Releases

Old black-and-white Republic Records logo
Republic Records' logo
1994-1999

Republic Records released the Bloodhound Gang's 1994 EP, Dingleberry Haze,[19] and their first LP, Use Your Fingers. Kevin Rudolf's single, "Let It Rock", was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[20] Jay Sean's debut single, "Down", sold three million copies in the United States and six million copies worldwide.[21] Sean's follow-up single, "Do You Remember", sold over one million copies.[22]

American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift recorded with Nashville-based Big Machine Records. Swift is a quadruple-platinum artist with 10 Grammy Awards and over 175 million units moved worldwide as of 2014. As her contract with Big Machine ended in 2018, she signed with Republic, with her first single "ME!" with the label and her own label "Taylor Swift Productions, Inc." released on April 26, 2019.[23][24] Jack Johnson has received a number of gold and platinum certifications.[25] Damian Marley's debut album was certified gold and sold one million copies worldwide.[26]

Notable artists

Main article: List of Republic Records artists
Artist Signed Description
Amy Winehouse 2007 British Soul, R&B and jazz singer and songwriter
Nicki Minaj 2008 Contemporary R&B, hip hop and pop rapper, singer and songwriter
Owl City 2009 Electronica project by singer and songwriter Adam Young
Black Veil Brides 2010 Rock band from Cincinnati
James Blake 2011 Contemporary R&B, electronic, and soul singer and songwriter
Jessie J 2011 British Contemporary R&B, pop and soul singer and songwriter
Ariana Grande 2011 American Contemporary R&B and pop singer and songwriter
The Weeknd 2012 Canadian contemporary R&B and pop singer, songwriter and record producer
Lorde 2013 Pop singer and songwriter from New Zealand
St. Vincent 2013 Rock singer and songwriter from Tulsa, Oklahoma
Peter Gabriel 2013 British musician and singer songwriter, former leadman of Genesis
Post Malone 2015 American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer
Hailee Steinfeld 2015 American pop singer from Thousand Oaks, CA
Ski Mask the Slump God 2016 American rapper
Nav 2016 Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Toronto, Ontario
Greta Van Fleet 2017 Rock band from Frankenmuth, Michigan
Yung Gravy 2017 American rapper from Rochester, Minnesota
Taylor Swift 2018 American pop singer-songwriter and record producer from Nashville, Tennessee
TXT 2019 Korean pop band
Jonas Brothers 2019 American pop rock band from Little Falls, New Jersey
Lil Tecca 2019 American rapper from Queens, New York
Snoop Dogg 2019 American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer
Wiz Khalifa 2019 American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
JoN JaneZ 2019 Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Dorado, Puerto Rico
Zuh Cordero 2019 Puerto Rican pop rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Dorado, Puerto Rico

Subsidiaries

References

  1. ^ "Republic Records Logo".
  2. ^ "Universal Signs New Agreement With Republic's Monte and Avery Lipman". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  3. ^ Taylor, Chuck (January 15, 2000). "Lipman to head up Universal Records". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  4. ^ Mitchell, Gayle (February 10, 2007). "Stop in the Name of Shiny Toy Guns". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  5. ^ "Artists | Republic Records". Republic Records. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  6. ^ "Interview with Avery Lipman". HitQuarters. 7 Aug 2006. Retrieved 23 Nov 2010.
  7. ^ "AVERY LIPMAN APPOINTED CO-PRESIDENT AND COO OF UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC RECORDS - UMG". UMG. 2008-01-07. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  8. ^ "Universal Republic's Lipman Brothers Re-Sign With UMG". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  9. ^ "Republic Records", Pentagram (design firm), New York, 25 October 2012. Retrieved on 29 April 2018.
  10. ^ Phil Gallo (February 4, 2014). "Q&A: Charlie Walk, Republic's New EVP, on Returning to a Major, Long-Term Strategy". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  11. ^ "BIG MACHINE LABEL GROUP AND REPUBLIC RECORDS REVIVE LEGENDARY DOT RECORDS". universal music.com. 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  12. ^ "Scott Borchetta, Chris Stacey on the Relaunch of Dot Records, Big Machine's Latest Imprint". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  13. ^ "VH1 and Republic Records Team to Make a Band Famous". www.adweek.com. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
  14. ^ Hugh McIntyre. "VH1 and Republic Records Use Social Media To". Forbes. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  15. ^ "Republic Records Promotion Dominates Top 40 Scoring 6 Spots In Top 10". All Access. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  16. ^ Halperin, Shirley (July 17, 2017). "'Fifty Shades' Franchise Veteran Dana Sano to Head Film and Television at Republic Records". Variety. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  17. ^ Halperin, Shirley (2017-11-21). "Hitmakers: From 'Despacito' to Post Malone, Republic Records Had (Another) Very Good Year". Variety. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  18. ^ "Republic Record Promotes Donna Gryn to Senior VP of Marketing". Variety. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Bloodhound Gang - Dingleberry Haze". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  20. ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum – September 4, 2010: Kevin Rudolf certified singles". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  21. ^ Dawson, Kim (February 27, 2010). "Jay Sean's Boycott Plan Over Brits Snub". Daily Star. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  22. ^ Alan Jones (February 5, 2010). "Lady Antebellum top US chart". Music Week. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  23. ^ "Taylor Swift Hints at New Project on Social Media". Billboard. April 15, 2019. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Text "https://www.billboard.com/video/bbnews041519tetristaylorswift-8507285" ignored (help)
  24. ^ "Taylor-made '80s sounds". New Straits Times. December 30, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  25. ^ "Jack Johnson". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  26. ^ 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).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Republic_Records&oldid=902714139"