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Epic Records

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Epic Records
Parent company
Founded1953; 71 years ago (1953)
FounderColumbia Records
Distributor(s)Sony Music Entertainment
GenreVarious
Country of originUnited States
LocationLos Angeles, California U.S.
Official websitewww.epicrecords.com

Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, Inc., the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was originally founded predominantly as a jazz and classical music label in 1953, but later expanded its scope to include a more diverse range of genres, including pop, R&B, rock, and hip hop. Epic has released music by popular artists including Tammy Wynette, George Michael, Shakin Stevens, Europe, Cheap Trick, Meat Loaf, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ted Nugent, Shakira, Sly & the Family Stone, Celine Dion, ABBA, Anastacia, Boston, Dave Clark Five, Gloria Estefan, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, and Michael Jackson.[1] Along with Columbia and RCA Records, Epic is one of Sony Music Entertainment's three flagship record labels.

Artists currently signed to Epic Records include Fiona Apple, Sara Bareilles, Mariah Carey, Keyshia Cole, Future, Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Fifth Harmony, Jennifer Hudson, Zara Larsson, Jennifer Lopez, Outkast, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, Europe, 21 Savage, Travis Scott, DJ Khaled, Meghan Trainor, Camila Cabello, Louis Tomlinson, Dumblonde, and Danity Kane.[2]

History

Beginnings

Epic Records was launched in 1953 by the Columbia Records unit of CBS for the purpose of marketing jazz, pop and classical music that did not fit the theme of its more mainstream Columbia Records label. Initial classical music releases were from Philips Records which distributed Columbia product in Europe.[3] Pop talent on co-owned Okeh Records were transferred to Epic which made Okeh a rhythm and blues label.[4] Epic's bright-yellow, black, and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. This has included such notables as the Berlin Philharmonic, Charles Rosen, the Juilliard String Quartet, Antal Doráti conducting the Hague Philharmonic and George Szell conducting the Cleveland Orchestra.

Expansion of genres and mainstream success

By 1960, the label's musical base had been expanded to include all genres. This was done in part to prevent the roster of Columbia Records (which, at the time, had a reputation for releasing material by more established acts) from being overstuffed with newer artists. [citation needed] Subsequently, Epic became better known for its signing of newer, fledgling acts. By the end of the 1960s, Epic earned its first gold records and had evolved into a formidable hit-making force in rock and roll, R&B and country music. Among its many acts, it included Roy Hamilton, Bobby Vinton, The Dave Clark Five, The Hollies, Tammy Wynette, Donovan, The Yardbirds, Lulu, July, Helen Shapiro and Jeff Beck. Several of the British artists on the Epic roster during the 1960s were the result of CBS's Epic/Okeh units' international distribution deal with EMI; Epic recordings were issued by EMI on the Columbia label.

Epic was involved in a notable "trade" of artists. Graham Nash was signed to Epic because of his membership in The Hollies. When the newly formed Crosby, Stills & Nash wanted to sign with Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegün worked out a deal with Clive Davis whereby Richie Furay's new band Poco (having signed with Atlantic due to Furay's contract from being in Buffalo Springfield) would sign with Epic.[5]

Epic's commercial success continued to grow in the 1970s with releases from ABBA in the UK, Boston, Cheap Trick, The Clash, Charlie Daniels, Gabriel, Heart, Heatwave, The Isley Brothers, The Jacksons, George Jones, Labelle, Meat Loaf, Johnny Nash, Ted Nugent, REO Speedwagon, Minnie Riperton, Pegasus, Charlie Rich, Sly & the Family Stone, Steve Vai, and Edgar Winter. Also contributing to the label's success was its distribution of Philadelphia International Records, which produced additional hit records by acts such as The Three Degrees and McFadden and Whitehead.[6]

Corporate structure: CBS, Sony Corp purchase, merger with BMG, creation of Sony Music Entertainment

During the 1960s, Epic oversaw the smaller subsidiary CBS labels including Okeh Records and Date Records. In 1968, Epic recordings began being distributed in the UK by CBS after the distribution deal with EMI expired that year;[7] Epic itself launched in England around 1971.[8]

Sony Corporation bought CBS Records in 1987, and the company was renamed Sony Music in 1991. It began splitting European operations into two separate labels, Epic and Columbia, in 1992, and in 1997, Sony Music Australia and New Zealand followed suit.[9]

In 2004, Sony merged with music distributor, BMG, bringing Arista Records, Columbia Records, Epic Records, J Records, Jive Records, RCA Records and Zomba Group of Companies to one parent company, Sony BMG.[10] In 2008, Sony bought out BMG for $1.2 billion, bringing all affiliated labels together as Sony Music Entertainment International, SMEI. The merger was approved by the European Union in 2009.[11]

1980s - 2010: Michael Jackson, Culture Club, Sade, Celine Dion, Epic Soundtrax, Pearl Jam, Oasis

Epic's 1980s and 1990s mainstream success were fueled by its signing and releasing of albums by notable acts such as Michael Jackson, George Michael, Teena Marie, Shakin' Stevens, Culture Club, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine, Adam Ant, Living Colour, Incubus, Dead or Alive, Europe, Cyndi Lauper, Ozzy Osbourne, Korn, Pearl Jam, Sade, Luther Vandross, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rage Against the Machine, Céline Dion, and Oasis, among others. The label's greatest financial payoff came via the release Thriller, the 1982 album by Michael Jackson, which went on to achieve approximately 51–65 million in worldwide sales, becoming the biggest selling album in history.[12][13][14]

Epic Soundtrax was founded in 1992. It was central to Epic's 1990s success, with 11 releases cumulatively selling more than 40 million records over a three-year period. Notable releases included soundtrack albums for Honeymoon in Vegas, Singles, Sleepless in Seattle, Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, and Judgement Night.[15][16]

2011 to present: L.A. Reid, DJ Khaled, Meghan Trainor, Jennifer Lopez, Keyshia Cole, Fifth Harmony, Sylvia Rhone

In July 2011, L.A. Reid became the CEO of Epic Records, signing artists such as TLC, Toni Braxton, Cher Lloyd, Avril Lavigne, Outkast, Future, Yo Gotti, Ciara, Meghan Trainor, DJ Khaled and Travis Scott.[17][18] Epic also signed the winners of The X Factor during the seasons that Reid appeared on the show.[19]

In 2013, Sylvia Rhone, former president of Universal Motown, launched the imprint Vested In Culture through Epic Records. A year later, she was named president of the label.[20][21][22]

In November 2014, Mosley Music Group created a joint venture with Sony Music, with marketing, publicity, distribution and overall label services provided by Epic. The joint venture was created due to Timbaland's previous collaboration with L.A. Reid on Michael Jackson's posthumous album, Xscape. Previously operated by Interscope, most of MMG's roster moved to Epic.[23]

In 2015, Mariah Carey left her former label, Def Jam Recordings, to reunite with Reid at Epic. He had worked with Carey at Def Jam under The Island Def Jam Music Group in 2004.[24][25] That same month, it was announced that R&B group Jodeci had signed to the label and planned to release their first studio album in 20 years.[26][27]

Wondaland Records, singer Janelle Monáe's imprint, entered into a joint venture with Epic in 2015.[28] Acts on Wondaland include Jidenna, St. Beauty, Deep Cotton and Roman GianArthur.[29]

In 2016, Jennifer Lopez returned to Sony Music, six years after leaving in favor of Island Def Jam and Capitol Records. Lopez's multi-album deal reunited her with Reid, whom she signed with at Island Def Jam in 2010.[30] In January 2017, 21 Savage signed to Epic .[31]

In May 2017, Reid was fired for sexual harassment. Rhone subsequently served as the label's interim chief.[32]

Formerly affiliated labels

Epic Records artists

Main article: List of Epic Records artists

Logos

Unlike sister label Columbia, Epic went through five different logos since its launch. Some logos were temporarily revived for period reissues. The years shown below list the time served as the label's primary logo.

  • Classic radial sound sunburst logo, 1953-1973, 1998-2005, still used on Epic Records Japan
    Classic radial sound sunburst logo, 1953-1973, 1998-2005, still used on Epic Records Japan
  • Big "E" logo, 1973 to 1978
    Big "E" logo, 1973 to 1978
  • Script logo, late 1978-1991, 2005-2011, revived in 2015 and on the website since 2015. Still used on Epic UK since 2005.
    Script logo, late 1978-1991, 2005-2011, revived in 2015 and on the website since 2015. Still used on Epic UK since 2005.
  • Stacked-record logo, 1991-1998
    Stacked-record logo, 1991-1998
  • Red print logo, 2011-2015
    Red print logo, 2011-2015

See also

References

  1. ^ Halperin, Shirley (17 November 2010). "Who Destroyed Epic Records?". Billboard. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Epic Records - Artists". epicrecords.com. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  3. ^ Billboard - Google Books. Books.google.com (1953-09-19). Retrieved on 2013-07-16.
  4. ^ Billboard - Google Books. Books.google.com. 19 September 1953. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  5. ^ Robert Greenfield. The Last Sultan: The Life and Times of Ahmet Ertegun. Simon and Schuster. 2011. 202-3.
  6. ^ "Epic Records timeline". World History Project. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  7. ^ Billboard - Google Books. Books.google.com. 11 May 1968. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  8. ^ EPIC
  9. ^ Barker, Michael (25 July 1992). "Sony Germany Music Splitting Marketing Division". Billboard. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  10. ^ Phillips, Chuck (20 July 2004). "Merger of Sony, BMG Music Labels Wins Endorsement of European Commission". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  11. ^ Wray, Richard (8 August 2009). "Sony Buys Bertelsmann Out of Sony BMG". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Arts and Media/Pop Stars/Best-selling Album". Web.archive.org. 17 May 2006. Archived from the original on 17 May 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  13. ^ "Michael Jackson, pop music legend, dead at 50". CNN. 25 June 2009.
  14. ^ The Baby Boomer Encyclopedia - Marty Gitlin - Google Books. Books.google.com.pe. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  15. ^ Lei, Richard (11 September 1994). "IN HOLLYWOOD: A SONIC BOOM". Washington Post. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  16. ^ Rosen, Craig (11 July 1992). "There's Sizzle in Summer Soundtracks". Billboard. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Outkast, Ciara Headed for L.A. Reid's Epic Records, Sources Say". Billboard.biz. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  18. ^ "92.5 THE BEAT Montreal's Best Music Variety Radio Station". 925thebeat.ca. Archived from the original on 12 November 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ 'X Factor' Has Glitzy Premiere, Complete With Simon-Paula Bickering. Billboard (2011-09-15). Retrieved on 2013-07-16.
  20. ^ "It's Official: Sylvia Rhone to Run New Label Through Epic | Billboard". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  21. ^ Mitchell, Gail (5 February 2013). "Exclusive: Sylvia Rhone Talks New Label Vested in Culture". Billboard. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  22. ^ Mitchell, Gail (19 March 2014). "Sylvia Rhone Appointed President of Epic Records". The Hollywood Reporter.
  23. ^ "Timbaland's Mosley Music Group Is Joining Forces With L.A. Reid (Thanks to Michael Jackson)". Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  24. ^ "Mariah Carey signs with Epic Records". thehonestyhour.com. 30 January 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "The Inside Story of How Mariah Carey and L.A. Reid Reunited (at a Fraction of Her Former $80 Million Deal)". Shirley Halperin and Andrew Hampp. 30 January 2015.
  26. ^ "Jodeci Debuts New Single "Every Moment"". epicrecords.com. Epic Records. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ "Jodeci Inks Deal With Epic Records For Comeback Album". singersroom.com. Singers Room. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  28. ^ "Janelle Monae inks Joint Venture with Epic Records". theurbandaily.com. 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  29. ^ "Janelle Monae's Wondaland Records And Epic Records Launch Landmark Joint Venture Partnership". prnewswire.com. 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  30. ^ Billboard Staff (2 March 2016). "Jennifer Lopez Signs New Deal With Epic Records". Billboard. United States. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ http://www.thefader.com/2017/01/18/21-savage-epic-drake-deeper-than-rap
  32. ^ Karp, Hannah (15 May 2017). "L.A. Reid's Epic Records Exit Followed Allegations by Female Staffer". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2017.

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