Ultra Records

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Ultra Music
Company typeCorporate media
IndustryMusic
Founded
Key people
  • Patrick Moxey
  • Chris Cummings
  • Cameron Lewis
ProductsDance music CDs
Owner
Websitewww.ultramusic.com

Ultra Music is an electronic music record label in North America, comprising Ultra Records, Ultra Music Publishing, and Empire Artist Management. The label was formed in New York City in 1995 by former Polygram and Virgin Records executive Patrick Moxey, who is the owner. As of January 23, 2013, Ultra merged its operations with Sony Music in a deal that brought all of Ultra's artists, music catalogs and licensing rights into the Sony fold in exchange for Sony's investment in Ultra and promoting Moxey (who will retain ownership) to the newly established role as president of Sony's Dance/Electronic Music division under CEO Doug Morris.[1] As of January 2013, the label's physical releases are distributed by RED Distribution in the United States.

Ultra's roster includes, among others, Rosette, Axwell, Steve Aoki, David Guetta, Kaskade, Pitbull, Calvin Harris, Kygo, The Bloody Beetroots, Wolfgang Gartner, Benny Benassi, Edward Maya, Headhunterz, Congorock, Rebecca & Fiona, TOKiMONSTA, Mt Eden, Adrian Lux, Mysto & Pizzi, Mayra Verónica, Inna, Fedde le Grand, Basshunter, Kerli, Era Istrefi, Margaret Berger, Alexandra Stan, Brass Knuckles, John de Sohn, Bynon, and Project 46. Ultra has featured releases from the aforementioned artists and many others such as The Crystal Method, Timo Maas, Sasha & John Digweed, 4 Strings, Panjabi MC, Despina Vandi, and Junkie XL. Ultra Music is No. 11 on YouTube for Most Viewed Channels of all time.[2]

With the official YouTube channel at over 2 billion views and 3.5 million subscribers, Ultra has also debuted a live performance series called Ultra Live, which was broadcast on YouTube from venues around the globe. Thus far, the label has premiered sold-out shows from Deadmau5 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Steve Aoki at New York's Roseland Ballroom, Lil' Jon at Spring Break in Cancun, Kaskade at his sold-out Staples Center LA show, and Benny Benassi at Electric Brixton London, with upcoming live streams from The Bloody Beetroots and more.[3]

On 24 July 2006, Ultra Music signed a pact to join the Alternative Distribution Alliance/Warner family and began distributing the company's records in September 2006, including albums by Tiësto and Kaskade. Ultra is distributed by EMI Canada and Vital UK. For the 24th Annual Winter Music Conference's International Dance Music Awards, Ultra Music won the award for "Best American Dance Label" as revealed on March 25, 2009, making it the label's award the fourth year in a row. The label also received the award for Billboard Dance Airplay Label of the year for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Ultra Music was the A&R behind the Public Enemy remix project which earned one of Ultra Music's artists, Benny Benassi, a Grammy Award for Best Non-Classical Remixed Recording.

On October 28, 2009, DJ Magazine announced the results of their annual Top 100 DJ Poll, with Ultra Music assuming 8 of the Top 10 spots, including Armin van Buuren (No. 1), Tiësto (No. 2), deadmau5 (No. 3), Above & Beyond (No. 4), and Paul van Dyk (No. 5).[4]

In 2012, Ultra had 11 charted titles on the No. 1 Billboard Dance/Mixshow label, and many of its artists were nominated and performed live at notable award shows. At the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, Deadmau5 was nominated for three Grammys and performed live with rock band The Foo Fighters, and at the Canadian Juno Awards he was nominated for three Juno Awards and performed the closing number with MC Flipside and Lights. Calvin Harris was not only the house DJ for MTV's 2012 Video Music Awards, but also won two awards for Best Electronic Dance Music Video and for Video of the Year.[5] And at MTV's Woodie Awards, Steve Aoki closed out the show by performing three of his singles.[6]

Ultra's music has also been featured in film, television, video games, film trailers, and advertisements including placements in Glee, Grey's Anatomy, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Jersey Shore, Gossip Girl, So You Think You Can Dance, The Dictator, Pitch Perfect, Jack Reacher, American Reunion, FIFA 13, NBA 2K13, Just Dance 4, Target, Victoria's Secret, and AT&T.

Partnerships

  • UMF and Ultra have combined to create a powerful series of Electronic Music Festivals held around the globe throughout the year.[7]
  • Ultra Music debuted a live performance series called Ultra Live, broadcast solely on YouTube.[3]
  • Ultra Music signed a deal with upscale Las Vegas Hotel Wynn to create a new label called Ultra/Wynn. A series of EDM compilation albums will be released to promote music from artists that play at Wynn's four nightclubs - Encore Beach Club, Surrender, Tryst, and XS.[8]
  • Ultra Music signed a distribution deal with Machinima in 2013. In this collaboration, Machinima will exclusively manage ad sales for Ultra's YouTube content and match up Ultra artists with Machinima's videographers to produce original content to be distributed within Machinima's network.[9]

Compilations

Ultra Music has produced many dance compilation mixes. Listed below are their various series.

Festivals

Ultra:NY

On September 16, 2006, Ultra Music and the Ultra Music Festival co-hosted the dance festival Ultra.NY in New York's Central Park. The main headliners were Danny Tenaglia, Timo Maas, Paul Oakenfold, The Chemical Brothers, and Mylo. Ultra:NY also featured Erick Morillo, David Waxman, Boris, Liquid Todd, and Kevens.

Ultra International Music Publishing

Ultra International Music Publishing (UIMP) is the music publishing company arm of Ultra Records representing artists, songwriters, producers and agents from around the world.[10] The company attempts to place artists in film, television, gaming, and advertising.[11]

List of notable artists

Kaskade in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2012.
3

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ "Sony Makes Deal for Electronic Dance Music" from The New York Times (January 23, 2013)
  2. ^ "Most Viewed Youtube Channels". Youtube. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  3. ^ a b "MEDIA ALERT/TUNE IN: STEVE AOKI Deadmeat Tour Live Stream from Roseland Ballroom NYC Tomorrow, February 17 - Mitch Schneider Organization". Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  4. ^ "DJ Mag's Top 100 DJ's". DJ Magazine. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
  5. ^ "MTV VMA Electronic Dance Music Wins – Calvin Harris and Skrillex". 7 September 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Steve Aoki Joins Woodie Awards Lineup". Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  7. ^ "Exclusive: Ultra Music, Ultra Music Festival Announce 'Global Alliance'". Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Ultra Music Teams With Wynn Las Vegas For New Label, Releases Featuring Afrojack, Avicii, deadmau5, More". Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Exclusive: Ultra Music Signs Distribution Deal with Machinima". Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Ultra Music - About Page".
  11. ^ "Ultra Music Publishing". ultra-publishing.com.
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