This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ffffrr (talk | contribs) at 22:01, 27 April 2022 (Changing short description from "Record label" to "US record label" (Shortdesc helper)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 22:01, 27 April 2022 by Ffffrr (talk | contribs) (Changing short description from "Record label" to "US record label" (Shortdesc helper))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) US record label Not to be confused with Universal Music Group or Universal Records (Philippines). For the short-lived country music label, see Universal Records (1988). Record label| Universal Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | Universal Music Group |
| Founded | 1995; 29 years ago (1995) (as Rising Tide Records) |
| Founder | |
| Defunct | 2005; 19 years ago (2005) |
| Status | Defunct |
| Distributor(s) |
|
| Genre | Various |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | New York City, New York, U.S. |
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group. The label has been dormant since 2005, due to Universal Motown and Universal Republic Records being formed and taking all of the artists from it. Those labels were eventually combined to form the latest iteration of Republic Records.
History
Founded in 1995 as Rising Tide Records, the label would ultimately begin to thrive the following year when its name was changed to Universal Records to complement the branding overhaul of the Universal Studios structure since MCA Inc. was purchased from Matsushita Electric by Seagram. The label, which is actually the second incarnation (the first one was a short-lived underground imprint of MCA Records that existed from 1988 to 1989) was created by former Universal Music Group chairman Doug Morris (who now heads Sony Music Entertainment) and Daniel Glass, who became its president.
Universal Records had success in breaking new artists, including the multi-platinum debut of Erykah Badu, Billie Myers, Goldfinger, Akon and the Lost Boyz. Glass formed relationships with independent record labels as Kedar Entertainment and Mojo Records.
The label had successes with acts like 3 Doors Down, 98 Degrees, Chamillionaire, Godsmack, Mushroomhead, Flaw, Hatebreed, Lifer, Jack Johnson, Juvenile, Nelly, Big Sha, Lil Wayne, and Mika. In 1999, Universal Records was pooled together with Motown Records and Republic Records to form Universal Motown Republic Group.
There have been unrelated Universal Records labels in Europe and the Philippines. Because of the unrelated label in the Philippines owning the rights to the Universal Records name in that country, parent company Universal Music Group does business there as MCA Music, Inc., using UMG's former name.
It was also the distributor of Polydor in the United States. Distribution switched to Interscope Geffen A&M and Republic Records after the label's dissolution.
Affiliated labels
Affiliated labels included Celtic Heartbeat Records, co-founded by U2 manager Paul McGuinness. formerly affiliated with Atlantic Records, and Universal Motown Republic Group (UMRG). Bill Whelan's Riverdance was Celtic Heartbeat's first album to sell more than a million copies.
See also
References
- Tina maples (2013). "The Milwaukee Journal - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
- ^ Billboard July 5, 1997 page 48
- Universal Records
- American record labels
- Record labels based in California
- Defunct record labels of the United States
- Labels distributed by Universal Music Group
- Contemporary R&B record labels
- Heavy metal record labels
- Hip hop record labels
- Pop record labels
- Rock record labels
- Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles
- Record labels established in 1995
- Record labels disestablished in 2005
- 1995 establishments in California
- 2005 disestablishments in California
- Universal Music Group