Warner Music Group

Warner Music Group Corp., often called WMG, is a large American company that makes and sells music around the world. It is one of the three biggest music companies, after Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. The company is based in New York City.

WMG used to belong to Time Warner, but in 2004, a group of investors led by Edgar Bronfman Jr. bought it. Later, in 2011, WMG was sold to Access Industries. In 2020, it became a public company again. Today, Access Industries owns most of WMG.

WMG has many famous record labels, such as Elektra, Reprise, Sire, Warner, Parlophone, and Atlantic. It also owns Warner Chappell Music, a large music publishing company. With operations in over 50 countries, WMG employs thousands of people and helps create the music people enjoy every day.

History

1950s and 1960s

Warner Bros. Records began in 1958 because one of its actors, Tab Hunter, had a big hit song with another company, Dot Records. To keep its stars from recording with others, Warner made its own record label. In 1963, Warner bought Reprise Records, started by Frank Sinatra, which helped bring in successful artists like Mo Ostin.

Later, Warner bought Atlantic Records, one of the oldest labels, which brought in artists such as Ray Charles, the Drifters, and Aretha Franklin. This helped Warner grow into a big part of the music industry.

1970s

In the 1970s, Warner grew by buying Elektra Records and forming Warner-Elektra-Atlantic, which became important for the company. They signed famous names like Led Zeppelin, Madonna, and Prince. The company also started its own way to send out music to make sure it reached listeners well.

1980s

Warner kept growing in the 1980s by buying more labels and signing popular artists. They also went into new areas like music for movies and TV. But the company had some money problems from certain investments.

1990s

In the 1990s, Warner became one of the biggest media companies. They bought more labels and expanded to countries around the world. But the company had some hard times, including some disagreements among leaders.

2000s

In the 2000s, Warner changed with the music industry, like the rise of digital music and online services. The company sold some parts of its business and focused on new ways to reach listeners, such as online streaming and working with services like YouTube and Spotify.

2010s

In the 2010s, Warner kept changing, buying and selling different labels and growing into new markets around the world. They also put money into new technologies and platforms, like social media and gaming, to connect with fans.

2020s

In the 2020s, Warner Music faced challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic but also found new chances. The company became public again, worked with platforms like TikTok, and expanded into new areas such as artificial intelligence and film partnerships.

Arts Music

In June 2017, Warner Music Group started a new part called Arts Music, Inc. This part has music that is not just popular songs. It includes classical music, jazz, music for kids, and music from movies and plays.

In November 2018, Arts Music made a deal with Sesame Workshop to bring back the Sesame Street Records label in early 2019. Later, in June 2019, WMG bought First Night Record, a company that makes music from musical theater shows, and added it to Arts Music. In May 2020, Mattel agreed to let Arts Music sell its music online. This included many new and old songs and albums from Mattel brands like Thomas & Friends.

Music publishing

Main article: Warner Chappell Music

Warner Chappell Music began in 1811 with the opening of Chappell & Company, a shop for music and instruments in London. In 1929, Jack L. Warner, who led Warner Bros. Pictures Inc., started a company to purchase music rights for movies. Later, in 1987, Warner Communications bought Chappell & Company from PolyGram. In 2005, the printed music part was sold to Alfred Music.

Today, WMG owns the rights to well-known songs by Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, and Lorenz Hart. During the 1930s and 1940s, Chappell Music helped make music for Broadway shows. They worked with talented musicians such as Robert Russell Bennett, Don Walker, Ted Royal, and Hans Spialek. Their teamwork shaped many shows performed up until late 1941.