Warner Music Group

Warner Music Group Corp., often called WMG, is a big 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. After that, WMG was sold to Access Industries in 2011. 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 started in 1958 because one of its actors, Tab Hunter, had a big hit song with a rival company, Dot Records. To keep its stars from recording with competitors, Warner created its own record label. In 1963, Warner bought Reprise Records, founded 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 major player in the music industry.

1970s

In the 1970s, Warner expanded by buying Elektra Records and forming Warner-Elektra-Atlantic, which became a key part of the company's success. They signed big names like Led Zeppelin, Madonna, and Prince. The company also started its own distribution network to better control how its music reached listeners.

1980s

Warner continued to grow in the 1980s, buying more labels and signing popular artists. They also got into new areas like music for movies and TV. However, the company faced challenges, including financial troubles from some of its investments.

1990s

In the 1990s, Warner became one of the biggest media companies. They bought more labels and expanded into international markets. But the company also faced some tough times, including public backlash over a controversial song and internal conflicts among executives.

2000s

In the 2000s, Warner adapted to changes in 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 partnerships with services like YouTube and Spotify.

2010s

In the 2010s, Warner continued to evolve, buying and selling various labels and expanding into new markets around the world. They also invested in 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 opportunities. The company went public again, partnered 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 includes music that is not just popular songs. It has labels for 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 be the only place to 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 started in 1811 with the creation of Chappell & Company, a music and instrument shop in London. In 1929, Jack L. Warner, leader of Warner Bros. Pictures Inc., created a company to buy music rights for films. Later, in 1987, Warner Communications bought Chappell & Company from PolyGram. In 2005, the printed music part was sold to Alfred Music.

WMG controls the rights to famous songs by Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, and Lorenz Hart. In the 1930s and 1940s, Chappell Music helped create music for Broadway shows, working with skilled musicians like Robert Russell Bennett, Don Walker, Ted Royal, and Hans Spialek. Together, they worked on most of the shows performed until late 1941.