Warner Music Group fully acquires Roadrunner

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=149263

Quote :

According to Billboard.biz, Warner Music Group has fully acquired Roadrunner Records after first buying 73.5% of the company in January 2007.

Roadrunner — which has been hosting the BLABBERMOUTH.NET web site since 2001 — will continue to operate as a distinct brand within WMG. Cees Wessels, the label's founder, remains CEO.

In an internal memo to staff, Wessels wrote: "Since joining the Warner Music family, we have enjoyed some of our greatest creative and commercial successes as a label. Most importantly, we have retained our unique identity while also expanding our horizons, thanks in part to the tremendous expertise and experience we can tap into as part of the Warner Music family and the relationships we have built with our Warner Music colleagues around the world. I am very proud that Roadrunner is now a fully-fledged stable mate of such iconic labels as Atlantic, Warner Bros. Records, Elektra, Asylum and Rhino, and I believe that we are in this position thanks to our team's hard work and consistently original approach over the years. The vast majority of our staff around the world will experience little or no change to their roles. However, after carefully reviewing our operations, we have decided to transfer the support functions across to our Warner Music colleagues in some territories. This is not an easy process to undertake, but we believe that, by making these changes, we can take Roadrunner to the next level by focusing our resources on marketing our existing lineup of acclaimed artists as well as discovering the stars of tomorrow."

Initially founded in the Netherlands in 1980, Roadrunner Records has earned its place as one of the most prominent international independent record labels. The Roadrunner catalog boasts early releases from such seminal artists as KING DIAMOND, TYPE O NEGATIVE, SEPULTURA and ANNIHILATOR. More recently, the label has experienced unprecedented success with multi-platinum artists NICKELBACK and SLIPKNOT, gold-certified STONE SOUR and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, as well as modern heavy hitters TRIVIUM and MACHINE HEAD.

Probably changes nothing (other than some extra cash coming in and more exposure?) but I thought it was interesting.

Warner Bros for the most part where know for giving their artist freedom ( for the most apart) unlike the Atlantic record label who tired to dicate and did dicate musical direction etc, so I do not expect much to change

This sounded significant to me until I realized that Warner already had 73.5% of it for the past 3 years anyway, so I wouldn't think too many drastic changes would happen now, as a result of getting that final 26.5%

I just think it's cool because now it makes them a major label instead of "the world's largest independent label" or whatever. I didn't realize Warner had any stake in them until I read this.

Ratt and Megadeth are on a major label!!!

Warner is still one of the majors that tries to do it right. Sort of.

Metal Misfit wrote:

Ratt and Megadeth are on a major label!!!

Again.

krokus wrote:

Metal Misfit wrote:

Ratt and Megadeth are on a major label!!!

Again.

Good for Megadeth, sadly it looks like Ratt's much hyped reunion is over (once again!!!)

Metal Misfit wrote:

I just think it's cool because now it makes them a major label instead of "the world's largest independent label" or whatever. I didn't realize Warner had any stake in them until I read this.

Ratt and Megadeth are on a major label!!!

I thought Megadeth had issues with Roadrunner and left?

Phoenix Reign Drummer wrote:

I thought Megadeth had issues with Roadrunner and left?

I think they still owe Roadrunner one more record on their current contract.

manny wrote:

it looks like Ratt's much hyped reunion is over (once again!!!)

Yea, I saw a story on Blabbermouth a week or two ago where Pearcy sez Ratt is "going on hiatus" for a while. In other words, "We didn't sell as many records as we expected, and we realized we still hate each other, so we're taking a break."

Ratt kinda screwed themselves from the start. Right as the album was coming out, you had Pearcy and Blotzer taking digs at each other and the recording process of the album. I know there's some bad blood over Blotzer's book.

It's a shame. It's a really good album, they got signed to a pretty big label, it's too bad they couldn't keep the buzz surrounding the band positive. I guess they're kinda getting what they deserve though. This was what? The THIRD legit chance for these guys (the Columbia/Portrait signing in 1999 being their 2nd) and they still can't stop acting like petty high school girls?