World’s biggest heavy metal label inks partnership with Warner’s ADA

The world’s biggest independent heavy metal label, Nuclear Blast Records, and the Warner Music Group-owned distributor ADA, have announced a global partnership.

Nuclear Blast, home to metal juggernauts like Machine Head, Meshuggah and Opeth, already has a long existing relationship with existing with Warner Music in Central Europe. Bernd Dopp, chairman and CEO Warner Music Central Europe, has provided helped to steer the label with distribution services for over 20 years.

Now, ADA has taken over the US label’s worldwide physical and digital distribution, excluding certain territories in Central Europe, and in Australia and New Zealand where Nuclear Blast is partnered with Caroline. The local partnership is about to enter into its fifth year.

“We are excited to enter a new chapter in the history of Nuclear Blast,” said Markus Staiger, managing director and founder of Nuclear Blast. “Having been with the Warner family for over 20 years in Germany and other territories in Europe, this seems as a logical step. Looking forward to much success with the ADA team!”

Eliah Seton, president of ADA worldwide, said:

“We look forward to contributing to the legacy of Nuclear Blast and its incredible roster and we couldn’t be happier to extend their footprint in the Warner family across the globe.”

The first global release under the partnership will be Machine Head’s new LP Catharsis, on January 26. Following that, industrial metal pioneers band Ministry will release studio LP AmeriKKKant on March 9 through the partnership.

Watch Machine Head’s clip for ‘Catharsis’ below:

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.