Warner Music Group to launch Elektra Music Group

Warner Music Group is launching a new stand-alone label called Elektra Music Group on October 1.

It will consist of Elektra Records, Fueled By Ramen (FBR), Roadrunner Records, Low Country Sound, and Black Cement Records.

It will be based in New York with a staff of 60, and run by current Elektra president Gregg Nadel and FBR/Roadrunner president Mike Easterlin.

Its roster will include twenty one pilots, Zac Brown Band, Brandi Carlile, Fitz & The Tantrums, Sturgill Simpson, Paramore, Slipknot, Panic! At The Disco, Coheed & Cambria, Kaleo and Gojira.

It will have its own A&R, artist development, business and legal affairs, international, marketing, promotion, publicity, sales and streaming, and video divisions.

Although EMG will operate autonomously, Easterlin and Nadel will continue to report into Atlantic Records Group chairman & CEO, Craig Kallman, and chairman & COO, Julie Greenwald.

“The birth of Elektra Music Group is all about creating opportunity for artists,” said Greenwald and Kallma.

“It opens up a new door to bring more game-changing talent into the WMG family, while giving them the personal attention that is our hallmark.

“Just as importantly, it will allow some of the most outstanding members of our team to run their own shop and their own departments, taking their careers to new places.”

A year ago, after Max Lousada took over as CEO of WMG’s global recorded music division, he rebooted Warner Bros. Records and Sire Records with new executives.

The idea is to create new sources for A&R and content to keep up with the demands of the streaming phenomenon, which sees one million new tracks uploaded a year.

“Our whole approach is to create environments that give artists and entrepreneurs the freedom and support to pioneering the future of music,” Lousada said.

“It feels great to be bringing back the iconic Elektra brand as a major company for the first time in 15 years.”