Astralwerks

Astralwerks was founded in New York City in July 1993{{cite magazine | last=Sherburne| first=Philip| title =20 Werks of Wonder: Two Decades of Astralwerks | magazine =Spin| date =30 July 2013| url =https://www.spin.com/2013/07/20-best-astralwerks-albums-bassment-jaxx-air/| access-date =10 April 2019}} by Brian Long as an electronic and dance imprint of Caroline Records.{{cite news | last=Matos| first=Michaelangelo| title =How The Major Labels Sold 'Electronica' To America| publisher =NPR| date =18 August 2011| url =https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2011/08/18/139747383/how-the-major-labels-sold-electronica-to-america| access-date =10 April 2019}} Long had previously helped curate an electronic music compilation that was released on Caroline called Excursions in Ambience. Caroline's parent company, Virgin Records, sold the label to Thorn EMI soon after Astralwerks' foundation.{{cite news | last=Down| first=Buck E.| title =MUSIC: Combine to be honored with Lifetime Award| publisher =VEER Magazine| date =7 February 2019| url =https://veermag.com/2019/02/music-combine-to-be-honored-with-lifetime-award/| access-date =10 April 2019}} The first album released on Astralwerks was Tales of Ephidrina by Amorphous Androgynous, an alter ego of The Future Sound of London. In 1994, Peter Wohelski was brought on as the head of A&R. Wohelski is credited with discovering the Chemical Brothers and bringing them into the Astralwerks fold. Their 1995 debut studio album, Exit Planet Dust, sold 750,000 copies in the United States. The duo's 1997 follow-up, Dig Your Own Hole, reached number 14 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Other albums released under Astralwerks in its first five years included Seefeel's Quique (1994), Soul Oddity's Soul Oddity (1996), μ-Ziq's Lunatic Harness (1997), Photek's Modus Operandi (1997), and Fatboy Slim's You've Come a Long Way, Baby (1998), among many others.{{cite magazine | title =The 20 Most Important Artists on Astralwerks| magazine =Complex| date =6 August 2013| url =https://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/105594-the-20-most-important-artists-on-astralwerks/| access-date =10 April 2019}} 1999 saw the releases of Basement Jaxx's Remedy and Cassius' 1999, the latter of which had three singles peak in the top 30 of the U.S. Dance chart. That year, Peter Wohelski also left his position as general manager of the label{{cite news | last=Echlin| first=Hobey| title =pitch'd| newspaper =Metro Times| date =28 April 1999| url =https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/pitchd/Content?oid=2188752| access-date =10 April 2019}} and was replaced by Errol Kolosine.{{cite magazine | last=Siegler| first=Dylan| title =Astralwerks' Chemical Brothers Aim Beyond Dancefloor| magazine =Billboard| date =12 June 1999| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=uw0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22astralwerks%22+%22errol+kolosine%22&pg=PA15| access-date =10 April 2019}} In the early 2000s, Astralwerks releases included Air's 2001 album, 10 000 Hz Legend (which reached number 88 on the Billboard 200) and the 2003 re-issue of Motorbass' Pansoul. In 2005, the label released Kraftwerk's first live album, Minimum-Maximum, and a Brian Eno compilation called, More Music for Films.

In 2007, EMI reorganized its distribution arm, which ultimately saw Glenn Mendlinger take over for Errol Kolosine as the label's general manager.{{cite magazine | last=Gallo| first=Phil| title =Caroline faces changes| magazine =Variety| date =2 February 2007| url =https://variety.com/2007/music/markets-festivals/caroline-faces-changes-1117958601/| access-date =10 April 2019}} In 2009, the label released David Guetta's One Love. The lead single off that album, "When Love Takes Over," would go on to win a Grammy Award. In 2012, the label released Swedish House Mafia's Until Now which featured the single "Don't You Worry Child." The album reached number 14 on the Billboard 200 while the single made it to number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

That year, the Universal Music Group (UMG) purchased EMI, bringing Astralwerks under UMG control where it remains today.{{cite news | last=Ingham| first=Tim| title =Steve Barnett on running Capitol: 'Your faith has to be greater than your fear'| publisher =Music Business Worldwide| date =6 December 2016| url =https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/steve-barnett-on-running-capitol-your-faith-has-to-be-greater-than-your-fear/| access-date =10 April 2019}} As part of the corporate restructuring, Astralwerks became an imprint under the Capitol Music Group.{{cite news | last=Lewis| first=Randy| title =A revitalized Capitol Records forges a new path forward| newspaper =Los Angeles Times| date =3 February 2015| url =https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ct-capitol-records-steve-barnett-sam-smith-5-seconds-summer-20150203-story.html| access-date =10 April 2019}} In 2013, the label signed both Porter Robinson{{cite news | last=Caruso| first=Chris| title =Porter Robinson Signs Worldwide Deal with Astralwerks| publisher =DJ Times| date =15 November 2013| url =https://www.djtimes.com/porter-robinson-signs-worldwide-deal-astralwerks/| access-date =10 April 2019}} and Deadmau5 (along with his Mau5trap imprint).{{cite magazine | last=McCarthy| first=Zel| title =Astralwerks Signs Deadmau5, mau5trap Imprint| magazine =The Hollywood Reporter| date =14 October 2013| url =https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/astralwerks-signs-deadmau5-mau5trap-imprint-648289| access-date =10 April 2019}} The following year, Astralwerks signed singer Halsey to a record deal.{{cite magazine | title =Halsey Signs to Astralwerks| magazine =Music Connection| date =1 August 2014| url =https://www.musicconnection.com/halsey-signs-astralwerks/| access-date =10 April 2019}} Also that year, Robinson released his debut studio album, Worlds{{cite magazine | last=Brown| first=Harley| title ='I Expected a Backlash': Porter Robinson Talks 'Virtual' Music, Denouncing EDM, and Online Games| magazine =Billboard| date =30 June 2014| url =https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6141104/porter-robinson-edm-videogames| access-date =10 April 2019}} and Deadmau5 also released his Astralwerks debut, While(1<2).{{cite magazine | last=Staples| first=Derek| title =deadmau5 – while(1<2)| magazine =Consequence of Sound| date =22 June 2014| url =https://consequenceofsound.net/2014/06/album-review-deadmau5-while-12/| access-date =10 April 2019}} Halsey's debut studio album, Badlands, came in 2015 and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200. Her 2017 follow-up, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, would top the chart.{{cite magazine | last=Caulfield| first=Keith| title =Halsey Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Hopeless Fountain Kingdom'| magazine =Billboard| date =11 June 2017| url =https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7825776/halsey-hopeless-fountain-kingdom-no-1-album-billboard-200-chart| access-date =10 April 2019}}

In 2018, it was announced that Astralwerks would move from New York City to its current home base of Los Angeles. Glenn Mendlinger also stepped down as general manager{{cite magazine | last=Newman| first=Melinda| title =Legendary NYC Dance Label Astralwerks Headed to LA; GM Glenn Mendlinger To Depart (Exclusive)| magazine =Billboard| date =23 February 2018| url =https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8217092/astralwerks-los-angeles-new-york-gm-glenn-mendlinger-leaving| access-date =10 April 2019}} and was replaced by Toby Andrews.{{cite news | last=Manthey| first=Aric M.| title =Astralwerks Finds New Manager to Oversee Label| publisher =EDM.com| date =30 March 2018| url =https://edm.com/news/astralwerks-finds-new-manager-to-oversee-label| access-date =10 April 2019}} In September 2018, the label announced that it had "relaunched" with a spate of new signings and a new staff at their Los Angeles offices. The new signings included Axwell & Ingrosso and Illenium. Marshmello, another recent Astralwerks signee, released the song "Happier" featuring Bastille which reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped several Billboard charts.{{cite magazine | last=Bein| first=Kat| title =Acclaimed Label Astralwerks Relaunches With New Team, Major Signings| magazine =Billboard| date =11 September 2018| url =https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/8474574/astralwerks-relaunch-2018| access-date =10 April 2019}} In October 2018, the label partnered with gaming personality Ninja on a compilation album{{cite magazine | last=Bein| first=Kat| title =Ninja Partners With Astralwerks to Release Upcoming 'Ninjawerks' Album| magazine =Billboard| date =26 October 2018| url =https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/8481863/ninja-astralwerks-ninjawerks-album| access-date =10 April 2019}} that was released in December and featured original songs from Tycho, Alesso, and 3lau, among others.{{cite news | title =Ninja and Astralwerks Reveal Full Tracklist for Ninjawerks Compilation| publisher =EDM.com| date =10 December 2018| url =https://edm.com/music-releases/ninja-astralwerks-tracklist-ninjawerks| access-date =10 April 2019}} In 2021, Astralwerks and Blue Note Records collaborated on a series of jazz/electronica albums titled Bluewerks.{{Cite web|last=Paul|first=Larisha|date=2021-02-26|title=Astralwerks And Blue Note Records Launch 'Bluewerks' Series|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/astralwerks-blue-note-records-bluewerks/|access-date=2021-06-02|website=uDiscover Music|language=en-US}}

In 2023, it was announced that AstralWerks would enter into a partnership with SIZE Records, distributing all of the label's future recordings in addition to handling its back catalog prior to the distribution deal.{{Cite magazine |last=Bain |first=Katie |date=2023-07-20 |title=Steve Angello's SIZE Records Enters Into Partnership With Astralwerks |url=https://www.billboard.com/business/record-labels/steve-angello-size-records-astralwerks-deal-1235375181/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Belisle |first=Alex |date=2023-07-22 |title=Steve Angello's SIZE Records Partner Up With Astralwerks |url=https://www.edmtunes.com/2023/07/steve-angellos-size-records-partner-up-with-astralwerks/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=EDMTunes |language=en-US}}

{{Further|:Category:Astralwerks albums}}

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• [http://www.astralwerks.com/ Official website]

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Category:1993 establishments in New York City

Category:American record labels

Category:Virgin Records

Category:Electronic music record labels

Category:Universal Music Group

Category:Labels distributed by Universal Music Group

Category:Companies based in New York City