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Roadrunner Records

{{Short description|American record label}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Use American English|date=June 2024}}

{{infobox record label

| bgcolor = #000000

| name = {{color|white|Roadrunner Records}}

| image = Roadrunner Records logo 2016.svg

| image_size = 250

| parent = Warner Music Group

| founded = {{start date and age|1980}}

| founder = Cees Wessels

| distributor = {{ubl|Atlantic Music Group|(in the U.S.)|Warner Music Group|(outside the U.S.)}}

| genre = {{hlist| Heavy metal|hard rock|alternative metal|extreme metal}}

| country = Netherlands

| location = New York City

| website = {{ubl|{{URL|www.elektramusicgroup.com/roadrunnerrecords}} (US site)|{{URL|roadrunnerrecords.co.uk}} (UK site)}}

}}

Roadrunner Records is a Dutch–American record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock music. Founded in the Netherlands in 1980, it is now a division of Warner Music Group and is based in New York City. Formerly seen as one of the most powerful independent metal labels of the 1980s and 1990s, it would eventually become a massive host of metal acts; most seen in Roadrunner United and the following live concert. Since then, the label had continued to put out major releases. However, by the 2020s, most major acts had left the label; it was also acquired by Warner, being relegated to something much smaller than before.

History

The label was launched in 1980 in the Netherlands. Roadrunner's initial business was importing North American metal-band recordings into Europe. In 1986, Roadrunner opened its US headquarters in New York City and later opened offices in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, Denmark, Russia and Canada. Early successes included albums from King Diamond (the first Roadrunner artist to enter the Billboard Top 200 albums chart) and Annihilator. The label also handled early Metallica releases in the Scandinavian region. The end of the 1980s saw the release of two albums that are now considered classics of their respective genres: Obituary's Slowly We Rot and Sepultura's Beneath the Remains.{{Cite web |last1=Krovatin |first1=Chris |last2=Fixell |first2=Ethan |last3=Jones |first3=Cat |date=August 8, 2019 |title=The 50 Best Albums Of 1989 |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-50-best-albums-of-1989 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}}

The 1990s saw the arrival of acts such as Cynic, Deicide, Life of Agony, Machine Head, Suffocation, Type O Negative, and underground grunge rockers Willard. As the 1990s wore on, several of Roadrunner's bands managed to make an impact on the mainstream, most notably Sepultura and Type O Negative. Sepultura's 1993 album, Chaos A.D., became the first Roadrunner band to crack the Top 40 on the Billboard album chart. Type O Negative became the first Roadrunner band to receive a certification from the RIAA; this was a Gold award (and later Platinum award) for the 1993 album Bloody Kisses, which was certified in 1995. The band also became the first Roadrunner band to receive radio play. In 2000, Slipknot became the first Roadrunner band to go Platinum. Nickelback were also very successful on the label, although they were signed to another label in their native Canada. Derek Shulman ran the label in the late 1990s.{{Cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Melinda |date=June 19, 1999 |title=Shulman Off And Running As Roadrunner Prez; Matthew Sweet Builds Up A New Wall of Sound |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=1922605&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |magazine=Billboard |volume=111 |issue=25 |pages=12}} In 2005, the label launched a new project called Roadrunner United to commemorate the label's 25th anniversary.

Roadrunner Records ran into financial trouble in 2001 after its distribution deal with RED Distribution through Edel Music was aborted after Edel ended up in US$400 million in debt. As Roadrunner had just taken out a US$15 million loan from Edel, Cees Wessels was forced to put 49% of the label's stock up for $30 million, attracting the interest of major labels such as RCA Records, Atlantic Records and Columbia Records.{{Cite web |title=ROADRUNNER LANDS ATISLAND DEF JAM |url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=274672&title=ROADRUNNER-LANDS-ATISLAND-DEF-JAM |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=HITS Daily Double |language=en}} In July 2001, The Island Def Jam Music Group purchased a 50% stake in Roadrunner worth US$33 million, larger than the asking price.{{Cite web |url=https://drownedinsound.com/news/1634-roadrunner-lands-at-island-def-jam |title=Roadrunner lands at Island Def Jam / Music News // Drowned in Sound |access-date=2020-11-21 |archive-date=2021-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620042131/https://drownedinsound.com/news/1634-roadrunner-lands-at-island-def-jam |url-status=dead }} While there were fears of legal action from Edel, who owned 17% of Roadrunner's stock, negotiations allowed the label to switch "immediately" to Island Def Jam and its distributor, Universal Music & Video Distribution.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yxIEAAAAMBAJ&dq=roadrunner+distribution+2001+billboard&pg=PA8 |title=Billboard |date=August 4, 2001 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en}}

On December 18, 2006, Warner Music Group signed an agreement to purchase a majority in shares (73.5%) of Roadrunner Records' parent company, Roadrunner Music Group B.V.{{cite web | url=http://www.wmg.com/news/article/?id=8a0af8120f88d9f4010f956206405504 | title=Warner Music Group to Acquire Majority Stake in Roadrunner Music Group | access-date=2007-02-12 | author=Warner Music Group | author-link=Warner Music Group | publisher=Warner Music Group | date= December 18, 2006}} This deal became finalized on January 29, 2007, after receiving regulatory approval in Germany.{{cite web | url=http://www.wmg.com/news/article/?id=8a0af81210571b6e01106f1d6da60923 | title=Warner Music Group Completes Acquisition of Roadrunner Music Group | access-date=2007-02-12 | author=Warner Music Group | author-link=Warner Music Group | publisher=Warner Music Group | date= January 29, 2007}}

On June 11, 2008, Roadrunner Records was voted as the "Best Metal Label" by Metal Hammer at their Golden Gods Awards,{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/page-not-found|title=Roadrunner Records Page Not Found|website=Roadrunner Records Official Website|access-date=2017-06-20|archive-date=2017-05-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526052254/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/page-not-found|url-status=dead}} an award that it has won the past four years in a row. The award was accepted by Sharon den Adel and Ruud Jolie of Within Temptation, one of Roadrunner's biggest acts.

Roadrunner Records was significantly affected by Warner Music Group's legal dispute against YouTube, including having their account's YouTube partnership canceled. Most of the videos on their channel, however, are still viewable.{{Cite web |title=Slipknot's Corey Taylor Says It's 'Really Sad' What Happened to Roadrunner After Warner Acquisition: They Fired Everyone Working There for 20 Years |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/slipknots_corey_taylor_says_its_really_sad_what_happened_to_roadrunner_after_warner_acquisition_they_fired_everyone_working_there_for_20_years.html |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=www.ultimate-guitar.com |language=en}}

On November 11, 2010, Warner Music Group announced they had acquired the remaining of Roadrunner's stock, acquiring the company fully. However, WMG maintained that Roadrunner would still continue to operate as a distinct brand. Cees Wessels, the label's founder, remained as CEO.{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i380e27368bb3e68c7cf55652f184b1f5 |title=WMG Fully Acquires Roadrunner |access-date=2011-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114060535/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i380e27368bb3e68c7cf55652f184b1f5 |archive-date=2010-11-14 }} Employees at Roadrunner nicknamed WMG's acquisition of the company "The Red Wedding", in reference to the Game of Thrones episode "The Rains of Castamere".{{Cite web |last=MetalSucks |date=April 26, 2022 |title=Glow On: A Complete History of Roadrunner Records, Pt. 2 – 2012–2022 |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2022/04/26/glow-on-a-complete-history-of-roadrunner-records-pt-2-2012-2022/ |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}}

On April 26, 2012, it was announced that Warner Music Group would make substantial cutbacks throughout Roadrunner Records worldwide operations.{{cite web|url=http://www.rocksins.com/2012/04/warner-music-closes-roadrunner-records-uk-offices-huge-cuts-elsewhere-14746/ |title=Roadrunner Records UK & European Offices To Close |website=Rocksins.com |date=July 14, 2017 |access-date=2017-07-21}} According to staff working at the company, the UK offices and the Canadian offices of Roadrunner Records are to be closed completely, with severe levels of cutbacks occurring across the rest of the label worldwide. It has also been announced that the Roadrunner office in the Netherlands is to close, and that the label's founder Cees Wessels is stepping down from his role of CEO.{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/layoffs-at-roadrunner-records-founder-ceo-1006893352.story |title=Layoffs at Roadrunner Records; Founder/CEO Cees Wessels Stepping Down |website=Billboard.biz |date=April 26, 2012 |access-date=2017-07-21 |archive-date=2013-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123125452/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/layoffs-at-roadrunner-records-founder-ceo-1006893352.story |url-status=dead }} The following years saw several major Roadrunner acts being dropped by the label, including DevilDriver, Cavalera Conspiracy and Alter Bridge (who both moved to Napalm Records, with Devildriver's catalogue being sold to The Echo Label), Opeth, Machine Head, Slipknot (after releasing The End, So Far in 2022) and Soulfly (all of whom followed former A&R of SVP Monte Conner to Nuclear Blast) and Dream Theater (who signed with InsideOut Music in 2017). In July 2017, British rock band Milk Teeth signed with Roadrunner Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicconnection.com/milk-teeth-sign-roadrunner-records/|title=Milk Teeth Sign to Roadrunner Records|website=Music Connection|date=July 28, 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-10}}

In June 2018, Roadrunner became a sub-label of Warner's Elektra Music Group division.{{Cite web |title=Roadrunner Records – Official Site |url=https://www.elektramusicgroup.com/roadrunnerrecords |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Elektra Music Group |date=December 18, 2020 |language=en}} In June 2022, Elektra Music Group, and subsequently Roadrunner, was merged into the new umbrella label group 300 Elektra Entertainment.{{Cite web |title=WMG 300 Elektra Entertainment – 3EE – Arrives, Led by Chairman & CEO Kevin Liles |url=https://www.wmg.com/news/300-elektra-entertainment-3ee-arrives-led-chairman-ceo-kevin-liles-36506 |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=WMG Official Website |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Warner Music Group |url=https://variety.com/t/warner-music-group/ |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

International labels

=Roadrunner Records UK=

Roadrunner Records UK operates out of the Warner Music London office. Their roster includes the addition of Alter Bridge, Down, Satyricon and Slash.{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/page/Artists|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215122605/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/page/Artists|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 15, 2008|title=Roadrunner Records UK // ARTISTSDIRECT TALK TO CAVALERA CONSPIRACY|website=RoadrunnerRecords.co.uk|access-date=2017-07-21}}

Notable artists

= Currently signed =

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=Past Roadrunner Records artists=

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Criticism

Since the 1990s{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}, Roadrunner Records has been criticised by several of its past alumni over its record contracts, business practices and management and promotion of its releases. Artists who have criticised Roadrunner include Megadeth,{{cite web |title=Megadeth Frontman Slams Roadrunner Records |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=50383 |access-date=2017-07-21 |website=Metalunderground.com}} Slipknot,{{Cite web |title=Slipknot guitarist says band has never made money from record sales |url=https://lambgoat.com/blog/581/Slipknot-guitarist-says-band-has-never-made-money-from-record-sales |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=lambgoat.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |date=September 28, 2022 |title=COREY TAYLOR Explains SLIPKNOT's Split With Roadrunner Records, Plans For The Future |url=https://metalinjection.net/news/corey-taylor-explains-slipknots-split-with-roadrunner-records |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}} Obituary,{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=October 15, 2017 |title=OBITUARY Drummer Says Former Record Label Won't 'Negotiate' Deal To Reissue Classic Albums |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/obituary-drummer-says-former-record-label-wont-negotiate-deal-to-reissue-classic-albums/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021220821/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/obituary-drummer-says-former-record-label-wont-negotiate-deal-to-reissue-classic-albums |archive-date=2018-10-21 |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}} Opeth,{{Cite web |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |date=November 26, 2017 |title=Mikael Åkerfeldt Says OPETH Started Its Own Label Because Of A Bad Time With Roadrunner Records |url=https://metalinjection.net/news/drama/mikael-akerfeldt-says-opeth-started-its-own-label-because-of-a-bad-time-with-roadrunner-records |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122060526/https://metalinjection.net/news/drama/mikael-akerfeldt-says-opeth-started-its-own-label-because-of-a-bad-time-with-roadrunner-records |archive-date=2022-01-22 |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}} Chimaira,{{Cite web |last=BraveWords |title=CHIMAIRA Reveal Details Regarding Their 2006 Departure From Roadrunner Records |url=https://bravewords.com/news/chimaira-reveal-details-regarding-their-2006-departure-from-roadrunner-records |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=bravewords.com |date=February 2008 |language=en}} Vision of Disorder{{Cite web |title=Interview with Vision of Disorder |url=http://www.roughedge.com/features/vod0601interview.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110200/http://www.roughedge.com/features/vod0601interview.htm |archive-date=2016-03-04 |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=www.roughedge.com}} and Sepultura.{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=July 9, 2003 |title=SEPULTURA's GREEN Explains ROADRUNNER Departure |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/sepultura-s-green-explains-roadrunner-departure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815174903/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/sepultura-s-green-explains-roadrunner-departure/ |archive-date=2020-08-15 |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=May 7, 2006 |title=SEPULTURA Frontman DERRICK GREEN Is Happy To Leave ROADRUNNER Behind |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/sepultura-frontman-derrick-green-is-happy-to-leave-roadrunner-behind/ |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}

Glassjaw members Daryl Palumbo and Justin Beck continue to speak unfavourably of Roadrunner, years after the problems the band experienced with them. They openly advise people not to buy their first full-length so as not to give the label money, and have repeatedly told fans at shows to illegally download the record.{{cite web |url=http://forum.glassjaw.net/viewtopic.php?pid=118594#p118594 |title=Glassjaw.net: The Justin Beck Interview (June 2008) (Page 1) – Glassjaw – GJN Forum |publisher=Forum.glassjaw.net |access-date=2010-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702220543/http://forum.glassjaw.net/viewtopic.php?pid=118594#p118594 |archive-date=2010-07-02 |url-status=dead }} Palumbo has said: "Roadrunner is a joke. Roadrunner's not even a real label. It has the power to be one of the superpowers in the heavy music industry. While labels like Victory Records, which is such a small hardcore label, is totally surpassing Roadrunner... It's like the scourge of the music industry.{{cite web |url=http://www.showandtellonline.com/_glassjaw/_interview_daryl_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021117170849/http://showandtellonline.com/_glassjaw/_interview_daryl_1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 17, 2002 |title=Show & Tell – S&T chats with Daryl of Glassjaw |access-date=October 25, 2008 }} Beck has said: "Seriously, don't ever support anything from Roadrunner – they suck!"{{cite web |url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2088288640270252305 |title=Glassjaw – Interview with The Suicide Girls |access-date=2010-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519194615/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2088288640270252305 |archive-date=2011-05-19 |url-status=dead }} Palumbo has said that Roadrunner didn't put the band on enough tours: "We never toured half as much as we wanted to, I just wish we got to tour more in support of [Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence]"; and, "They are a miserable fuckin' corporation that does not bend for their bands, does not give their bands anything and they're just terrible businessmen....They had 2 cash cows, Slipknot and Nickelback, and every other project they had rode backseat to those bands, and then the second that the new Slipknot record came out and didn't go quadruple Platinum in the first few hours it was released they fuckin' turned their backs on Slipknot. That label just wants instant gratification where it sells its units and that's a joke. You can't run a major corporation with that as your business strategy".{{cite web |url=http://www.2-4-7-music.com/newsitems/july02/glassjaw.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020811180558/http://www.2-4-7-music.com/newsitems/july02/glassjaw.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=2002-08-11 |title=Glassjaw Interviews ~ Crud Magazine ~ Ozzfest 2002 Castle Donnington, England |publisher=2-4-7-music.com |access-date=2010-08-01 }}

See also

Soundtracks

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20090827041812/http://www.roadrunnerworld.com/ Main site gives you links to other international sites.]
  • [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ Official USA site]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20081217053729/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.ca/ Official Canadian site]
  • [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/ Official UK site]
  • [https://www.youtube.com/user/roadrunnerrecords Roadrunner Records' official YouTube channel]
  • [https://twitter.com/rrusa Roadrunner Records' USA Twitter]
  • [http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=search.php3&artistsearch=&relation=+&genre=+&country=+&freesearch=Roadrunner+Records+%28NY%29&search.x=54&search.y=12 Roadrunner US A&R team contact list]

{{Warner Music Group}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:American record labels

Category:Heavy metal record labels

Category:Record labels established in 1980

Category:Rock record labels

Category:Warner Music labels

Category:Atlantic Records

Category:IFPI members

Category:Labels distributed by Warner Music Group

Category:1980 establishments in the Netherlands

Category:American companies established in 1980

Category:1986 establishments in New York City