Wind-up Records

Wind-up Entertainment was an American independent record label founded by Alan and Diana Meltzer in 1997. It was based in New York City and was distributed by Universal Music Group. Wind-up's best-selling artists worldwide were Evanescence and Creed.

Wind-up Records
Parent companyConcord Music
Founded1997 (1997)
Founder
Distributor(s)
Genre
  • Rock
  • various
Country of originU.S.
LocationNew York City
Official websitewinduprecords.com

History

Wind-up Records was formed in 1997 by Alan Meltzer, former owner of CD One Stop, and his wife Diana Meltzer, following their 1996 purchase of Grass Records.[1][2] Wind-up at one point was the largest independently owned record label in the world. The parent company Wind-up Entertainment also runs numerous publishing companies as well as a full-scale retail, online and tour merchandising company. The company's slogan is "Developing Career Artists".

Some of the successful acts on the label included Creed, Evanescence, Seether and Finger Eleven. The label has also re-released albums from bands previously associated with Grass Records, such as Toadies, The Wrens and Commander Venus.[3]

The label's current roster includes Civil Twilight, Jillette Johnson, The Griswolds, The Virginmarys, Young Guns, Strange Talk, The Revivalists, Five For Fighting, Crobot, Filter, SPEAK, Genevieve and Aranda.[4]

In September 2009, the label reached an agreement with EMI Music Germany and in February 2011 with EMI Music Canada. The partnership has seen EMI Music take over the marketing and distribution of artists such as Creed, Evanescence, Seether and Finger Eleven throughout the world outside of the US.[5][5]

In Canada, distribution was initially with Sony Music Canada as was the distribution in the United States. However, in October 2004, distribution in Canada switched over to Warner Music Canada with the creation of Wind-up Entertainment Canada. Distribution in Canada moved again, for a third time in February 2011, this time to EMI Music Canada.

On October 31, 2011, the label's founder, Alan Meltzer, died at the age of 67.[2]

In 2012, Universal Music Group acquired the EMI music operations, making the distribution in Canada solely distributed by Universal Music Group.

In October 2013, the Bicycle Music Company bought the rights to much of Wind-Up's back catalogue, including the contracts to acts such as Seether. These artists will be distributed by Concord Music Group, which later merged with Bicycle.[6] In May 2015, Concord bought the rest of the Wind-Up label.[7]

In 2016, Concord retired Wind-Up as a frontline label, and transferred most of Wind-Up's artists to other labels. Wind-Up's reissues are released under Craft Recordings, Concord's reissue label.

Artist roster

Final roster

Accurate according to Wind-up's website as of October 9, 2016.[8]

Previous artists

Soundtracks
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See also
  • List of record labels

References
  1. Leomporra, Domenique (January 17, 1996). "Grass grows with new ownership and BMG distribution deal" (Press release). Business Wire via TheFreeLibrary.com. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  2. Halperin, Shirley (October 31, 2011). "Alan Meltzer, Founder of Wind-Up Records, Dies at 67". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  3. "Grass Records Reissues". WindupRecords.com. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  4. http://www.winduprecords.com/news/happenings-wind-up/
  5. "American label Wind-up Records signs with EMI Music". emigroup.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  6. Christman, Ed (October 31, 2013). "Bicycle Music Acquires Wind-Up Records' Back Catalog, Cuts Deal with Concord Music Group". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  7. Stassen, Murray (May 6, 2015). "Concord Bicycle Music acquires Wind-Up Records and Fearless Records". Music Week. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  8. "Home | Wind-up Records". 2016-10-09. Archived from the original on 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  9. "12 Stones Leave Wind-Up". antiMusic.com. August 24, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
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