WMG to Launch Elektra Music Group as Standalone Company

NEW YORK, NY (CelebrityAccess) – Warner Music Group has today (June 18) announced that it will be launching Elektra as a standalone, fully staffed company as of October 1st. The launch follows a number of recent moves to expand WMG’s A&R capacity initiated by new Warner recorded-music chief, Max Lousada.

Elektra Music Group (EMG), which will be headquartered in New York, will be run by co-presidents, Mike Easterling and Gregg Nadel (pictured above, left to right), who will report to Atlantic Records Group Chairman & CEO Craig Kallman and Chairman & COO Julie Greenwald.

The company, which will bring together the Elektra, Fueled By Ramen, Roadrunner, Low Country Sound, and Black Cement labels to be ‘nurtured as unique, independent label brands’, will also handle all key record company functions such as A&R, Business & Legal Affairs, International, Marketing, Promotion, Publicity, Sales & Streaming, and Video.

Additionally, a number of major artists will make the move over from Atlantic to EMG, including Twenty One Pilots, Zac Brown Band, Paramore, Sturgill Simpson, Brandi Carlile, Fitz and the Tantrums, Slipknot, Panic! at the Disco, Coheed and Cambria, Kaleo, Gojira and others.

“Elektra Music Group will be 100% dedicated to developing the careers of authentic artists and helping them realize their visions,” said Easterlin and Nadel in a joint statement. “The company will embody the same independent spirit that is at the root of each of our core labels. Elektra, Fueled By Ramen, Roadrunner, Low Country Sound, and Black Cement were all founded by entrepreneurs who did it for the love of the music and a belief in their artists, and that philosophy will remain the driving force behind everything we do. We’re going to have an extraordinary roster, backed by the most ambitious, innovative team in the business. To have the opportunity to run our own stand-alone company is a dream come true, and we want to thank Julie and Craig for having such great faith in us.”

“The birth of Elektra Music Group is all about creating opportunity for artists,” added Greenwald and Kallman. “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. Mike and Gregg have evolved into amazing leaders and masters of long-term artist development – they understand it, they live it and they excel at it. With decades of A&R and marketing experience under their collective belts, and joined by an outstanding new staff, they will make great partners in building Elektra Music Group into a major industry force.”