Reprise Records

American record label

Record label

Reprise Records

Parent company| Warner Music Group
Founded| 1960 (original)
1987 (relaunch)
Founder| Frank Sinatra
Defunct| 1976 (original)[a]
Status| Active
Distributor(s)|

* Warner Records
* (United States)
* Warner Music Group
* (International)
* Rhino Entertainment Company
* (Re-issues)

Genre| Various
Country of origin| United States
Official website| warnerrecords.com

Reprise Records is an American record label founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operates through Warner Records, one of its flagship labels.[1]

Artists currently signed to Reprise Records include Green Day, Enya, Michael Bublé, Eric Clapton, Stevie Nicks, Neil Young,[a] Deftones, Mastodon, Lindsey Buckingham, Josh Groban, Disturbed, Idina Menzel, My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way, Dwight Yoakam, Never Shout Never, and Billy Strings.

## History

[edit]

### Beginnings

[edit]

"Tricolor" label, used by Reprise until 1968. (Label to the Kinks' Something Else.)

Reprise Records was formed in 1960[1] by Frank Sinatra in order to allow more artistic freedom for his own recordings. Soon thereafter, he garnered the nickname "The Chairman of the Board".[2] He was dissatisfied with Capitol Records, and he attempted to purchase Norman Granz's Verve Records,[3]

### Sale to Warner Bros.

[edit]

In August 1963, as part of a film deal, Warner Bros. purchased Reprise (which had been losing money) from Frank Sinatra, who nonetheless retained a 1/3 interest in the label.[3]

### Revival and Reprise today (1985–present)

[edit]

In late 1985, some copies of the Dream Academy's hit single "Life in a Northern Town" were pressed on the Warner Bros. label bearing the Reprise logo.[4] 1986 saw releases bearing Reprise labels from the Dream Academy as well as Dwight Yoakam.[5] In summer 1987, Warner Bros. Records chairman Mo Ostin and label president Lenny Waronker officially announced the reactivation of Reprise, including its own separate promotions department, and former Warner Bros. Vice President of Promotion Rich Fitzgerald was appointed as label vice president.[6] Neil Young stated in a documentary about his life that Charles Manson was turned down by Reprise.[citation needed]

In 2010, Reprise opened a country music division, operating as part of Warner Music Group Nashville, featuring Blake Shelton, the JaneDear Girls, Michelle Branch and Frankie Ballard as part of its roster.[7]

In September 2011, several layoffs took place at Reprise Records and other Warner labels.[8]

## Reprise Records artists

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Main article: List of Reprise Records artists

## Labels

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* 143 Records (1999–2001)
* Bizarre Records (1968–1972)
* Big Brother Records (2008–present)
* BME Recordings (2004–present)
* Brother Records (1970–1977)
* Chrysalis Records (1969–1972)
* Cold Chillin' Records (1988–1993; select releases)
* DiscReet Records (1973–1979)
* Elementree Records (1995–2000)
* Giant Records (1990–2001; select releases)
* Grand Jury Records (1990–1993)
* In Bloom Records (1998–2000)
* Kinetic Records (1992–2000)
* Straight Records (1968–1972)
* Sire Records (1977–2000: select releases)
* Vapor Records (1995–present; currently active)

## Parent organizations

[edit]

* (1960–1968) Independent
* (1968–1969) Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
* (1969–1972) Kinney National Company
* (1972–1990) Warner Communications
* (1990–2001) Time Warner
* (2001–2003) AOL Time Warner
* (2004–2011) Warner Music Group
* (2011–present) Access Industries

## See also

[edit]

* List of record labels
* Warner Records

## Explanatory notes

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1. ^ a b Despite the label dissolving in 1976, Neil Young remained signed to it until the release of his 1982 album Trans, which saw him signed to Geffen Records until he rejoined the reactivated label in time to release his 1988 album This Note's for You following a rocky tenure with Geffen that saw lawsuits. Young remains signed with Reprise to this day, a tenure bested only by founder Frank Sinatra, who, from 1976 to 1982 shared the label with Young and then was its sole artist until 1987.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Edwards, David. "Reprise Records Story". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
2. ^ John Ward (December 11, 1990). "The Chairman of the Board hits another quarter century". The Tech.
3. ^ a b Giles, Jeff (February 13, 2016). "To Play and Play Again: How Frank Sinatra's Thirst for Creative Freedom Led to Some of Classic Rock's Greatest Records". ultimateclassicrock.com. Diffuser Network. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
4. ^ "The Dream Academy - Life In A Northern Town". 45cat.com. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
5. ^ "Reprise Label Discography - USA - Page 27 - 45cat". 45cat.com. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
6. ^ "Reprise Recs". Archived from the original on July 15, 2011.
7. ^ "Warner Music Nashville Official Website". Warner Music Nashville Official Website. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
8. ^ "Updated: Layoffs at Warner Bros./Reprise | Billboard.biz". Archived from the original on September 25, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2011.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* A discography of American Reprise singles from 1961 to 1970

* v
* t
* e

Warner Music Group

People|

* Edgar Bronfman Jr.
* Stephen Cooper
* Len Blavatnik
* Michael Lynton
* Mike Caren
* Jac Holzman
* John Janick
* Craig Kallman
* Seymour Stein

300 Elektra Entertainment|

* 300 Entertainment
* 300 Studios
* DTA Records
* Elektra Records
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* Fueled by Ramen
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Atlantic Records Group|

* Asylum Records
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* Atlantic Records UK
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Alternative Distribution Alliance|

* 10K Projects
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* Compass Records
* Cordless Recordings
* East West Records
* Magna Carta Records
* Rykodisc
* Sub Pop
* WaterTower Music
* Williams Street Records

Rhino Entertainment|

* Del-Fi Records
* Giant Records
* Rhino Records

Spinnin' Records|

* Spinnin' Deep
* Spinnin' Records

Warner Records|

* Festival Mushroom Records
* Clover Music
* FFRR Records
* Helium 3
* Machine Shop Records
* Maverick Records
* Nonesuch Records
* Parlophone
* Jubilee Records
* Roost Records
* Roulette Records
* Reprise Records
* Sire Records
* London-Sire Records
* Stateside Records
* Warner Records

Warner Music Nashville|

* Atlantic Records Nashville
* Fervent Records
* Reprise Records Nashville
* Warner Records Nashville

Arts Music|

* Erato Records
* Sesame Street Records
* Sh-K-Boom Records
* Teldec Records
* Warner Classics

Distribution|

* Alternative Distribution Alliance
* Warner Music Vision
* WEA International
* Warner Music Australasia
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* Warner Music Poland
* Warner Music Sweden
* X5 Music Group

Music publishing and licensing|

* EMP Merchandising
* Warner Chappell Music
* (Warner/Chappell Music v. Fullscreen)
* Warner Strategic Marketing

Other labels|

* HipHopDX
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* Uproxx
* Dime Magazine
* Vevo
* Warner Music Indonesia

Soundtracks|

* Faust: Love of the Damned (2000–2001)
* Ginger Snaps (2000–2001)
* Resident Evil (2002)
* Spider-Man (2002)
* Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
* Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Australia
* Israel

Other|

* MusicBrainz label

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