Theory Entertainment LLC,[1] doing business as 300 Entertainment, is an American record label founded by Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles, Todd Moscowitz, and Roger Gold.[2] The label's roster includes acts across multiple genres such as hip hop, rock, pop, electronic, alternative, and country. Current artists include Young Thug, Fetty Wap, Mary J. Blige, No Savage, Bella Kay, Rejjie Snow, Cheat Codes, Tee Grizzley, Famous Dex, Shy Glizzy, Cobi, Meg Mac, Dae Dae, the Hunna, Bailey Bryan, OMB Peezy, AmiiFy, Ice Prince, Snot, and Des Rocs. It is based in New York City. The label also acts as distributor for Young Thug's record label YSL Records, whose roster includes rappers such as the late Lil Keed.
In 2021, Warner Music Group acquired 300 for $400 million.[3] In June 2022, 300 Entertainment was merged with Elektra Music Group to create the umbrella label 300 Elektra Entertainment (3EE), though both Elektra and 300 continued to maintain their separate identities as labels.[4][5]
Company history
Foundation
Cohen resigned as chairman and chief executive officer of Warner Music Group's recorded music operation to start 300 with Todd Moscowitz, ex-Warner Bros president, Kevin Liles, ex-EVP Warner Music, and Roger Gold, former SVP of the office of the chairman and CEO at Warner Music. Cohen, Liles, and Moscowitz had also worked together at Def Jam, which Cohen had run in the 1980s and 1990s.[6]
It was announced that singer Eric Bellinger had been signed to 300 Entertainment.[7] In April 2014, Atlantic Records A&R DJ Drama stated that Atlanta rapper Young Thug had been signed to 300 Entertainment,[8][9] In June 2014, it was revealed that Atlanta hip hop group Migos were also signed to the label.[10] In early 2014, Lyor Cohen quietly signed Conrad Sewell after Sewell had been passed on by most of the major labels. The day after signing with 300, the Australian singer received offers from virtually every label that had passed on him, for, in some cases, "well over $1 million."[11]
As of 2017, Fetty Wap's "Trap Queen" is the label's biggest single to date, going 10× platinum.[12] Its first pop hit was Cheat Codes' "No Promises" featuring Demi Lovato. Its first country pop[13] artist to be signed is Bailey Bryan.[14]
Exit of Cohen
In September 2016, Lyor Cohen announced his exit from 300.[15] Following this announcement, Kevin Liles assumed the role of CEO.[16] Liles would make appearances to follow in The Wall Street Journal and on MSNBC to discuss his role and the label.[17]
Partnerships
Funding
The company is backed by a wide range of investors, including Google, investment firm Columbus Nova, Israeli-American hedge fund billionaire Noam Gottesman's TOMS Capital, former Warner Music digital chief Alex Zubillaga, and Kemado Records' co-founder Andres Santo Domingo. The investment agreements were pulled together by media investment banker Aryeh Bourkoff and Ori Winitze of LionTree.[18]
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records signed a distribution deal to distribute all of 300's content in November 2013.
+1 Records
In 2014, 300 announced that +1 Records had become an official partner label of the company.[19]
YSL Records
In November 2016, Young Thug started YSL (Young Stoner Life) Records as an imprint under 300 Entertainment.[20] Artists who have been signed to the imprint include Gunna, Lil Keed and Yung Kayo.[21]
Unauthorized Entertainment
In February 2017, the label's Senior Vice President of A&R, Selim Bouab, launched the label Unauthorized Entertainment under 300.[22]
Murder Inc. Records
In June 2017, it was announced that 300 Entertainment had partnered with Murder Inc. Records.[23]
Undercover Prodigy
In September 2017, Hopsin did an interview with HardKnocktv stating that he had signed with 300. His single "The Purge" was released through 300 Entertainment and Undercover Prodigy.[24] On November 24, 2017, Hopsin Released his album No Shame and debuted at 42 on the Billboard 200. Both Kevin Liles and Hopsin has referred to the deal as a partnership for 300 and Undercover Prodigy.
Producers
Some of 300 Entertainment signed producers include Chason Samuel, Metro Boomin, Young Thug, PinkPantheress, and others.
Artists
External links
References
- Confirmed: Warner paid $400m in cash to acquire 300 Entertainment 18 December 2021^
- 300 Entertainment - About 300 Entertainment, retrieved 1 November 2017^
- Warner buys 300 Entertainment for around $400m 16 December 2021^
- WMG 300 Elektra Entertainment – 3EE – Arrives, Led by Chairman & CEO Kevin Liles WMG Official Website, retrieved 2022-06-23^
- Warner Music Group VarietyUS, retrieved 2022-06-23^
- Yinka Adegoke. Lyor Cohen Unveils 300, New 'Content Company' with Atlantic Deal, Google Backing and Ex-Warner Brass (From the Magazine) Billboard, November 2013, retrieved 1 November 2017^
- Gail Mitchell. Lyor Cohen's 300 Entertainment Signs Eric Bellinger (Exclusive) Billboard, 24 March 2014, retrieved 29 August 2016^
- DJ Drama Confirms That Young Thug Is Signed to Lyor Cohen's "300" Label Complex, April 2014, retrieved 29 August 2016^
- Emmanuel C.M. 300 Entertainment Partners with Migos And Quality Control Music XXL, 17 June 2014, retrieved 29 August 2016^
- Danielle Harling. Young Thug, Migos Sign With Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles & Todd Moscowitz's 300 Label HipHopDX, 18 June 2014, retrieved 29 August 2016^
- Lyor Cohen at Stanford University: Music, Technology and Finding The Next Big Artist IDA Stanford, 3 May 2015, retrieved 18 May 2016^
- Gold & Platinum - Record Industry Association of America Record Industry Association of America, retrieved 1 November 2017^
- Jewly Hight. At 19, Bailey Bryan Is Ready To 'Own It' NPR.org, 23 June 2017, retrieved 1 August 2019^
- Jessica Nicholson. Warner Music Nashville, 300 Entertainment Jointly Sign Bailey Bryan MusicRow - Nashville's Music Industry Publication - News, Songs From Music City, 30 September 2016, retrieved 1 November 2017^
- Brendan Klinkenberg. Lyor Cohen Leaves 300 Entertainment To Join YouTube Complex, retrieved 1 November 2017^
- Dan Rys. Kevin Liles Talks the Past, Present and Future of 300 Entertainment: Exclusive Billboard, 6 April 2017, retrieved 1 November 2017^
- Jay-Z gets political with new album MSNBC, retrieved 1 November 2017^
- Yinka Adegoke. Distribution deal with Atlantic, as well as bringing up acts like Jordan Adentunji & the nonchalant musician and prolific blogger TrÂPhone to clean up the mess and fire backlash they had to get from locals in Washington State about a rap group falsifying the label as their parent company on Seattle Times from Michael Rietmulder in the summer of 2021 with Lil’Ripp known as Lewie from the hip hop collective MKF from Tacoma, WA the Hilltop Neighborhood. Billboard, 1 November 2013^
- Colin Stutz. Exclusive: +1 Records Becomes Official Label Partner of Lyor Cohen's 300 Entertainment Billboard, 5 November 2014, retrieved 4 January 2017^
- Young Thug Launches YSL Records - XXL XXL Mag, 16 November 2016, retrieved 9 January 2017^
- YSL Records Wiki, Artists, History, Releases RapIntel, 2019-03-21, retrieved 2020-04-24^
- 300 Entertainment promotes Selim Bouab to SVP, A&R - Music Business Worldwide Music Business Worldwide, 6 February 2017, retrieved 7 December 2017^
- Adelle Platon. How Irv Gotti Brought Murder Inc. to 300 Entertainment Billboard, 20 June 2017, retrieved 21 June 2017^
- hardknocktv. Hopsin talks 300 Deal, Keys to Success, Token, Funk Volume, Says You Can't Just Rap 2017-10-04, retrieved 2017-10-08^
- LAW 3: Now or Never by Shy Glizzy on Apple Music iTunes Store, 2 December 2014, retrieved 2017-07-11^
- Young Jefe 2 by Shy Glizzy on Apple Music iTunes Store, 15 July 2016, retrieved 2017-07-11^
- The World Is Yours by Jefe on Apple Music iTunes Store, 6 January 2017, retrieved 2017-07-11^
- Devin Leonard. The Guy Who Signed Slick Rick and Jay Z Is Still Killing It Bloomberg Businessweek, October 27, 2015, retrieved 29 August 2016^
- Laura Mahot. Exclusive Track Premiere: 'Don't You Cry For Me,' Cobi Interview, 3 May 2016, retrieved 29 August 2016^
- MEG MAC SIGNS TO 300 ENTERTAINMENT Mucho Bravado, 2015-02-25, retrieved 2020-02-26^
- 100 by The Hunna on Apple Music iTunes Store, 26 August 2016, retrieved 2017-07-11^
- Kat Bein. Cheat Codes Joins Young Thug, Fetty Wap on 300 Entertainment Roster Billboard, 28 September 2016, retrieved 9 June 2017^
- Lindsey India. Tee Grizzley and Lil Durk Releasse 'Bloodas' Mixtape - XXL XXL Mag, 8 December 2017, retrieved 9 December 2017^
- Chuck Dauphin. Bailey Bryan Premieres Breakup-Inspired 'Hard Drive Home,' Talks Mentor Hillary Scott Billboard, 14 April 2017, retrieved 24 April 2017^
- OMB Peezy Signs To 300 Entertainment – Fashionably-Early Fashionably-Early, 24 April 2017, retrieved 18 May 2017^
- Jennifer Machin. Agnez Mo Signs With 300 Entertainment Billboard, 25 April 2018, retrieved 25 April 2018^
- Lil Keed Shares Debut Album 'Long Live Mexico' On 300 Entertainment RESPECT., 2019-06-14, retrieved 2019-06-16^
- Tony M. Centeno. Megan Thee Stallion Signs to 300 Entertainment XXL XXL Mag, 27 November 2018, retrieved 7 December 2018^
- Megan Thee Stallion & Phony Ppl Link Up For "Fkn Around" Single Maven, retrieved 2020-02-26^
- NOVA MILLER 21:12 Entertainment Group, retrieved 2020-02-26^
- The Break Presents: $not 30 October 2019^
- With Billie Eilish and 'Euphoria' co-signs, rapper $not is a Gen Z star in making Los Angeles Times, 19 August 2019^
- Beautiful Havoc by $NOT Apple Music, 30 October 2020, retrieved 26 September 2021^
- Ethereal by $NOT Apple Music, 11 February 2022^
- 300 Entertainment welcomes Waterparks September 25, 2020, retrieved September 25, 2020^
- ☁️ @Waterparks new single #SnowGlobe is available now Instagram^
- Mary J. Blige Announces New Album 'Good Morning Gorgeous'^
- Tess Growney. Quarters of Change Search for Light SPIN, February 15, 2024^
- Chris Eggertsen. ‘KEHLANI’ Singer Jordan Adetunji Signs With 300 Entertainment & Warner Records UK Billboard, 2024-06-26, retrieved 2025-04-25^
- Jordan Adetunji announces new mixtape, A Jaguar's Dream The Line of Best Fit, retrieved 2025-04-25^
- Ariana White. AmiiFy releases debut EP under Atlantic Records/300 Entertainment Atlantic Records, March 6, 2026^
- Blue Devil 2 by Lil Duke Genius, retrieved 2026-03-22^
- whiterosemoxie Lives Like a Desert Nomad in “flavors” Video Audible Treats, 15 March 2023, retrieved 21 December 2025^