Rhino Entertainment

Rhino Entertainment is an American specialty record company and entertainment business whose central role is the preservation, presentation, and commercial exploitation of recorded-music catalogs. Founded as a label in 1978 by Richard Foos and Harold Bronson, Rhino developed out of a Los Angeles record-store operation that Foos had started in 1973. The company initially released novelty records and unusual archival material, but gradually built a distinctive identity around carefully selected compilations, reissues, retrospective collections, and historically important recordings. During the 1970s and 1980s, Rhino issued compilations covering pop, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, comedy, and novelty music. Its repertoire included retrospectives associated with performers such as Richard Pryor, Stan Freberg, Tom Lehrer, and Spike Jones. One important early catalog expansion came from Rhino's acquisition of rights to the White Whale Records catalog, which included recordings by the Turtles. As the company grew, most of its activity shifted toward licensed reissues rather than newly recorded artist albums. Rhino's reputation was built on the quality of its archival work. Original master tapes were remastered where available, with Bill Inglot playing an important role in the label's mastering program. Rhino also invested in detailed liner notes, attractive packaging, and historically informed sequencing. The company entered the compact-disc market early, releasing oldies and retrospective collections during the first major expansion of CD adoption. Series such as Billboard-oriented hit compilations and other thematic anthologies helped make Rhino a prominent label for collectors and listeners seeking upgraded editions of older recordings. The company expanded beyond audio during the late 1980s and 1990s. Its home-video business issued VHS, DVD, and later Blu-ray editions of television programs and music-related material, including titles connected with The Monkees, The Lone Ranger, The Transformers, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and Ed Sullivan's Rock 'n' Roll Classics. Rhino also participated in soundtrack and film-library releases. Its recorded-music catalog eventually encompassed or represented material associated with artists including the Monkees, the Ramones, the Grateful Dead, the Beach Boys, Yes, the Doobie Brothers, the Cars, Chicago, the Doors, War, and the Bee Gees, among many others. Rhino did release new artist recordings through its main label and imprints such as RNA and Forward. Artists associated with this activity included Cindy Lee Berryhill, Steve Wynn, Rank and File, Gene Clark and Carla Olson, the Textones, and NRBQ. These releases often earned critical respect but generally did not match the commercial reliability of the reissue business. A notable exception was Billy Vera and the Beaters' "At This Moment," whose renewed exposure through the television series Family Ties helped it reach the top of the United States charts in 1986. Rhino's corporate structure changed significantly through distribution and ownership agreements. It entered a six-year distribution arrangement with Capitol Records in 1985, participated with Capitol's parent EMI in acquiring parts of the Roulette Records catalog in 1989, and moved to an Atlantic Records distribution relationship in 1992. That year, Time Warner acquired a 50 percent interest, followed by full ownership in 1998. Time Warner later separated its music operations, and Rhino became part of the newly established Warner Music Group in 2004. In 2013, Warner Music's acquisition of certain divested EMI assets added further catalog rights, including worldwide rights associated with Roulette, to the assets managed by Rhino. Rhino Handmade, launched in 1999, extended the brand's collector-oriented approach through website-based limited editions. These releases were generally capped at approximately 3,000 copies or fewer and were not intended for routine repressing after…

Rhino began as a Los Angeles record store founded by Richard Foos on Westwood Boulevard in 1973. Harold Bronson, who managed the store, became an important partner as the business moved into record distribution and label operations. The label was formally established in 1978. Its earliest releases emphasized novelty records and unusual material, including Wild Man Fischer's "Go to Rhino Records." Because such material was difficult to promote through conventional radio and distribution channels, Rhino broadened its focus toward compilations and reissues. The company established its long-term identity during the 1980s by licensing older catalogs and presenting them in carefully researched, high-quality editions. The acquisition of rights connected with the White Whale catalog, including recordings by the Turtles, was an important early step. Rhino's staff worked to locate original tapes, improve the sound through remastering, and provide detailed historical context through packaging and liner notes. Bill Inglot became closely associated with this archival and mastering approach. Rhino also entered the compact-disc market early, issuing oldies collections and retrospective series as the format expanded. Alongside the reissue business, Rhino operated a smaller new-artist program. Gary Stewart's A&R work brought artists including Cindy Lee Berryhill, Steve Wynn, Rank and File, Gene Clark and Carla Olson, the Textones, and NRBQ to the label or its associated imprints. These projects were often more influential critically than commercially. The strongest mainstream breakthrough connected with the label came when Billy Vera and the Beaters' older recording "At This Moment" was featured on Family Ties and became a chart-topping United States hit in 1986. Rhino expanded into home video in the late 1980s and 1990s, initially through VHS and later through DVD and Blu-ray. Its releases included television properties such as The Monkees, The Lone Ranger, The Transformers, and Mystery Science Theater 3000, as well as music-performance and entertainment programs. The company also participated in soundtrack releases and projects involving film and television libraries controlled by Time Warner and related entities. A planned film venture, Rhino Films, emerged from a 1986 arrangement with New World Pictures, although the reference material does not establish a substantial film-production history beyond that initiative. Distribution and ownership agreements reshaped Rhino's business. In 1985 it signed a six-year distribution deal with Capitol Records. In 1989 Rhino and Capitol's parent company EMI jointly acquired parts of Roulette Records, with Rhino receiving U.S. rights to the non-jazz catalog. After its Capitol arrangement ended, Rhino signed with Atlantic Records in 1992, the same year Time Warner acquired half of the company. Time Warner purchased the remaining interest in 1998. The transaction did not permanently include the Rhino retail store, which returned to Foos and eventually closed in 2005. Rhino Handmade was introduced in 1999 as a direct-sales line of small-run archival editions. The division reinforced the company's reputation among collectors by offering expanded packages in quantities generally limited to about 3,000 copies or fewer, with no routine repressing after sellout. In 2003, co-founders Foos and Bronson left following Time Warner's complete acquisition and subsequent reorganization of the label. Foos later helped establish Shout! Factory, another company associated with archival music and home-video releases. In 2004, Rhino entered its current corporate phase when Time Warner separated its music operations and Rhino became part of Warner Music Group. The company continued managing Warner-related catalogs and producing compilations for both historical and active artists. Rhino Records U.K. was formed in 2006 after the dissolution of Warner Strategic Marketing's U.K. operation. In 2013, Warner Music acquired selected EMI assets divested as part of Universal Music Group's EMI transaction, including worldwide Roulette rights; these assets were subsequently managed by Rhino. The company now operates principally as Warner Music Group's catalog division, with activities centered on reissues, remasters, box sets, compilations, soundtrack albums, limited editions, and related archival production.

• 2013

  Additional EMI assets enter Rhino management

  [1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Warner Music's acquisition of selected divested EMI assets adds catalog rights, including worldwide Roulette rights, to Rhino's management portfolio.

• 2006

  Rhino Records U.K. is formed

  [1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Rhino Records U.K. replaces Warner Strategic Marketing's U.K. operation and handles compilations and catalog releases.

• 2005

  Rhino retail store closes

  [1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The original Rhino Records retail store, which had reverted to Richard Foos after the corporate transactions, closes.

• 2004

  Rhino joins Warner Music Group

  [1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Rhino becomes part of Warner Music Group after Time Warner separates its music operations.

• 1999

  Rhino Handmade launches

  [1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The company introduces a website-based line of limited-edition archival releases.

• 1998

  Time Warner takes full ownership

  [1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Time Warner purchases the remaining interest in Rhino, making it a wholly owned unit.

• 1992

  Atlantic distribution and Time Warner investment

  [1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  After the Capitol relationship ends, Rhino moves to Atlantic distribution, while Time Warner acquires a 50 percent stake.

• 1989

  Roulette catalog transaction

  [1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Rhino and EMI jointly acquire parts of the Roulette Records catalog, with Rhino receiving specified U.S. non-jazz rights.

• 1985

  Capitol distribution agreement

  [1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Rhino signs a six-year distribution agreement with Capitol Records.

• 1984

  Early expansion into compact discs

  [1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Rhino releases numerous oldies compact discs as the CD format begins reshaping the catalog-recording market.

Showing the 10 most recent.

A curator-led catalog and reissue label emphasizing archival preservation, remastering, historically useful documentation, distinctive packaging, and collector-focused editions.

• Recorded music · 1978

  Archival reissues and remasters

  Rhino's core product is the researched reissue of previously released recordings. Projects commonly use original master tapes where available, apply new or improved mastering, and add historical notes, artwork, session information, or expanded track lists. The catalog spans pop, rock, rhythm and blues, novelty music, comedy, soundtrack material, and recordings controlled by Warner or partner companies.

• Compilation albums · 1978

  Thematic compilation albums

  Rhino has issued broad and specialized anthologies organized around periods, genres, chart performance, scenes, artists, and cultural themes. Billboard-related hit series and oldies collections helped establish the label's reputation for accessible catalog programming while introducing listeners to recordings from earlier decades.

• Limited-edition catalog releases · 1999

  Rhino Handmade

  Rhino Handmade is a collector-oriented line launched in 1999. Its releases were primarily sold through Rhino's website, generally produced in quantities of approximately 3,000 copies or fewer, and designed as expanded or specialized editions. The line's no-repress approach emphasized scarcity and appealed to dedicated catalog collectors.

• Hip-hop and electro compilation series · 1992

  Street Jams

  Street Jams was a Rhino compilation series issued from 1992 to 1994. It documented influential old-school hip-hop and electro 12-inch singles from the early and mid-1980s, combining better-known early recordings by artists such as Run-DMC and Slick Rick with tracks by acts that had become less prominent but were important to the period's scene.

• Home entertainment · 1986

  Home-video catalog

  Rhino expanded into VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray releases of television, music-performance, and entertainment properties. Examples associated with the business include The Monkees, The Lone Ranger, The Transformers, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and Ed Sullivan's Rock 'n' Roll Classics collection.

• Film and television music

  Soundtrack albums

  The company has issued or managed soundtrack projects connected with Warner and Turner-controlled film libraries, as well as selected contemporary productions. The cited catalog includes releases associated with films such as Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, Doctor Zhivago, Superman, and Finian's Rainbow.

• 1999Rhino Handmade

  United States · Online international audience

  Rhino created a direct-to-consumer program for highly limited archival editions, using small print runs and website sales to serve collectors.

  Outcome. The initiative strengthened Rhino's collector-focused identity, although the reference material does not report financial or audience metrics.

  Source
• 1992Street Jams

  United States

  Rhino issued the Street Jams series to document early- and mid-1980s old-school hip-hop and electro 12-inch singles, including both influential one-off recordings and early work by artists who later became more prominent.

  Outcome. The series preserved and reintroduced material from an important period in hip-hop and electro history; the reference material does not provide sales or campaign-performance figures.

  Source

• 2013

  Rhino assumes management of additional Warner-acquired EMI assetsM&A

  Background

  Universal Music Group's acquisition of EMI required certain assets to be divested, enabling Warner Music Group to expand its catalog holdings.

  Action taken

  Warner Music acquired selected EMI assets, including worldwide Roulette rights, which were placed under Rhino's management.

  Aftermath

  Rhino's role as a manager of historically significant catalogs broadened.

  Source

• 2006

  Rhino establishes a dedicated U.K. operationStrategy

  Background

  Warner restructured its United Kingdom marketing and catalog activities.

  Action taken

  Rhino Records U.K. was formed after Warner Strategic Marketing U.K. was dissolved, with responsibility for television-advertised compilations and Warner vault material.

  Aftermath

  The Rhino name gained a more formal operating role in the U.K. catalog and compilation market.

  Source

• 2004

  Rhino becomes part of Warner Music GroupM&A

  Background

  Time Warner separated its music divisions into a newly organized Warner Music Group.

  Action taken

  Rhino was transferred into Warner Music Group and continued as a catalog-focused label and production company.

  Aftermath

  Rhino became a central Warner catalog division, managing reissues, compilations, soundtracks, and related archival projects.

  Source

• 1999

  Rhino launches Handmade limited editionsProduct launch

  Background

  Collectors sought expanded archival packages that were not always suited to mass-market release.

  Action taken

  Rhino introduced a website-led line of limited editions, generally capped at approximately 3,000 copies or fewer.

  Aftermath

  The program reinforced Rhino's reputation for specialized archival products and collector engagement.

  Source

• 1992

  Rhino changes distribution partner and accepts Time Warner investmentStrategy

  Background

  The Capitol distribution agreement had ended, while Rhino required a larger corporate and distribution platform.

  Action taken

  Rhino signed a new distribution agreement with Atlantic Records, and Time Warner acquired a 50 percent stake.

  Aftermath

  Time Warner acquired the remaining half in 1998, making Rhino wholly owned within the group.

  Source

• 1989

  Rhino participates in the Roulette catalog acquisitionM&A

  Background

  The transaction provided access to a significant historical recording catalog during Rhino's expansion as a reissue specialist.

  Action taken

  Rhino and EMI jointly acquired parts of Roulette Records, with Rhino receiving specified U.S. rights excluding jazz.

  Aftermath

  Worldwide Roulette rights later entered Warner Music's portfolio through the 2013 acquisition of selected EMI assets and were managed by Rhino.

  Source

• 1985

  Rhino adopts a major-label distribution arrangement with CapitolStrategy

  Background

  Rhino needed broader distribution as its compilation and reissue program expanded beyond the capacity of a small independent operation.

  Action taken

  The company signed a six-year distribution agreement with Capitol Records.

  Aftermath

  The agreement ended in 1992, when Rhino moved to distribution through Atlantic Records.

  Source

• 2013

  Warner Music acquires additional EMI assets managed by Rhino[1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  Warner Music acquired selected EMI assets divested during Universal Music Group's EMI transaction, including catalog rights that were subsequently managed by Rhino.

• 2006

  Rhino Records U.K. replaces Warner Strategic Marketing's U.K. operation[1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A U.K. Rhino division was established after Warner Strategic Marketing in the United Kingdom was dissolved, with responsibilities spanning compilations and Warner catalog releases.

• 2004

  Rhino becomes part of Warner Music Group after Time Warner music separation[1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Following the separation of Time Warner's music operations, Rhino became part of the newly organized Warner Music Group.

• 1999

  Rhino launches limited-edition Handmade division[1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  Rhino introduced Rhino Handmade, a direct-to-consumer program for small-run archival and deluxe releases.

• 1998

  Time Warner completes acquisition of Rhino[1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Time Warner acquired the remaining interest in Rhino, making the label a wholly owned part of the media group.

• 1986

  Billy Vera and the Beaters' At This Moment reaches the top of the U.S. charts[1]Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Other

  Rhino's association with Billy Vera and the Beaters produced an unusual catalog success when the television series Family Ties renewed attention in the song "At This Moment," helping it reach number one in the United States.

1. 1Rhino Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org