Warner Music Australia

Warner Music Australia is the Australian division of Warner Music Group and a recorded-music company serving Australia and, through its broader Australasian operations, New Zealand. Its activities include the local marketing, promotion, sales and distribution of recordings issued through Warner-associated labels, as well as the development and release of music by Australian and New Zealand artists. The business is part of the Warner label family, whose principal imprints have included Warner Bros. Records, Elektra Records and Atlantic Records. The Australian operation was established in 1970 during the international development of WEA, the distribution and marketing organization created around those three labels. Paul Turner began the Australian business in July 1970 with a five-person staff, and its formal launch took place at Sydney's Menzies Hotel on 1 October that year. The company initially operated from Riley Street in Darlinghurst. During its first two years, distribution was handled by the Australian Record Company, now associated with Sony Music, while the Australian unit developed its own commercial infrastructure. In 1972, after changes to United States antitrust rules, the WEA name was adopted for the combined Warner, Elektra and Atlantic operation. WEA Australia subsequently built its own sales and distribution arm. The business became an important channel for international repertoire in the Australian market, including releases by Fleetwood Mac, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and The Doors. The company adopted the Warner Music Australia name in 1990 and reorganized its local label operations into WEA and East-West Records. This period brought greater emphasis to domestic signings and local repertoire. Australian acts associated with the business included INXS, Cold Chisel, 1927 and Jenny Morris. In the 1990s, Warner also invested in Brisbane artists and bands, including Regurgitator and Pretty Violet Stain. Regurgitator became the company's first direct signing and remained with Warner until 2004. Warner Music Australia's local and regional activity continued in the 2000s through signings, investments and label relationships. Sire Records, a Warner-associated label, invested in the Brisbane duo the Veronicas in 2005; their debut single and album became major early successes. That same year, Warner Music Australia acquired Festival-Mushroom Records, closed the acquired label as an operating business and retained the Mushroom name for selected acts, including Eskimo Joe and Gabriella Cilmi. The company has also worked with artists such as Kerser, Lisa Mitchell, Kylie Minogue, Evermore and Dead Letter Circus, and invested in producers including ShockOne and Matt Lange. In addition to recorded music, the wider Warner Music Australasia operation has been connected with video and DVD publishing through Warner Vision Australia and Warner Music Vision Australia. These activities included releases involving official Olympic Games films and Australian television compilations. Warner Music Australia's present role is best understood as a local Warner Music Group operating company: it brings international repertoire to the Australian and New Zealand markets while signing, developing, marketing and distributing regional artists and music.

Warner Music Australia's origins lie in the international expansion of WEA, the organization associated with Warner Bros. Records, Elektra Records and Atlantic Records. After Warner Bros. Records separated from its earlier corporate structure in 1969, the WEA model was developed internationally. The Australian operation began in July 1970 under Paul Turner, initially employing five people. Its formal public launch was held at the Menzies Hotel in Sydney on 1 October 1970, and the business was initially based in Riley Street, Darlinghurst. For its first two years, the Australian operation relied on the Australian Record Company for distribution. In 1971, Warner Bros. Records worldwide temporarily used the Kinney Music name, reflecting legal restrictions in the United States that prevented the three principal labels from trading together under a single umbrella. Following changes to those restrictions, the WEA name was adopted on 1 October 1972. WEA Australia then established its own sales and distribution function and became a significant participant in the Australian recording market. The company's international repertoire gave it access to releases by artists including Fleetwood Mac, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and The Doors. In 1990, the Australian business was renamed Warner Music Australia and divided its label activity between WEA and East-West Records. The reorganization coincided with a stronger focus on domestic repertoire. Local successes and signings associated with the company included INXS, Cold Chisel, 1927 and Jenny Morris. During the 1990s, Warner Music Australia expanded its engagement with Brisbane's independent and alternative music community. It invested in Regurgitator and Pretty Violet Stain; Regurgitator became the company's first direct signing and stayed with Warner until 2004. In 2005, Sire Records invested in the Veronicas. Their debut single reached number two, and their debut album, The Secret Life of the Veronicas, became an important release for the act. Also in 2005, Warner Music Australia acquired Festival-Mushroom Records. The acquired label was closed, although Warner retained the Mushroom name for selected artists, including Eskimo Joe and Gabriella Cilmi. Subsequent activity referenced in the company's historical account includes work with Kerser, Lisa Mitchell, Kylie Minogue, Evermore and Dead Letter Circus, along with investment in producers such as ShockOne and Matt Lange. The business has also had a video and home-entertainment dimension. Warner Vision Australia and Warner Music Vision Australia issued Olympic Games film collections and Australian television compilations, including programs connected with the Nine Network. These releases complemented the company's central recorded-music role. Today, Warner Music Australia operates as Warner Music Group's Australian market business and also covers distribution in New Zealand, combining local repertoire development with the release and promotion of Warner-associated international catalogues.

• 2005

  Festival-Mushroom Records acquired

  [1]Warner Music Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Warner Music Australia bought Festival-Mushroom Records, closed the label and retained the Mushroom name for selected acts.

• 2004

  Regurgitator's Warner tenure ends

  [1]Warner Music Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Regurgitator, described as Warner Music Australia's first direct signing, remained with the company until 2004.

• 1990

  Renamed Warner Music Australia

  [1]Warner Music Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  The Australian company adopted the Warner Music Australia name and was organized into WEA and East-West Records divisions.

• 1972

  WEA Australia establishes its own distribution arm

  [1]Warner Music Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  After the WEA name was adopted, the Australian business developed its own sales and distribution operation.

• 1970

  Australian operation begins

  [1]Warner Music Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Paul Turner started the Australian operation in July with five staff members; the formal launch followed in Sydney on 1 October.

• 1969

  WEA international structure begins to develop

  [1]Warner Music Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Following the separation of Warner Bros. Records from its earlier structure, the international WEA organization was developed around Warner Bros., Elektra and Atlantic.

A major-label operating company combining Warner Music Group's international repertoire and label infrastructure with local artist signing, marketing and distribution in Australia and New Zealand.

• Recorded music label

  Warner Bros. Records releases

  A core component of the Warner-associated repertoire distributed and marketed in Australia. The Australian operation handled releases from the Warner Bros. Records tradition alongside the other principal WEA labels, bringing international artists and catalog material to the local market.

• Recorded music label

  Elektra Records releases

  Elektra was one of the three foundational labels represented through the WEA structure in Australia. Its recordings formed part of the international repertoire marketed and distributed by the Australian operation.

• Recorded music label

  Atlantic Records releases

  Atlantic Records was another principal label within the WEA framework. Warner Music Australia's historical role included distributing and promoting Atlantic repertoire for Australian audiences.

• Local repertoire

  Australian and New Zealand artist recordings

  Warner Music Australia has signed, developed, marketed or invested in regional artists and producers. The historical account names acts including INXS, Cold Chisel, 1927, Jenny Morris, Regurgitator, the Veronicas, Eskimo Joe, Gabriella Cilmi, Lisa Mitchell and Dead Letter Circus.

• Music video and DVD

  Warner Vision and Warner Music Vision releases

  The associated video businesses issued home-entertainment products, including a multi-volume collection of official Olympic Games films and Australian television compilations made with or relating to the Nine Network.

• 2005

  Acquired Festival-Mushroom RecordsM&A

  Background

  Warner Music Australia expanded its local catalog and label interests through the acquisition of Festival-Mushroom Records.

  Action taken

  The company acquired the label, then closed it while retaining use of the Mushroom name for selected artists.

  Aftermath

  The Mushroom name continued to be used for acts such as Eskimo Joe and Gabriella Cilmi.

  Source

• 1990

  Adopted the Warner Music Australia name and emphasized domestic signingsStrategy

  Background

  The Australian WEA business was renamed and reorganized at a time when greater attention was being placed on developing local repertoire.

  Action taken

  Operations were divided between WEA and East-West Records, with increased focus on Australian artists and releases.

  Aftermath

  The company associated this period with successful local acts including INXS, Cold Chisel, 1927 and Jenny Morris.

  Source

• 2005

  Warner Music Australia acquires Festival-Mushroom Records[1]Warner Music Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Warner Music Australia acquired Festival-Mushroom Records, subsequently closing the label while retaining the Mushroom name for selected artists.

• 2005

  The Veronicas achieve an early Warner-associated breakthrough[1]Warner Music Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  Following investment by Sire Records, the Veronicas reached number two with their debut single and released the album The Secret Life of the Veronicas.

1. 1Warner Music Australiaen.wikipedia.org