Republic Records

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Republic Records
Logo in use since November 2012[1]
Parent companyUniversal Music Group
Founded1995; 29 years ago (1995)
FounderMonte Lipman
Avery Lipman
Distributor(s)
GenreVarious
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City, New York, U.S.
Official websiterepublicrecords.com

Republic Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). Based in New York City, it was founded by Avery Lipman and Monte Lipman as an independent label in 1995, and was acquired by UMG in 2000. Republic was initially an imprint of the Universal Motown Republic Group, and was renamed Universal Republic Records after a reorganization in 2006 before going back to its original name in 2012.[2][3][4]

History

Foundation and Universal Records: 1994–2005

According to

Universal Records.[6]

In January 2000, it was announced that the Universal Music Group acquired the Lipman brothers' Republic Records as a wholly owned subsidiary. Monte Lipman was named president of the Universal Records label,[7] while Avery Lipman became Republic's president.[8]

Universal Republic Records: 2006–2012

In 2006, corporate restructuring saw the formation of Universal Republic Records through a merger between the two labels.[9] Monte Lipman became the president and CEO of the restructured label while Avery Lipman served as co-president and COO.[10] Other changes were made at the label's parent, Universal Motown Republic Group, during the summer of 2011. Universal Motown Records was shut down, transferring its artists to the newly recreated Motown Records or Universal Republic Records. Universal Republic Records became a stand-alone label and the Universal Motown Republic Group was shut down.[11] In August 2011, the restructured Universal Republic signed Ariana Grande to a record contract.[12]

Republic Records revival: 2012–present

In October 2012, Universal Republic Records returned to the Republic Records moniker.[13] Just prior to the label's return to the Republic name, it signed Canadian artist The Weeknd through his imprint label, XO.[14] In addition to artists' albums, the label has released soundtracks with the Fox Broadcasting Company (Star),[15] NBC (The Voice), and former UMG parent Universal Pictures (Fifty Shades and Sing),[16] among numerous other partnerships, films, and television series.[17] Republic Records had songs in six of the top-10 spots on the Mediabase Top 40 Chart in 2015, tying a 2013 record.[18] Also in 2015, the label signed American rapper and singer, Post Malone.[19]

In November 2017, the company was named

soundtrack for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.[22] The soundtrack's lead single was Post Malone and Swae Lee's "Sunflower" which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and broke the record for most weeks in the top ten of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at 45.[23] Early 2019 saw the signing of a reunited Jonas Brothers, as well.[24]

Also in 2019, Republic Records was named the "Label of the Year" by both

Hot 100 Label of the Year for the sixth straight time.[27] Five Republic albums (Ariana Grande's Thank U, Next, Taylor Swift's Lover, Post Malone's Beerbongs & Bentleys, Drake's Scorpion and Post Malone's Hollywood's Bleeding) also appeared in the top 10 of the year-end Billboard 200 chart.[25]

In 2020, Republic Records partnered up with JYP Entertainment for the South Korean girl group Twice as the group's first American label and distributor. Twice will be first artist from JYP Entertainment to be powered under the alliance. Twice's signing represents a diversifying market for K-pop in the US.[28] On April 8, 2020, it was stated that the record has partnered up with the South Korean girl group (G)I-dle after the release of their third EP I Trust, marking the group's official debut in the US.[29] At the 2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards, Republic Records won "Label of the Year".[30]

At the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards, Republic Records won "Label of the Year".[31] For 2021, for the first time, Republic Records was ranked number one on Billboard's three year-end label rankings: "Top Labels", "200 Labels", and "Hot 100 Labels".[32] Billboard then featured the Lipman brothers in a December 2021 cover story on Republic Records.[33]

Republic Records became the first label to partner with

Evermore, and Pop Smoke's Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon. The Weeknd's After Hours and Ariana Grande's Positions were sixth and seventh respectively.[35] That month, Republic also had six of the top ten albums on the Rolling Stone album chart and nine of the top 20 songs on the Rolling Stone song chart.[36] In March 2021, Taylor Swift became the first Republic artist to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for her album, Folklore.[37] On November 24, 2021, Jim Roppo and Wendy Goldstein were named co-presidents of Republic Records.[38]

Since August 2021, Universal Music Group began to launch and expand the Republic Records imprint in international markets. The label made its first International debut in China via its local subsidiary UMG China on August 16, 2021.[39] The label launched in Philippines via its local subsidiary UMG Philippines in July 22, 2022, with domestic artists Darren Espanto, Elha Nympha and Zack Tabudlo among other artists who were signed to the label.[40]

In 2022, Republic Records expanded its current partnership with JYP Entertainment to include Itzy and Stray Kids.[41] Republic Records partnered up with NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan to include fripSide and Nagi Yanagi. This was later expanded to cover all of their artists, alongside worldwide distribution of artists and catalogs, A&R, marketing and business development.[42]

At the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards, Republic Records won "Label of the Year".[43] For the second year in a row, Billboard listed Republic Records as number one on its three 2022 year-end label rankings, including "Top Labels".[44][45]

In 2023, Republic Records had the longest streak for a label atop the Billboard 200 in 25 years, including Morgan Wallen's One Thing at a Time, Taylor Swift's Midnights, Nagi Yanagi's Yukiharuame, and Stray Kids' 5-STAR.[46] On December 6, 2023, Republic had the top six albums on the Billboard 200. It was the first time in 60 years the same label had released the top five albums on the chart.[47]

Releases

Old black-and-white Republic Records logo
The Republic Records logo from
1996 to 2006

Republic Records released the Bloodhound Gang's 1994 EP, Dingleberry Haze,[48] and their first LP, Use Your Fingers. Kevin Rudolf's single, "Let It Rock", was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[49] Jay Sean's debut single, "Down", sold six million copies in the United States[50] and received a large airplay on radio worldwide.[51][52] Sean's follow-up single, "Do You Remember", sold over one million copies.[53]

American singer-songwriter

Grammy Awards and over 175 million units moved worldwide as of 2014. As her contract with Big Machine ended in 2018, she signed with Republic, with her first single "ME!" with the label released on April 26, 2019.[54][55] Jack Johnson has received a number of gold and platinum certifications.[56] Damian Marley's debut album was certified gold and sold one million copies worldwide.[57]

Other prominent Republic releases in recent years have come from acts like Ariana Grande (2013's

Artists

As of 2024, the current Republic Records roster includes

Associated labels and imprints

References

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External links