Republic Records

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 Records Group, and was renamed Universal Republic Records after a reorganization in 2006 before going back to its original name in 2012.^[2][3][4]

Republic Records
Logo in use since November 2012^[1]
Parent company	Universal Music Group
Founded	1995; 28 years ago (1995) (original) 2012; 11 years ago (2012) (relaunch)
Founder	Monte Lipman Avery Lipman
Defunct	2006; 17 years ago (2006) (original)
Distributor(s)	Universal Music Group (International) Island/EMI (UK) Island Def Jam (France) Universal Music Enterprises (reissues)
Genre	Various
Country of origin	United States
Location	New York City, New York, U.S.
Official website	republicrecords.com

History

Foundation and Universal Records: 1994–2005

According to Avery Lipman, he and his brother Monte conceived the idea for Republic Records at their apartment in New York. Lipman stated that both had previously been employed by record companies and were in between jobs at the time. They began putting records out as a hobby, the first of which was the Bloodhound Gang's Dingleberry Haze.^[5] Republic Records was formed in 1995 as a subsidiary of MCA's Geffen Records, but soon after its foundation, the distribution changed to the newly established 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 Variety's Hitmaker Label of the Year.^[20] In 2018, Taylor Swift signed to Republic Records after releasing her music through the Republic imprint, Big Machine Records, for a majority of her career.^[21] In December of that year, Republic partnered with Sony Pictures on the release of the 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 Billboard^[25] and Variety.^[26] It has been Billboard's label of the year for 4 of the last 5 years^[25] and Variety's for each of the last three.^[26] Republic was also named Billboard's 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]

Republic Records became the first label to partner with DistroKid, allowing it to mine data from the company looking for new artists. The initiative began in 2021 and allowed DistroKid to receive a finder's fee for any new artist signed to the label.^[30] In January 2021, the label had five of the top seven albums on the Billboard 200 chart, including the top three spots with Morgan Wallen's Dangerous: The Double Album, Taylor Swift's 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.^[31] 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.^[32] In March 2021, Taylor Swift became the first Republic artist to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for her album, Folklore.^[33] On November 24, 2021, Jim Roppo and Wendy Goldstein were named co-presidents of Republic Records.^[34]

In July 2022, Universal Music Group formally launched and expanded the Republic Records imprint in international markets. The label made its launch in the Philippines via its local subsidiary UMG Philippines, with domestic artists Darren Espanto, Elha Nympha and Zack Tabudlo among other artists who were signed to the label.^[35]

Releases

 

The Republic Records logo from
1994 to 2006

Republic Records released the Bloodhound Gang's 1994 EP, Dingleberry Haze,^[36] 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.^[37] Jay Sean's debut single, "Down", sold six million copies in the United States^[38] and received a large airplay on radio worldwide.^[39][40] Sean's follow-up single, "Do You Remember", sold over one million copies.^[41]

American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift recorded with Nashville-based Big Machine Records. Swift is a quadruple-platinum artist with 11 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.^[42][43] Jack Johnson has received a number of gold and platinum certifications.^[44] Damian Marley's debut album was certified gold and sold one million copies worldwide.^[45]

Other prominent Republic releases in recent years have come from acts like Ariana Grande (2013's Yours Truly, 2014's My Everything, 2016's Dangerous Woman, 2018's Sweetener, 2019's Thank U, Next, and 2020's Positions);^[46] the Jonas Brothers (2019's Happiness Begins); Taylor Swift (2019's Lover, 2020's Folklore and Evermore, 2021's Fearless (Taylor's Version) and Red (Taylor's Version), and 2022's Midnights); The Weeknd (2013's Kiss Land, 2015's Beauty Behind the Madness, 2016's Starboy, 2020s After Hours, and 2022's Dawn FM);^[47] Florence and the Machine (2015's How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful and 2018's High as Hope);^[48][49] Lorde (2013's Pure Heroine, 2017's Melodrama, and 2021's Solar Power);^[50][51] James Blake (2019's Assume Form);^[52] Pearl Jam (2020's Gigaton); Poppy (2022's Stagger) and Kim Petras (2019's Clarity and Turn Off the Light).^[53]

Artists

Main article: List of Republic Records artists

As of 2022, the current Republic Records roster includes Amanda Reifer, Ariana Grande, BoyWithUke, Drake, Benee, James Bay, James Blake, Kid Cudi, Florence + the Machine, Seth MacFarlane, John Mellencamp, Julia Michaels, Post Malone, Of Monsters and Men, Hailee Steinfeld, Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, Twice, Stevie Wonder, Conan Gray, Peach PRC, Kim Petras ,FLO and Any Gabrielly.^[54]

Associated labels and imprints

• 21 Entertainment
• American Recordings
• Anti (digital distribution)
• Uptown Records
• Aware Records
• Beauty Marks Entertainment
• Big Hit Music (distribution for TXT releases)
• Boominati Worldwide
• Brushfire Records
• Casablanca Records
• Cash Money Records
• Electric Feel Records
• Galactic Records
• Federal Films
• The Heavy Group
• Hikari-Ultra
• Imperial Music
• Lava Records
• JYP Entertainment (For North American releases)
• Mercury Records
• Monkeywrench Records
• Real World Records (North America only)
• Republic Kids
• Republic Nashville ^[55]
• School Boy Records
• Victor Victor Worldwide
• Taylor Swift (eponymous personal label for digital releases)
• Wicked Awesome Records
• XO
• Young Money Entertainment

References

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2. "Universal Signs New Agreement With Republic's Monte and Avery Lipman". The Hollywood Reporter. from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
3. Taylor, Chuck (January 15, 2000). "Lipman to head up Universal Records". Billboard. p. 12. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
4. Mitchell, Gayle (February 10, 2007). "Stop in the Name of Shiny Toy Guns". Billboard. p. 72. from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
5. . HitQuarters. August 7, 2006. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
6. Rosen, Craig (January 17, 1998). "Lipmans' Republic Label Signs With Universal For Distribution". Billboard. from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
7. Taylor, Chuck (January 15, 2000). "Lipman To Head Up Universal Records". Billboard. from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
8. Oppelaar, Justin (January 7, 2011). "UMG labels Lipman as Republic prexy". Billboard. from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
9. "Universal Music Label to Be Split Into Two". Los Angeles Times. February 24, 2006. from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
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16. Halperin, Shirley (June 17, 2017). "'Fifty Shades' Franchise Veteran Dana Sano to Head Film and Television at Republic Records (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
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21. Lake, Schatz (November 19, 2018). "Taylor Swift signs to Republic Records". Consequence of Sound. from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
22. Strauss, Matthew (December 10, 2018). "Vince Staples, Nicki, Lil Wayne, More on New Spider-Man Soundtrack". Pitchfork. from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
23. Anderson, Trevor (September 11, 2019). "Post Malone & Swae Lee's 'Sunflower' Breaks Top 10 Record on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart". Billboard. from the original on April 24, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
24. Young, Alex (February 28, 2019). "The Jonas Brothers announce reunion, new single "Sucker" arrives tomorrow". Consequence of Sound. from the original on September 4, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
25. "Billboard Honors Republic Records as 2019 Label of the Year". Billboard. January 20, 2020. from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
26. "Billie Eilish Named Variety's Hitmaker of the Year; Will Be Honored at 3rd Annual Brunch". Variety. November 19, 2019. from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
27. Rys, Dan (December 19, 2019). "The Singles and Stars That Made Republic 2019's Top Hot 100 Label". Billboard. from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
28. "JYP Entertainment & Republic Records Enter Strategic Partnership For Girl Group Twice: Exclusive". Billboard. February 24, 2020. from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
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30. Stassen, Murray (January 28, 2021). "DistroKid launches 'matchmaking service' to help labels find unsigned artists; Republic Records named first partner". Music Business Worldwide. from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
31. Caulfield, Keith (January 20, 2021). "Republic Records Marks Milestone Week on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
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33. "Taylor Swift". GRAMMY.com. April 22, 2021. from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
34. Rys, Dan (November 24, 2021). "Republic Records Names Wendy Goldstein, Jim Roppo Co-Presidents". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
35. Abanes, Mariel (July 9, 2022). "Republic Records launches in the Philippines with Zack Tabudlo, Darren Espanto and more artists on roster". NME. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
36. "Bloodhound Gang - Dingleberry Haze". Discogs.com. from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
37. "RIAA – Gold & Platinum – September 4, 2010: Kevin Rudolf certified singles". Recording Industry Association of America. from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
38. . Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on August 13, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
39. 4Music 360 SESSION I Jay Sean interview in Miami I Part 1/3 on YouTube
40. Pietroluongo, Silvio (October 7, 2009), "Jay Sean Sends Peas Packing From Hot 100 Penthouse", Billboard, from the original on July 1, 2013, retrieved November 1, 2009
41. Alan Jones (February 5, 2010). "Lady Antebellum top US chart". Music Week. from the original on February 7, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
42. "Taylor Swift Hints at New Project on Social Media". Billboard. April 15, 2019. from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
43. "Taylor-made '80s sounds". New Straits Times. December 30, 2014. from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
44. "Jack Johnson". Recording Industry Association of America. from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
45. Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley's Welcome To Jamrock Certified Gold by RIAA; Project Also Nominated for Two Grammy Awards May 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. World Music Central.org (February 4, 2006).
46. Peters, Mitchell (August 10, 2019). "Ariana Grande Thanks Republic Records on Eighth Anniversary of Label Signing: 'Thank U For Believing in Me'". Billboard. from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
47. Smith, Da'Shan (February 16, 2019). "XO And Beyond: How The Weeknd Forged His Own R&B Empire". uDiscoverMusic. from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
48. Carley, Brennan (February 12, 2015). "Florence + the Machine Announce Third Album, 'How Big How Blue How Beautiful'". Spin. from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
49. Reed, Ryan (May 3, 2018). "Florence and the Machine Preview New LP With Soulful 'Hunger'". Rolling Stone. from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
50. Hunt, El (February 16, 2017). "IS THE NEW LORDE ALBUM IMMINENT?!". DIY Magazine. from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
51. Phillips, Amy (March 2, 2017). "Lorde Announces New Album Melodrama". Pitchfork. from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
52. Cook-Wilson, Winston (January 10, 2019). "James Blake Announces Release Date and Confirms Tracklist for New Album Assume Form". Spin. from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
53. Uitti, Jake (April 2, 2020). "Gigaton". Under the Radar Magazine. from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
54. "Artists".
55. "LISTEN: Shania Twain Drops 'Waking up Dreaming' with New Record Label".

External links

• Official website
• Republic Records discography at Discogs