Hip-Hop/rock producer
Rick Rubin has taken his American Recordings record label to back to Warner Bros.
Records. Rubin founded American in 1988, two years after he founded another
ground breaking label – Def Jam – with Russell Simmons, in 1986.
Warner Bros. handled the distribution of the label from The
highly versatile producer has worked with a wide range of artists, from Jay-Z
to Johnny Cash. Rubin also produced Run-DMC’s landmark album Raisin’
Hell, Geto Boys, Beastie Boys’, License to Ill, LL Cool J’s Radio.
Under terms of the deal, American will sign and develop artists,
while Warner Bros. will handle promotion, publicity, sales, marketing and distribution.
The deal also gives Warner Bros. the rights to American’s
catalog beginning in 2007. The catalog includes recordings by Johnny Cash, Slayer,
Danzig, the Jayhawks, the Black Crowes and others.
“Of all the labels," Rubin said in statement. “Warner
Bros. is the rock label. All the biggest acts on it are rock artists. The company
has a better understanding of rock and eclectic music than any other in the
industry. It’s a perfect fit."
Warner Bros. distributed
American from 1992-1997.
American’s previous
distributor was The Island Def Jam Music Group, which was helmed by industry
veteran and fellow Def Jam alumni, Lyor Cohen. Cohen is currently the CEO of
Warner Music Group, the parent company of Warner Bros. Records.
