Elektra Records

Elektra Records was a record label started in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickholt, who both invested $300. It was acquired by Kinney National Company in 1970, along with Holzman's Nonesuch Records, for $10 million. Soon afterwards Kinney consolidated their label holdings under the Warner Communications umbrella. Holzman remained in charge until 1972, when Asylum Records and Elektra were combined and Asylum's director (David Geffen) was put in charge. Holzman went on to start Discovery Records.

Related Topics:
Record label - 1950 - Jac Holzman - Paul Rickholt - Kinney National Company - 1970 - Nonesuch Records - Warner Communications - 1972 - Asylum Records - David Geffen - Discovery Records

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Elektra was the 3rd major label within the Warner Music Group (after Warner Brothers Records and Atlantic Records) for the next 3 decades. In February 2004 Warner Music Group was sold by AOL Time Warner to a group of private investors made up of Thomas Lee Partners, Bain & Company and Edgar Bronfman Jr (who assumed CEO duties). By April, the new owners of WMG decided to downsize Elektra, laying off much of the staff & dropping many of the artists from the label. Those that survive the downsizing continue on the label or were transfer to other labels under the WMG umbrella. Many who were transfered went to Atlantic Records, who's now in control of Elektra.

Related Topics:
Warner Music Group - Warner Brothers Records - Atlantic Records - 2004 - AOL Time Warner - Thomas Lee Partners - Bain & Company - Edgar Bronfman Jr

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A full history of Elektra's "Holzman years" can be found in Jac Holzman's book "Follow the Music: The Life and High Times of Elektra Records in the Great Years of American Pop Culture".

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