Warner Buys Roadrunner Records

Warner has purchased Roadrunner Records for $73.5 million, according to Punknews.org.

In the United States, Roadrunner will become a freestanding label group within WMG's Atlantic Records Group. Roadrunner's international affiliates will become freestanding units within WMG's Warner Music International.

Roadrunner Managing Director, Cees Wessels, will continue to run the company he founded. There will be no staff changes as part of the acquisition.

The label includes the New York Dolls, Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Megadeth, Trivium, Dragonforce, The Dresden Dolls, Cradle Of Filth. The back catalogue includes Biohazard, Sepultura and many others.

Comments

[RockMusicFan]

I bet they did that just so they could get Nickelback on their label. But that's if they're still on it on it since they're not listed up there.

[thirdeyepried]

^Nickelback did always seem out of place with the rest of roadrunner's roster.

[P.B.]

Theory of a Deadman is also on that label.

i was kind of sad when i read that article.

[Danno13]

Megadeth are on the same label as Killswitch Engage?

That's embarrassing.

[bobross]

P.B. wrote:

Theory of a Deadman is also on that label.

i was kind of sad when i read that article.

i know what you mean. roadrunner is by far my faveorite record label. hope it doesent go to shit after this.

[METSOAD]

ahhhhh roadrunner what happened, in three years i expect there to be sellout records, dragonforce without guitar solos, Trivium screaming again, i hope im not right

[creativeboner]

Argh...

[Instrumetal]

How depressing. Things had better not go downhill...

[deportivo]

i wonder how this'll turn out.

but metsoad? dragonforce without solos? that's just..just..dead air...

[EmancipatedSoul]

naw, there are a lot of other bands on Roadrunner that arnt listed up there. Nickelback is still on roadrunner. They have good potential but they always seemed a bit out of place.

I just hope this is for the better and not for the worst. Roadrunner is the best record label.

[mr. riff]

METSOAD wrote:

ahhhhh roadrunner what happened, in three years i expect there to be sellout records, dragonforce without guitar solos, Trivium screaming again, i hope im not right

Dragonforce without guitar solos would be wierd because half their songs are solos. If Trivium went back to screaming they wouldn't be sellouts. To me, they sold out when they stopped screaming. Roadrunner is one of the better labels out there, though.

[flesh fries]

i know what you mean. roadrunner is by far my faveorite record label. hope it doesent go to shit after this.

dude, roadrunner went to shit a LONG LONG time ago...it was good when they had real metal bands...earache records is where its at now

[Covin]

Roadrunner screwed over one of my favorite bands, Sinch, but other than that, they have decent track record.

[Dr Grinwraith]

opeth is on roadrunner

[IlikeMetal]

I hope this works out for the better because i've been a little dissapointed with some of the stuff roadrunner has been pushing out as of late. It's mainly the watered down Killswitch videos thats bugging me though, whomever happens to be responsible for that. But I'm going to see them with Hatebreed tomorrow @ Lupo's, so it really doesn't matter i guess

[False_God]

:O I can see roadrunner's music changing!!

[eggo_boi_15]

ARGGGHHHH!!! roadrunner are by far my fave label. if warner has bought them, then are gonna go downhill all the way. oh shit.....

Checked

[Guitarmeister]

METSOAD wrote:

dragonforce without guitar solos

no! your lying! TELL ME IT ISNT TRUE!!!!! xD

i found this out off my boss last week, old news

[AsianPirate]

fascinating...

[x_rox]

That isn't such great news That's alottt of money and roadrunner was better independantly

[SoASinger]

quote]flesh fries wrote:


i know what you mean. roadrunner is by far my faveorite record label. hope it doesent go to shit after this.


dude, roadrunner went to shit a LONG LONG time ago...it was good when they had real metal bands...earache records is where its at now[/quote]

dude how the hell can you say that? Roadrunner has some of the best bands in the entire f`n world!
Slipknot like them or not they done ALOT since 99, also Trivium who have torn it up in the last few years, whether you think they sold out or not, they still tore it up. And you cannot deny BLS, CKY, Cradle of Filth, Soulfly, Opeth, ,Killswitch Engage, Megadeath and Machine Head. And just beacause you have some of the best bands around doesnt mean you've sold out, it means you've brung up bands that no one else would take.

[octopig]

3 Inches Of Blood 36 Crazyfists Black Label Society Black Stone Cherry Chimaira CKY
Cradle Of Filth Daath DevilDriver DragonForce Dresden Dolls fear Factory Hatebreed Ill Nino Killswitch Engage Machine Head Madina Lake
Megadeth MTV2 Headbangers Ball: The Revenge
New York Dolls Nickelback Nightwish Obituary
Opeth Roadrunner United Sanctity Sepultura
Slipknot Soulfly Still Remains Stone Sour
Theory of a Deadman Trivium Type O Negative
Annihilator Anyone Believer Biohazard Brujeria
Carnivore Coal Chamber Cynic Death Defiance
Deicide Dirty Americans Disincarnate Dislocated Styles doubleDrive Downer downthesun Dry Kill Logic
Earth Crisis Exhorder Faktion Five Pointe O Floodgate
Front Line Assembly Gang Green Glassjaw Gorguts
Gruntruck High Holy Days Infernal Majesty Jerry Cantrell Junkie XL Karma To Burn Keith Caputo
Kemuri King Diamond Life Of Agony Madball Malevolent Creation Mercyful Fate Misfits Murderdolls Nailbomb
Pestilence Red Tape Rumblefish Sinch Spineshank
Suffocation The Agony Scene The Workhorse Movement
Thornley To My Surprise Vision Of Disorder
Wednesday 13 Whiplash



These are all the bands in roadrunner. Now imagine if even half of these bands(the good ones, trivium, dragonforce,kse,etc)went downhill. The world ends when that happens!

[GiantRaven]

x_rox wrote:

That isn't such great news That's alottt of money and roadrunner was better independantly

Right because the mere few hours that this article has been posted Roadrunner has so suddenly gone downhill...

Wait some time before making those kinds of judgements

[metalheadsteve]

roadrunner is just real mainstream metal now. nuclear blast, earache and century media share the best metal now.

[tim311mahoney]

I am a huge fan of the "sellout" comments. It seems that if an artist develops in a different direction but not completely of the path they once walked, that people (much like the ones on this site) get pissed off because they didn't put out a carbon copy of their previous record. Everyone has their own opinion on whether or not they like a band and thats fine, but an artist is going to develop any way they want to whether 10 people or millions of people disagree. A prime example is KSE. When they make records, the only people in the studio are the band (since Adam D produces). They lock the doors and when they're done they send the music to roadrunner for them to press the CD's. And if people buy them then thats great, if not then they don't care. They put out music they are happy with. If you can't satisfy yourself then you aren't going to be happy with the product.

PS - The new KSE album is rediculious. Go buy it.

[rhanco2]

I am a huge fan of the "sellout" comments. It seems that if an artist develops in a different direction but not completely of the path they once walked, that people (much like the ones on this site) get pissed off because they didn't put out a carbon copy of their previous record.

A perfect point. I totally agree with you. I cant stand it that people say that a band sells out if they dont produce the same record over and over again. A little change is good, it means progress.

[CK91]

Oh well....DevilDriver!!!!

[Bazilisck311]

What, Nickleback wasn't making them enough money?

[Jordmo]

oh is 'cynic' still on roadrunner then? even after all those years of nothing....

[kevinm4435]

Isn't Mastodon on Warner?

[BringMeTheCalm]

I am praying that they do not make Opeth anyless godly

[wingedgopher]

This is too bad.

[hobo467]

Whatever. Will it really affectthe music Roadrunner puts out? Who knows. If so, whatever. every band "sells out" today anyways, nothing new.

[zakkiante]

That's funny, they have Dresden Dolls. They're practically cabaret.

[i_am_metalhead]

Danno13 wrote:

Megadeth are on the same label as Killswitch Engage?

That's embarrassing.

Yeah if I were Adam or Joel from Killswitch I would be embarrassed to be on the same label as the crybaby, guitar hack Dave Mustaine.

[Lin]

So there are like, 2 major record labels now? All these constant mergers are, to me, a bad sign for the industry in general that will only serve to stifle creativity and create monopolies, with record companies determining what the public wants, instead of the other way around.

[sicfreak91]

fu ck dude ..

[stevenlogan]

Lin, so don't ****ing buy the records...

[FS Guitar]

DAMMIT ROADRUNNER!!!

you coulda had it all. you could've been the most metal label out there. at the top of the game. but no. you merge with warner like every other ****ing media outlet in this country. way to go.

at least maybe we can get some better tours out of it.
(i.e. Avenged SEvenfold and Trivium!!)

[ZeRoGuY]

i_am_metalhead wrote:

Danno13 wrote:

Megadeth are on the same label as Killswitch Engage?

That's embarrassing.

Yeah if I were Adam or Joel from Killswitch I would be embarrassed to be on the same label as the crybaby, guitar hack Dave Mustaine.

THANK YOU!!!!!

Anyway, dragonforce, trivium, and other retarded bands roadrunner signed that aren't type of bands they'd gone for in the past have ruined it for me.

Nuclear Blast and Century Media know how to do it. Roadrunner seems to just be in it for things other than putting out kick ass metal records...

[KissingShadows]

Megadeth > KsE, Killswitch has shit guitar and...Dave Mustaine...crybaby? If you basically got shown 100 million dollars and then it was only given to 3 of your friends and not you...what would you do...especially after you wrote their songs for them?

KSE IS FUCKING HARDCORE EMO! They have a CD called the end of heartache...honestly...

[ibanez666]

warner had better **** off and not turn roadrunner into a piece of shit, they're by far one of the best metal labels around today.

[DTFatesWarningX]

shit, I think Porcupine Tree moved to roadrunner...and Opeth's already on it....they'd better not **** these two bands up

[dann_blood]

ZeRoGuY :
i_am_metalhead wrote:

Danno13 wrote:

Megadeth are on the same label as Killswitch Engage?

That's embarrassing.

Yeah if I were Adam or Joel from Killswitch I would be embarrassed to be on the same label as the crybaby, guitar hack Dave Mustaine.


THANK YOU!!!!!

Anyway, dragonforce, trivium, and other retarded bands roadrunner signed that aren't type of bands they'd gone for in the past have ruined it for me.

Nuclear Blast and Century Media know how to do it. Roadrunner seems to just be in it for things other than putting out kick ass metal records...

Hmmm... so your saying the insanely awesome bands that Roadrunner signed, Trivium being an insanely new young talent, ruined the label for you? You want a tampon with that you bloody girl?
AND THEN you said roadrunner is in it for something else other than kickass metal albums? Have you actually heard either of these bands?
My opinion on this - if, like the article says, everything at Roadrunner stays the same, including management, just Roadrunner pays Warner, then its fine by me as long as theyre producing the same quality shit they have in the past.

[Rocker3829]

How is a label gaining ownership but lettin them run it still make bands "sellout". I swear, some of y'all don't even know what selling out is, so STFU.

[Chimpy101]

Megadeth > KsE, Killswitch has shit guitar and...Dave Mustaine...crybaby? If you basically got shown 100 million dollars and then it was only given to 3 of your friends and not you...what would you do...especially after you wrote their songs for them?

KSE IS FUCKING HARDCORE EMO! They have a CD called the end of heartache...honestly...

You know what you're ****ing talking about, Megadeth > KSE

[Killer_bacon]

i fail to see why you really care what company owns what label. Roadrunner was an indepent label and WAS the best label ever however they appeared to be pandering to the mainstream in the past few years(ie watered down KSE videos, listen to "My curse" than watch the video which sounds better) However they are more than a metal record they sign risky band(dreadson dolls, opeth, Fear factory) all these bands aren't ever going to be signed to a mainstream label unless they sell a shit load of albums with a indie label(roadrunner being one hell of a indie label). Also roadrunner isn't the only label owned by a major label most indie labels are now(trustkill/Jive, MetalBlade/Epic(not sure if its epic but its a major label) just let roadrunner do its thing and if the band is truely a good band and don't like what the label is doing they will leave or fight for artistic independance.

(sry for spelling and grammer errors i'm too tired to fix it)

[Forced In]

KissingShadows wrote:

If you basically got shown 100 million dollars and then it was only given to 3 of your friends and not you...what would you do...especially after you wrote their songs for them?

It was his fault for being such a twat, otherwise he wouldn't have got kicked out of Metallica.

[beggles]

gahh this sucks

[A Warm Place]

We need another underground revolution. I'm getting sick of the major labels buying out smaller ones.

[Lambey]

who cares if roadrunner or its bands sell out? well. more than they already have. another label and other bands will end up replacing it and once they've followed the same route there'll be another. it happens with everything.

[Richee]

.....on the other hand...warner being pretty much the largest label in the world, could help Roadrunner do great things. I loved it as it was, but see this as an oppertunity for roadrunner to experiment with other things

[ratmblink123]

You want your underground revolution?

Check it out. Bring back the rock.

www.myspace.com/backlinerocks

i know them personally

[KissingShadows]

A Warm Place wrote:

We need another underground revolution. I'm getting sick of the major labels buying out smaller ones.

Its how business works dude get used to it. If you want any of the underground bands you like to go big and make more albums...then they gotta get big. Musicians arent going to have the time to put in the needed effort to write masterpiece albums if they have to have a day job.

[haz_uk]

why is this turning into a megadeth/kse discussion?

get a clue, the lot of you.

[deliverence]

interesting could go bad or good warner better leave roadrunner as it is im going to wait a few months to decide on if the move was a good one

[not_dead_enough]

REMEMBER PEOPLE, a lot of GOOD came out of roadrunner too. For example, Nightwish's 'Once' (their first roadrunner album I believe) is by far their best...

[zzzzzzzzzzzzz]

There is good music on roadrunner and then there is some that's not so good. Same for nuclear blast, century media, and even warner bros. Just listen to what you think is good and leave the rest behind.

[darlingjones]

rhanco2 wrote:

I am a huge fan of the "sellout" comments. It seems that if an artist develops in a different direction but not completely of the path they once walked, that people (much like the ones on this site) get pissed off because they didn't put out a carbon copy of their previous record.


A perfect point. I totally agree with you. I cant stand it that people say that a band sells out if they dont produce the same record over and over again. A little change is good, it means progress.

good points. I'm still pissed about Trivium's new album though. Its ok, the only problem is its a carbon copy of OTHER people's past albums. Its totally fine to switch your sound up, just switch it to something original.

[njroc26]

Let's htink about this rationally, yes Warner buying RR gives them somewhat of control over them, but it doesn;t necessarilt mean that they will affect the music produced

Also, with Warner now backing RR has more money to use with all the bands

So no your favorite band maybe be able to finally go out on a big tour and stop in BumFcuk, Alabama to play

Don't be so quick to think the planes going down only when it's a little turbulence

[Vinura]

i dont like this one bit

[senorpepe]

WHAT?!?!? THEY DIDNT INCLUDE OPETH!!! MOFOS!!!


OPETH RULES!! \m/

[INNOCENT VICTIM]

Bad feeling.....BAD FEELING..... me no like

[nin_freak92]

so will it still be "Roadrunner Records", just as a sub-company for Warner or w/e, or will everything roadrunner now have a "Warner" label on it?

checked

[basscrue]

i feel sick...

[cody733]

@ nin_freak: Roadrunner will still have its label on any of their records, they'll just be distributed more widely because of the power that Warner has. It's like Victory and Universal (I think its universal)

[TMAW]

METSOAD wrote:

ahhhhh roadrunner what happened, in three years i expect there to be sellout records, dragonforce without guitar solos, Trivium screaming again, i hope im not right

I think he meant that regardless of wether Trivium sold out by taking out the screaming with the crusade, then bringing it back just because a few people say so is equally selling out

Also I hope and pray that this doesnt affect the music that roadrunner makes, bands like KSE and Slipknot get young people into metal and they soon move on to their own subsection of metal, be it thrash, death or even power metal

[TrivGtr187]

man some people are so narrow minded all you guys that complain about trivium singing instead of screaming need to realize that screaming is really damaging to your voice alsoit doesnt mean you sold out when you take out an element of the music.Children of Bodom has really cut back on the whole neoclassical sound but nobody says theyve sold out.Screamin gets boring and its not really versatile.As for the KsE and Megadeth comments, Mustaines a complete ******* who whines like a little girl about something that happened over 20 years ago and that was his fault for being a drunk but he can play like no other. Adam D is one of the most talented people in the business today for what he's done. Therefore, Trivium is still great and no matter how much you kick and scream theyre gonna do what they want and nothing you say will change that and Megadeth is just as good as KsE

[TrivGtr187]

CORRECTION*** better but completely different

[SoASinger]

I like what one guy said about how all these labels are owned by bigger labels, but it even says that there are no staff changes, as long as Monte is still in A&R then its still going to be the same roadrunner.

And for those saying that the true metal is on this other label, look at the lineup RR has dipshit is it all metal? NO! i dont consider Nickleback or New York Dolls metal and sure as shit not Dresden Dolls. So RR is more of a label, then a straight metal label.

Think about it, Warner wouldnt have want to get in on waht Roadrunner has if it wasnt doing such a great ****ing job, and another thing someone said on here, Dont be so quick to say that its going downhill... Hell for all we know this MAY i repeat to the windowlickers MAY be one of the best mergerings ever.

[freedoms_stain]

The first thing I thought when I read that headline was "Uh-Oh". I'm slightly reassured by the 'free-standing' phrase, but still, even with no staff changes at the moment, Warner are essentially the bosses now, and if they really want it, their say will be final.

This could be bad in the long run. Roadrunner are one of the few record labels signing new metal and alternative bands, if that stops becoming profitable for a while we could see a decline in the metal genre.

[3lusiv3]

flesh fries wrote:


i know what you mean. roadrunner is by far my faveorite record label. hope it doesent go to shit after this.

dude, roadrunner went to shit a LONG LONG time ago...it was good when they had real metal bands...earache records is where its at now

Agreed, and don't forget Metal Blade and Spinefarm Records.

[Cafas]

And seriously, I have to laugh at anyone who can actually compare a band like Killswitch to Megadeth. First of all, Megadeth's crap (oh, and there's a lot of it) > Any crap you've listened to. At least when they were putting out decent stuff, it was something new and exciting.

I never understood how one could get stimulated by such uninspiring music as the stuff that's heard in metalcore. Nothing ever changes, there's nothing refreshing about what's going on. It's just mindless and sterile. Also, I don't consider Trivium's change of vocal style to be selling out, since they haven't had credibility to begin with.

[skindred]

KissingShadows wrote:

Megadeth > KsE, Killswitch has shit guitar and...Dave Mustaine...crybaby? If you basically got shown 100 million dollars and then it was only given to 3 of your friends and not you...what would you do...especially after you wrote their songs for them?

KSE IS FUCKING HARDCORE EMO! They have a CD called the end of heartache...honestly...

wow and your name isnt emo at all "kissing shadows", punk, listen to alive or just breathing and tell me if that sounds emo. jesse leach and howard jones have a voice much more powerful than any emo, screamo bands out there.

i just hope killswitch, chimaira, opeth and devildriver dont start f*cking up.

[skindred]

and the end of heartache was a harsh album, listen to "when darkness falls" or "a bid farewell" tell me if they're emo, you fool.

[ctb]

I've got a bad feeling about this.

[nothingface187]

cody733 wrote:

@ nin_freak: Roadrunner will still have its label on any of their records, they'll just be distributed more widely because of the power that Warner has. It's like Victory and Universal (I think its universal)

Is that why victory records turned to Pop-rock central(Hawthrone Hieghts, and countless other "emo" bands) instead of putting out "hardcore" records? that explains it....

[espliam]

what the hell do warner bros need with roadrunner. Theyre gonna screw up the company big time

[HellrzngPinhead]

Damn it'd be nice if Dragonforce played ****ing guitar solos without heavy effects, but that requires talent. They SUCK! I liked that sound better when it was coming out of a superior band called HELLOWEEN!!!

I see Roadrunner getting screwed on this deal big time. Except all these bands to become watered down trash.

[jonnyharris1]

Roadrunner isnt going to change because of this, the management of roadrunner is staying exactly the same and so the decisions on what happens will be made by the same people and not warner so they will carry on bringing out the wicked music they currently do

[Savage Animal]

Cafas wrote:

And seriously, I have to laugh at anyone who can actually compare a band like Killswitch to Megadeth. First of all, Megadeth's crap (oh, and there's a lot of it) > Any crap you've listened to. At least when they were putting out decent stuff, it was something new and exciting.

I never understood how one could get stimulated by such uninspiring music as the stuff that's heard in metalcore. Nothing ever changes, there's nothing refreshing about what's going on. It's just mindless and sterile. Also, I don't consider Trivium's change of vocal style to be selling out, since they haven't had credibility to begin with.

Quoted for truth. This merger doesnt really surprise me, and its not really that big of a deal. Almost all the good metal acts are long gone (Max-era Sepultura. Exhorder, Gorguts, Malevolent Creation, Mercyful Fate). Hope Opeth and Megadeth dont get screwed over tho

[davidmcintosh03]

espliam wrote:

what the hell do warner bros need with roadrunner. Theyre gonna screw up the company big time

money... warner will get the profits.

allthough roadrunner allready seemed like they were selling out long before this happened.. so no change? :P

[no mercy]

Warner Bros., I', warning you. Take heed of all the ppl here that will come and ****ing destroy you if you guys **** up RR.

And another thing. Guess what? Metallica recently signed to Warner Bros. And Megadeth, which is signed to RR, is now technically signed to Warner Bros.
DO you know what this means?!!! METALLICA AND MEGADETH ARE ON THE SAME LABEL!!!!!

[TheGuitarDreams]

Wow, Trivium, Killswitch Engage, and Dragonforce?
They're trying to get wannabe metalheads money aren't they?

[MegaRon]

So THAT'S why they moved the "Doomsday Clock" to five minutes...