300 Entertainment
300 Entertainment | |
---|---|
Parent company | Warner Music Group |
Founded | 2012 |
Founder |
|
Distributor(s) | 300 Elektra |
Genre | Various |
Country of origin | United States |
Location | New York City, New York |
Official website | 300ent |
Theory Entertainment LLC,[1] doing business as 300 Entertainment, is an American record label founded by Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles, Todd Moscowitz, and Roger Gold.[2] The label's roster includes acts across multiple genres such as hip hop, rock, pop, electronic, alternative, and country. Current artists include Young Thug, Fetty Wap, Mary J. Blige, No Savage, Rejjie Snow, Cheat Codes, Tee Grizzley, Famous Dex, Shy Glizzy, Cobi, Meg Mac, Dae Dae, the Hunna, Maggie Lindemann, Bailey Bryan, OMB Peezy, Ice Prince, $not and Des Rocs. It is based in New York City. The label also acts as distributor for Young Thug's record label YSL Records, whose roster includes rappers Gunna and the late Lil Keed.
In 2021, Warner Music Group acquired 300 for $400 million.[3] In June 2022, 300 Entertainment was merged with Elektra Music Group to create the umbrella label 300 Elektra Entertainment (3EE), though both Elektra and 300 continued to maintain their separate identities as labels.[4][5]
Company history
[edit]Foundation
[edit]Cohen resigned as chairman and chief executive officer of Warner Music Group's recorded music operation to start 300 with Todd Moscowitz, ex-Warner Bros president, Kevin Liles, ex-EVP Warner Music, and Roger Gold, former SVP of the office of the chairman and CEO at Warner Music. Cohen, Liles, and Moscowitz had also worked together at Def Jam, which Cohen had run in the 1980s and 1990s.[6]
It was announced that singer Eric Bellinger had been signed to 300 Entertainment.[7] In April 2014, Atlantic Records A&R DJ Drama stated that Atlanta rapper Young Thug had been signed to 300 Entertainment,[8][9] In June 2014, it was revealed that Atlanta hip hop group Migos were also signed to the label.[10] In early 2014, Lyor Cohen quietly signed Conrad Sewell after Sewell had been passed on by most of the major labels. The day after signing with 300, the Australian singer received offers from virtually every label that had passed on him, for, in some cases, "well over $1 million."[11]
As of 2017, Fetty Wap's "Trap Queen" is the label's biggest single to date, going 10× platinum.[12] Its first pop hit was Cheat Codes' "No Promises" featuring Demi Lovato. Its first country pop[13] artist to be signed is Bailey Bryan.[14]
Exit of Cohen
[edit]In September 2016, Lyor Cohen announced his exit from 300.[15] Following this announcement, Kevin Liles assumed the role of CEO.[16] Liles would make appearances to follow in The Wall Street Journal and on MSNBC to discuss his role and the label.[17]
Partnerships
[edit]Funding
[edit]The company is backed by a wide range of investors, including Google, investment firm Columbus Nova, Israeli-American hedge fund billionaire Noam Gottesman's TOMS Capital, former Warner Music digital chief Alex Zubillaga, and Kemado Records' co-founder Andres Santo Domingo. The investment agreements were pulled together by media investment banker Aryeh Bourkoff and Ori Winitze of LionTree.[18]
Atlantic Records
[edit]Atlantic Records signed a distribution deal to distribute all of 300's content in November 2013.[citation needed]
+1 Records
[edit]In 2014, 300 announced that +1 Records had become an official partner label of the company.[19]
In November 2016, Young Thug started YSL (Young Stoner Life) Records as an imprint under 300 Entertainment.[20] Artists on the imprint include Gunna, Lil Keed and Yung Kayo.[21]
Unauthorized Entertainment
[edit]In February 2017, the label's Senior Vice President of A&R, Selim Bouab, launched the label Unauthorized Entertainment under 300.[22]
Murder Inc. Records
[edit]In June 2017, it was announced that 300 Entertainment had partnered with Murder Inc. Records.[23]
Undercover Prodigy
[edit]In September 2017, Hopsin did an interview with HardKnocktv stating that he had signed with 300. His single "The Purge" was released through 300 Entertainment and Undercover Prodigy.[24] On November 24, 2017, Hopsin Released his album No Shame and debuted at 42 on the Billboard 200. Both Kevin Liles and Hopsin has referred to the deal as a partnership for 300 and Undercover Prodigy.
Producers
[edit]Some of 300 Entertainment signed producers include Chason Samuel, Metro Boomin, Young Thug, PinkPantheress, and others.
Artists
[edit]Artist | Year signed | Albums with 300 |
---|---|---|
Shy Glizzy | 2014 | Law 3: Now or Never (2014)[25] Young Jefe 2 (2016)[26] The World is Yours (2017)[27] Fully Loaded (2018) |
Young Thug | 2014 | Barter 6 (2015) I'm Up (2016) Slime Season 3 (2016) Jeffery (2016) Beautiful Thugger Girls (2017) So Much Fun (2019) Slime & B (2020) Punk (2021) Business is Business (2023) |
Fetty Wap[28] | 2014 | Fetty Wap (2015) For My Fans (2018) Bruce Wayne (2018) Trap & B (2020) The Butterfly Effect (2021) |
Highly Suspect | 2014 | Mister Asylum (2015) The Boy Who Died Wolf (2016) MCID (2019) |
Cobi[29] | 2015 | Songs from the Ashes PT. 1 (2017) Songs from the Ashes PT. 2 (2018) |
Meg Mac[30] | 2015 | Low Blows (2017) Hope (2019) |
Maggie Lindemann | 2016 | |
The Hunna | 2016 | 100 (2016)[31] |
Famous Dex | 2016 | Dex Meets Dexter (2018) Dexter 2031 (EP) (2020) |
Cheat Codes[32] | 2016 | Level 1 (EP) (2018) Level 2 (EP) (2019) (International distribution through Parlophone, since 2018 co-signed with Spinnin' Records, another Warner Music Group subsidiary.) |
YNW Melly | 2016 | I Am You (mixtape) (2018) We All Shine (mixtape) (2019) Melly vs. Melvin (2019) Just a Matter of Slime (2021) |
Tee Grizzley | 2017 | Bloodas (2017)[33] Activated (2018) Scriptures (2019) The Smartest (2020) Built for Whatever (2021) |
Bailey Bryan | 2017 | So Far (EP) (2017)[34] Perspective (EP) (2019) |
OMB Peezy[35] | 2017 | Humble Beginnings (EP) (2017) Preacher to the Streets (2019) |
Agnez Mo[36] | 2018 | |
Lil Keed[37] | 2018 | Keed Talk to 'Em (2018) Long Live Mexico (2019) Trapped on Cleveland 3 (2020) |
Megan Thee Stallion[38] | 2018 | Tina Snow (2018) Fever (2019) Suga (2020) Good News (2020) Traumazine (2022) |
Phony Ppl[39] | 2018 | mō’zā-ik.(2018) |
Nova Miller[40] | 2019 | |
Drax Project | 2019 | Drax Project (2019) |
$NOT[41][42] | 2019 | Beautiful Havoc (2020)[43] Ethereal (2022)[44] |
Waterparks[45] | 2020 | Greatest Hits (2021)[46] |
Des Rocs | 2021 | A Real Good Person In A Real Bad Place (EP) (2021) |
María Becerra | 2021 | Animal (2021) La Nena de Argentina (2022) |
Mary J. Blige | 2021 | Good Morning Gorgeous (2022)[47] |
Quarters of Change | 2021 | Into The Rift (2022) Portraits (2024)[48] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Confirmed: Warner paid $400m in cash to acquire 300 Entertainment". 18 December 2021.
- ^ "300 Entertainment - About". 300 Entertainment. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- ^ "Warner buys 300 Entertainment for around $400m". 16 December 2021.
- ^ "WMG 300 Elektra Entertainment – 3EE – Arrives, Led by Chairman & CEO Kevin Liles". WMG Official Website. Archived from the original on 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
- ^ "Warner Music Group". VarietyUS. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
- ^ Adegoke, Yinka (November 2013). "Lyor Cohen Unveils 300, New 'Content Company' with Atlantic Deal, Google Backing and Ex-Warner Brass (From the Magazine)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- ^ Mitchell, Gail (24 March 2014). "Lyor Cohen's 300 Entertainment Signs Eric Bellinger (Exclusive)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ "DJ Drama Confirms That Young Thug Is Signed to Lyor Cohen's "300" Label". Complex. April 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ C.M., Emmanuel (17 June 2014). "300 Entertainment Partners with Migos And Quality Control Music". XXL. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ Harling, Danielle (18 June 2014). "Young Thug, Migos Sign With Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles & Todd Moscowitz's 300 Label". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ "Lyor Cohen at Stanford University: Music, Technology and Finding The Next Big Artist". IDA Stanford. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2016 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum - Record Industry Association of America". Record Industry Association of America. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- ^ Hight, Jewly (23 June 2017). "At 19, Bailey Bryan Is Ready To 'Own It'". NPR.org. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- ^ Nicholson, Jessica (30 September 2016). "Warner Music Nashville, 300 Entertainment Jointly Sign Bailey Bryan". MusicRow - Nashville's Music Industry Publication - News, Songs From Music City. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- ^ Klinkenberg, Brendan. "Lyor Cohen Leaves 300 Entertainment To Join YouTube". Complex. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- ^ Rys, Dan (6 April 2017). "Kevin Liles Talks the Past, Present and Future of 300 Entertainment: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- ^ "Jay-Z gets political with new album". MSNBC. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- ^ Adegoke, Yinka (1 November 2013). "Distribution deal with Atlantic, as well as bringing up acts like Jordan Adentunji, Lil'Shine & the nonchalant and quiet musician and blogger TrÂPhone to clean up the mess and fire backlash they had to get from locals in Washington State about a rap group falsifying the label as their parent company on Seattle Times in the summer of 2021 with Lil'Ripp known as Lewis from the hip hop collective MKF from Tacoma, WA the Hilltop Neighborhood". Billboard.
- ^ Stutz, Colin (5 November 2014). "Exclusive: +1 Records Becomes Official Label Partner of Lyor Cohen's 300 Entertainment". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ "Young Thug Launches YSL Records - XXL". XXL Mag. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
- ^ "YSL Records Wiki, Artists, History, Releases". RapIntel. 2019-03-21. Archived from the original on 2022-05-21. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
- ^ "300 Entertainment promotes Selim Bouab to SVP, A&R - Music Business Worldwide". Music Business Worldwide. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ^ Platon, Adelle (20 June 2017). "How Irv Gotti Brought Murder Inc. to 300 Entertainment". Billboard. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ hardknocktv (2017-10-04), Hopsin talks 300 Deal, Keys to Success, Token, Funk Volume, Says You Can't Just Rap, retrieved 2017-10-08
- ^ "LAW 3: Now or Never by Shy Glizzy on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
- ^ "Young Jefe 2 by Shy Glizzy on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
- ^ "The World Is Yours by Jefe on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
- ^ Leonard, Devin (October 27, 2015). "The Guy Who Signed Slick Rick and Jay Z Is Still Killing It". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ Mahot, Laura (3 May 2016). "Exclusive Track Premiere: 'Don't You Cry For Me,' Cobi". Interview. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ "MEG MAC SIGNS TO 300 ENTERTAINMENT". Mucho Bravado. 2015-02-25. Archived from the original on 2020-02-26. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
- ^ "100 by The Hunna on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
- ^ Bein, Kat (28 September 2016). "Cheat Codes Joins Young Thug, Fetty Wap on 300 Entertainment Roster". Billboard. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ India, Lindsey (8 December 2017). "Tee Grizzley and Lil Durk Releasse 'Bloodas' Mixtape - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ^ Dauphin, Chuck (14 April 2017). "Bailey Bryan Premieres Breakup-Inspired 'Hard Drive Home,' Talks Mentor Hillary Scott". Billboard. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ "OMB Peezy Signs To 300 Entertainment – Fashionably-Early". Fashionably-Early. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- ^ Machin, Jennifer (25 April 2018). "Agnez Mo Signs With 300 Entertainment". Billboard. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Lil Keed Shares Debut Album 'Long Live Mexico' On 300 Entertainment". RESPECT. 2019-06-14. Archived from the original on 2019-06-15. Retrieved 2019-06-16.
- ^ Centeno, Tony M. (27 November 2018). "Megan Thee Stallion Signs to 300 Entertainment XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion & Phony Ppl Link Up For "Fkn Around" Single". Maven. Archived from the original on 2020-02-26. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
- ^ "NOVA MILLER". 21:12 Entertainment Group. Archived from the original on 2020-02-26. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
- ^ "The Break Presents: $not". 30 October 2019.
- ^ "With Billie Eilish and 'Euphoria' co-signs, rapper $not is a Gen Z star in making". Los Angeles Times. 19 August 2019.
- ^ "Beautiful Havoc by $NOT". Apple Music. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ "Ethereal by $NOT". Apple Music. 11 February 2022.
- ^ "300 Entertainment welcomes Waterparks". September 25, 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-12-23. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- ^ "☁️ @Waterparks new single #SnowGlobe is available now". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-23.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige Announces New Album 'Good Morning Gorgeous'".
- ^ Growney, Tess (February 15, 2024). "Quarters of Change Search for Light". SPIN.