Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Bread, Tom Waits, Warren Zevon and Judee Sill. All names you know, right? Ok, not Judee Sill (but you should know her!). My point is this: they all recorded music during the 1970's on a label known as Asylum Records. Asylum Records was formed by David Geffen in 1972 before Elektra and Asylum were consolidated in 1974 by Warner Bros. and Geffen left to form Geffen Records in 1980.
Or was it all just a dream? Apparently, to the Warner Music Group, it was. In a press release celebrating Paul Wall's album reaching #1 on the charts, WMG had this to say:
Wall's album is the 3rd top ten hit for Warner Music Group's newly established Asylum Records since it was created a year ago as part of the company's incubator initiative. "I am thrilled that so many people are realizing Paul Wall's talent," said Todd Moscowitz, president, Asylum Records. "Our ability to identify and partner with some of the leading urban labels in the industry and help them take their artists to the next level truly validates the incubator initiative and the value that these partnerships create for everyone involved. First, Mike Jones, then Webbie, now Paul Wall, it's been a great year for Asylum Records."In English, it seems that WMG is relaunching the Asylum label (the name kinda resembles Death Row, right?) as an attempt to cash in on the current rap market. But why use a name that already exists, even if it is in the past tense? Are WMG trying to distance themselves from their mostly white audience by overwriting the history of the label that brought you Bread, Jackson Browne and the like? It seems a bit sinister to me. And if anyone can explain to me exactly what the Incubator Initiative is, I would greatly appreciate it.
To see the "new" Asylum Records site, go here.
To view the history and discography of the real Asylum Records, go here.
- Asylum Records' Paul Wall Debuts at #1 [Reuters]
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