East West Records


East West Records is a record label formed in 1955, distributed and owned by Warner Music Group, headquartered in London, United Kingdom.

History

Upon its creation in 1955 by Atlantic Records, the label had one hit with the Kingsmen and went into hibernation until 1990, when Atlantic revamped the imprint as EastWest Records America. Atlantic senior VP Sylvia Rhone was appointed Chair/CEO of the fledgling label. Under Rhone's leadership, East West shot to mega success with several multiplatinum acts such as Simply Red, En Vogue, Pantera, Yo-Yo, Adina Howard, Das EFX, Snow, Gerald Levert, AC/DC, The Rembrandts, Dream Theater, Missy Elliott and MC Lyte. EastWest also distributed other imprints, such as Interscope Records, Motor Jams Records, Mecca Don Records and The Gold Mind Inc.
In 1994, Rhone was appointed Chairman & CEO of Atlantic's sister label Elektra Records. At the time, East West also broke away from the Atlantic umbrella to continue to operate under Rhone at Elektra. By the new millennium, budget cuts at Warner Music Group resulted in East West being absorbed into Elektra, where some of its acts were shifted over as well. In 2004, Time Warner sold Warner Music Group to private investors led by Edgar Bronfman Jr. Subsequently, more budget cuts were made, this time resulting in Elektra to be absorbed into Atlantic.

2015–present: Relaunch

In 2005, WMG reactivated the East West imprint as an in-house label, which primarily markets and distributes other rock music-based labels. East West today operates under Warner's Alternative Distribution Alliance, the successor to Independent Label Group. East West Records was revived in the UK in 2014 under the direction of Max Lousada, Chairman & CEO, Warner Music UK. The resurrected label is headed up by Dan Chalmers, President, Rhino, East West and ADA UK. Key artists on the East West roster include Robert Plant, Si Cranstoun, Boyzone, Bette Midler, Shane Filan, Jools Holland, Beverley Knight, Amelia Lily, The Corrs, Simply Red and Busted.

List of East West Records artists

As of 2017, East West Records is home to a range of artists including: