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Warner buys Rykodisc

Posted by aubin on Friday, March 24, 2006 at 1:45 PM (EST)

Continuing in a string of major label mergers and acquisitions, Warner today announced the acquisition of Rykodisc. Rykodisc, founded in 1983, first gained success through Elvis Costello and Frank Zappa and boasts a welath of strong catalog titles from Bob Mould, Mission of Burma, Meat Puppets, Sugar, The Replacements, Flaming Lips, Misfits and many others. Besides it's catalog business, the label acts as a distributor to labels like Restless Records,

Warner paid $67.5 million for the independent label, and explained the acquisition:

Recognized as a leader in independent music with a diverse catalog spanning many musical genres and eras, and an award-winning independent distribution company and label, Ryko is a perfect complement to WMG's existing businesses. By applying WMG's marketing expertise, strength in the digital space and its leading position in U.S. independent distribution, we're confident that we will be able to maximize Ryko's value. We look forward to working with Ryko's talented and passionate team in realizing Ryko's potential.

You can visit out Rykodisc page for recent coverage of the label.

Rykodisc (54 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. Seriously.

Vincent_M (March 24, 2006)

Hey, Frank Zappa. First.

Someone (March 24, 2006)

warner is taking over the world one step at a time...do you think in the future they will own their planet?

3+ Replies

Someone (March 24, 2006)

wow. wave enough money in front of anyone and hey'll grab it. i wonder how these bands feel about this. i'm sure they get paid off as well. making money, that's what life's about.

Someone (March 24, 2006)

they'll have to conquer Wal-Mart first

___waltz (March 25, 2006)

Warner isn't as disgusting as Sony, in my opinion.

Dante3000 (rich) (March 24, 2006)

Wow....Wasn't this the label The Juliana Theory said they signed to who then dumped them? It's good to see a small family run company like Warner can still get a fair shake in today's market place. -Dante

Someone (March 24, 2006)

we want the mustard, we want the mustard, oi we want the mustard, we want the mustard, oi we want the mustard, we want the mustard, oi

1+ Reply

the_other_scott (March 24, 2006)

we are 138 duh

LosPeptobismol (March 24, 2006)

Rob Zombie's new album is called "Educated Horses"? WTF? Will Dwight Yoakam's next album be called "Hell's Satan Monster Demonride"?

sickboi (chris) (March 24, 2006)

Warner made the original Michael Keaton Batman movies, they have a permanent "get out of jail free" card with me.

2+ Replies

Godfather (March 24, 2006)

those needed more jack nicholson....i thought batman begins was damn near perfect

evilash43 (March 24, 2006)

No. They needed LESS Jack Nicholson. His performance was bland. He was Jack Nicholson in clown makeup. Nothing more. The original Batman is a mess that doesn't hold up at ALL today (and it was my favorite movie in the world when I was 13). Batman Returns is far superior... even though it's pretty nonsensical. Burton threw logic out the window and went for a weird fetish freakshow and it was ll the more entertaining for it. Plus the circus gang was badass.

Someone (March 24, 2006)

The circus gang was the biggest group of jack offs in the entire world. Jack MADE Batman a DAMN good movie

Dante3000 (rich) (March 24, 2006)

I agree with Burton throwing logic out the window (penguins with rocket back packs?) but I must disagree. I haven't watched it in a while but I thought Nichalson's performance was amazing. He wasn't himself, he was much jolier than he comes across in most movies. The psychotic persona makes you contstantly uneasy. It is by far the best when he joy buzzers the dude to death. Of course, I haven't watched it in a while, so I could be worng. But the second Batman was a god damned freak show where Burton did nothing but make over the top characters that looked campy compared to even the comics. Batman Begins is probably my new favorite. -Dante

Someone (March 24, 2006)

I wonder if that means Rykodisc's catalog comes off of emusic?

2+ Replies

David_Arquette (March 24, 2006)

Does Warner have something against emusic or something?

VitusTinnitus (March 24, 2006)

emusic carries indie only. supposedly. i never really checked it out.

VitusTinnitus (March 24, 2006)

indeed, from their website: "eMusic stands alone as the only digital music service entirely focused on serving the needs of independent music fans and independent labels."

Someone (March 24, 2006)

FLAMING LIPS? how is this PUNKnews?

2+ Replies

Someone (March 24, 2006)

flaming lips are more punk than YOU. like my use of caps?

Someone (March 24, 2006)

flamebaited and hooked? quite likely

Someone (March 24, 2006)

thank you capitalism

Someone (March 24, 2006)

$ellout$

2+ Replies

Someone (March 24, 2006)

$uckin' dick$?

Someone (March 24, 2006)

theyare laughing all the way to the bank as you cry on your way to work at wal-mart.

Someone (March 24, 2006)

Does this mean RYKO's distribution leg (consisting of labels like Relapse) is now owned by WMG? Just goes to show that every 'independent' label has ties to either SonyBMG, EMI, UMVD, or WMG

Someone (March 24, 2006)

i ddin;t watch the duke game yesterday but that fuck happen to them did reddick get hurt or something and how did ucla beat gonzaga if morrision would have make that two with 2 minute left they would have won and why with 1 minute left would you miss it to a guy whose is right across from you i would have passed it to morrision

3+ Replies

Someone (March 24, 2006)

meant pass it there not miss

tylerdurden8136 (March 24, 2006)

PUNCTUATION. it helps.

Someone (March 24, 2006)

someone answer my question helps to

tylerdurden8136 (March 24, 2006)

sorry, i don't know. i don't watch basketball.

sickboi (chris) (March 24, 2006)

Reddick sucked nuts last night. He's too scrawny to make it in the NBA. The kid has a HELL of a shot, I'll give him that, but try that shit against 6'4" points guards that are faster than him with a MUCH better vertical, guarding him everynight? Hell no.

Fatty_Arbuckle (March 24, 2006)

This is a song that I'm gonna rap about, and sing about It's called that "He's Doing Time in Jail" This is about this guy who slashed me in the face and back as I exited the 4 Cottage Grove bus This is the dawn of a new era So let me rap and sing about this song, as I exit the Cottage Grove bus Once upon a time, on the 4 Cottage Grove bus I felt like I was on the floor I was talking to myself Suddenly, a man in his 30s thought I was talking to him Suddenly, he started yelling at me, talking vulgar He's doing time in jail As he yelled at me vulgarly, I tried to tell him to shut his face But he refused to do so! When I was about to get up and get off the bus, that same guy whipped out a box cutter on me He followed me to the exit door, chasing after me, as I got off the bus That was at 4358 South Cottage Grove Avenue He then slashed me in the fac

show rest of comment

Someone (March 24, 2006)

Thats when I reached for my revolver!!

Someone (March 24, 2006)

Paris Hilton has herpes http://wwtdd.com/index.php?type=one&i=706

2+ Replies

kindofalongwaydown (March 24, 2006)

You can't really believe that shit...who gives a blue fuck anyway???

Someone (March 25, 2006)

She Does ... Just ask Nick Certer ...

iconoclast (March 24, 2006)

According to their website, Rykodisc is one of the last of the truly independent labels. not anymore.

Someone (March 24, 2006)

no suprise

Someone (March 24, 2006)

hahahhaaha "In other sad news, Fall Out Boy's new video has a very similar theme to the Fashion Zombies Video by the Aquabats, too bad they spent close a million dollars on an almost original idea. Well... they were vampires not zombies, so I guess it is... TOTALLY DIFFERENT. A million dollars sure is a lot of money for a music video. I wonder if it is all worth it? I guess we can look on the bright side at least... they TOTALLY ROCK! ... I am just saying."

2+ Replies

givemeamuseumandillfillit (March 24, 2006)

You're fucking stupid. Ever seen this little classic video called thriller?

Someone (March 26, 2006)

Yeah, and that one was such an Aquabats rip-off.

Someone (March 24, 2006)

so what does this mean for the Replacements remasters and reissues?

kindofalongwaydown (March 24, 2006)

Rykodisc put out anything from any end of the musical spectrum. All the Bob Mould and Sugar albums are priceless.

1+ Reply

Someone (March 25, 2006)

Agreed.

Someone (March 24, 2006)

67.5 million dollars can buy a lot of bling.

1+ Reply

Someone (March 24, 2006)

fo shizzle

Someone (March 24, 2006)

yeah so.... i'm not surprised, Warner Bros seem like a bunch of assholes. That is all.

FuckYouOiOiOi (March 24, 2006)

they tried to do this with epitaph. thank god brett has morals.

2+ Replies

Dante3000 (rich) (March 24, 2006)

And amazing hair. -Dante

FuckYouOiOiOi (March 24, 2006)

i know... he is dreamy.

Someone (March 24, 2006)

Im into murders and assasinations

MATEO (March 25, 2006)

marketing expertise... ha.

Someone (March 25, 2006)

Rumor has it Epitaph is getting ready to sell out to WMG, this time the deal will happen.

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