Updated Report: Roadrunner Offices In UK, Germany, Canada Closed
April 30, 2012, 11 years ago
According to Paul Cashmere from Australia's Noise11, Roadrunner Records was absorbed into parent company Warner Music worldwide today with many staff around the world either laid-off or moving to Warner.
Staff from the Roadrunner Australia office based in Melbourne were given the news today by Warner Australia CEO Tony Harlow. Noise11 was told that about half the staff were let go and the rest will work for Warner.
Offices in the UK, Germany and Canada were also closed today.
Roadrunner was founded in the Netherlands in 1980 by Cees Wessels. By 1986, the label had an office in the USA and then quickly expanded to the UK, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, Denmark and Canada.
In December, 2006, Warner Music acquired a majority stake in the label and in November 2010 bought the remainder of the business. Cees Wessels stayed on as CEO.
Last week Wessels left the label 17 months after the completion of its sale to the Warner Music Group. Longtime label President Jonas Nachsin, who has served in that role since 1999, will remain on staff.
Roadrunner artists include MEGADETH, QUEENSRŸCHE, RATT, DREAM THEATER, OPETH, SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, STONE SOUR, TRIVIUM and rock legends LYNYRD SKYNYRD, STEVE MILLER BAND and LENNY KRAVITZ.
