DRO Records (often referred to simply as DRO) was a Spanish

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

founded in 1982 by members of the band

Aviador Dro Aviador Dro, short for El Aviador Dro y sus Obreros Especializados (Aviator Dro and His Specialized Workers), is a synthpop and electronic music band from Spain, formed in Madrid in 1979. History The group was founded by schoolmates Arturo Lan ...

. It is one of Spain's first independent record labels. During the 1980s DRO was an important label for independent artists in Spain, especially in Madrid.

Name

DRO is an acronym which stands for ''Discos Radioactivos Organizados'' ( en, Organized Radioactive Records). In the 1990s, the multinational label

Eastwest Records East West Records (stylized as east''west'') is a record label formed in 1955, distributed and owned by Warner Music Group, headquartered in London, England. History Upon its creation in 1955 by Atlantic Records, the label had one hit with th ...

acquired DRO. Following the acquisition the label was renamed DRO EastWest.

History

DRO Records was founded in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

in 1982 by members of the band

. The label, which was one of the earliest independent labels in Spain, was created in order to give the band the resources to publish their music after being rejected by major labels. At the time, alternative music was emerging in Spain, especially around

Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...

. DRO and other independent labels helped alternative artists distribute their music to wider audiences in the 1980s. Because of its role as a label for important artists during this time, the label has been called a pioneer of Spanish independent music. Many of the most successful Spanish artists of the 1980s were signed to DRO. In 1983, following the collapse of DRO's distributor, Pancoca, the independent label Grabaciones Accidentales (GASA) began handling DRO's distribution. GASA was absorbed into DRO in the following year. DRO also acquired another independent label, Twins, in 1989. The DRO-GASA group was ultimately acquired by

Warner Music Group Warner Music Group Corp. ( d.b.a. Warner Music Group, commonly abbreviated as WMG) is an American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the " big three" recording companies and t ...

in 1993 due to financial pressures. The label current operates as DRO EastWest, SA.

References

{{Authority control Spanish record labels Defunct record labels Record labels established in 1982 IFPI members Spanish companies established in 1982

Name

History

See also

References