Warner Classics is the
classical music
Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" also ...
arm of
Warner Music Group. The label began issuing new recordings under the Warner Classics banner in 1991. The company also includes the
Erato Records,
Teldec Records and NVC Arts labels. Based in France, Warner Classics also distributes the Lontano and Finlandia labels.
History
What was then known as
Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, which owned
Warner Bros. Records and
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...
, acquired
Elektra Records
Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the 1 ...
in 1969 which included Elektra's
Nonesuch Records classical music label. This led to the formation of WEA, the forerunner of Warner Music Group. Nonesuch is now part of Warner Records. WEA acquired
Teldec Records in 1988. Warner Classics was formed in 1991. The renamed Warner Music Group acquired
Erato Records in 1992. Warner acquired the classical video company NVC in 1994.
The label developed a larger profile in 2013 when it absorbed
EMI Classics (including
Pye Records' classical music catalogue) with that label's output absorbed into the Warner Classics label and the co-owned
Virgin Classics absorbed into Erato.
EMI Classics and Virgin Classics to join Warners – Classic FM Music News and Features
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References
External links
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Warner Music labels
Record labels established in 1991
Labels distributed by Warner Music Group
1991 establishments in the United States
Classical music record labels