| Astralwerks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | EMI (1993–2012) Universal Music Group (2012–present) |
| Founded | July 1993; 32 years ago (1993-07) |
| Founder | Brian Long |
| Distributors |
|
| Genre | Electronic |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Official website | astralwerks |
Astralwerks (orAstralwerks Records) is an Americanrecord label primarily focused onelectronic music that is now owned byUniversal Music Group. Its material is distributed viaCapitol Music Group in the United States. The label was founded in 1993 and, in its early years, featured prominent British acts likeThe Future Sound of London,Fatboy Slim andThe Chemical Brothers. In recent years, its roster has expanded to include acts likeHalsey,Marshmello,Porter Robinson,Illenium,Zhu and numerous others. In 2018, Astralwerks' headquarters were moved from its original home of New York City to Los Angeles.[1]
Astralwerks was founded in New York City in July 1993[2] by Brian Long as an electronic and dance imprint ofCaroline Records.[3] Long had previously helped curate an electronic music compilation that was released on Caroline calledExcursions in Ambience.[2] Caroline's parent company,Virgin Records, sold the label toThorn EMI soon after Astralwerks' foundation.[4] The first album released on Astralwerks wasTales of Ephidrina by Amorphous Androgynous, an alter ego ofThe Future Sound of London. In 1994, Peter Wohelski was brought on as the head ofA&R. Wohelski is credited with discovering the Chemical Brothers and bringing them into the Astralwerks fold. Their 1995 debut studio album,Exit Planet Dust, sold 750,000 copies in the United States.[3] The duo's 1997 follow-up,Dig Your Own Hole, reached number 14 on theBillboard 200 chart.[2]
Other albums released under Astralwerks in its first five years includedSeefeel'sQuique (1994),Soul Oddity'sSoul Oddity (1996),μ-Ziq'sLunatic Harness (1997),Photek'sModus Operandi (1997),[2] and Fatboy Slim'sYou've Come a Long Way, Baby (1998), among many others.[5] 1999 saw the releases ofBasement Jaxx'sRemedy[2] andCassius'1999, the latter of which had three singles peak in the top 30 of theU.S. Dance chart.[5] That year, Peter Wohelski also left his position as general manager of the label[6] and was replaced by Errol Kolosine.[7] In the early 2000s, Astralwerks releases includedAir's 2001 album,10 000 Hz Legend (which reached number 88 on theBillboard 200) and the 2003 re-issue ofMotorbass'Pansoul.[2] In 2005, the label releasedKraftwerk's first live album,Minimum-Maximum, and aBrian Eno compilation called,More Music for Films.[5]
In 2007, EMI reorganized its distribution arm, which ultimately saw Glenn Mendlinger take over for Errol Kolosine as the label's general manager.[8] In 2009, the label releasedDavid Guetta'sOne Love. The lead single off that album, "When Love Takes Over," would go on to win aGrammy Award. In 2012, the label releasedSwedish House Mafia'sUntil Now which featured the single "Don't You Worry Child." The album reached number 14 on theBillboard 200 while the single made it to number 6 on theBillboard Hot 100.[5]
That year, the Universal Music Group (UMG) purchased EMI, bringing Astralwerks under UMG control where it remains today.[9] As part of the corporate restructuring, Astralwerks became an imprint under the Capitol Music Group.[10] In 2013, the label signed both Porter Robinson[11] andDeadmau5 (along with hisMau5trap imprint).[12] The following year, Astralwerks signed singer Halsey to a record deal.[13] Also that year, Robinson released his debut studio album,Worlds[14] and Deadmau5 also released his Astralwerks debut,While(1<2).[15] Halsey's debut studio album,Badlands, came in 2015 and peaked at number 2 on theBillboard 200. Her 2017 follow-up,Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, would top the chart.[16]
In 2018, it was announced that Astralwerks would move from New York City to its current home base of Los Angeles.[1] Glenn Mendlinger also stepped down as general manager[17] and was replaced by Toby Andrews.[18] In September 2018, the label announced that it had "relaunched" with a spate of new signings and a new staff at their Los Angeles offices. The new signings includedAxwell & Ingrosso andIllenium.Marshmello, another recent Astralwerks signee, released the song "Happier" featuringBastille which reached number 2 on theBillboard Hot 100 and topped severalBillboard charts.[19] In October 2018, the label partnered with gaming personalityNinja on a compilation album[20] that was released in December and featured original songs fromTycho,Alesso, and3lau, among others.[21] In 2021, Astralwerks andBlue Note Records collaborated on a series of jazz/electronica albums titledBluewerks.[22]
In 2023, it was announced that AstralWerks would enter into a partnership with SIZE Records, distributing all of the label's future recordings in addition to handling its back catalog prior to the distribution deal.[23][24]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |