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| Warner Music Australia | |
|---|---|
 Logo used since 2020. | |
| Parent company | Warner Music Group |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Country of origin | Australia[1] |
| Location | Sydney,New South Wales |
| Official website | warnermusic |
Warner Music Australia (WMA) is an Australian division of theWarner Music Group.
Warner Music Australia distributes in Australia, and also covers distribution inNew Zealand.
In 1969,Warner Bros. Records split andWEA was formed. It was first established in Canada and followed by Australia. The Australian operation began in July 1970, by Paul Turner with five staff members. The official launch was held at the Menzies Hotel inSydney on 1 October 1970. The company was then based in Riley Street,Darlinghurst, and had three major labels: Warner Bros. Records,Elektra Records, andAtlantic Records
A year later Warner Bros. Records worldwide (including Australia) changed its name toKinney Music. The monopoly laws in America at the time did not allow the three labels to trade as one, so the umbrella name of Kinney Music was chosen. For the first two years, theAustralian Record Company (ARC), now known asSony Music, handled the Australian distribution.
Turner's income for the first year was 1 million dollars. That was achieved in seven months, with the first years sales being just under $2 million. By 1 October 1972, U.S. monopoly laws had changed and WEA, using the first initial of each of the three main labels for its name, was born. From that time, WEA Australia had its own sales and distribution arm.
WEA became a major player in the Australian recording industry, through international successes of artists such asFleetwood Mac,Phil Collins,Eric Clapton,Led Zeppelin andThe Doors.
The company was renamed Warner Music Australia in 1990 and split into two divisions – WEA and East-West Records. With more focus being placed on domestic signings, phenomenal success was achieved with acts such asINXS,Cold Chisel,1927 andJenny Morris.
In the mid-to-late 1990s, Warner Music also invested inBrisbane bands,Regurgitator and Pretty Violet Stain. Regurgitator became Warner Music's first direct signing and remained with the company until 2004. In 2005,Sire Records invested in Brisbane bandThe Veronicas, who went straight to number two with their debut single "4 Ever" and their album "The Secret Life of the Veronicas". Later that year, Warner Music Australia bought outFestival-Mushroom Records for $12 million and closed the label, while retaining the use of the Mushroom label for a couple of acts such asEskimo Joe andGabriella Cilmi.
As of 2010[update], the company has continued with artists such asKerser,Lisa Mitchell, Kylie Minogue, the New Zealand band,Evermore, as well as the newly signed Brisbane act,Dead Letter Circus. Warner Music also invested heavily in producers such asShockOne andMatt Lange.
Warner Vision Australia, a company ofWarner Music Australasia, released a series of VHS and DVD on theHistory of theOlympic Games:
Warner Music Vision Australia released a series of DVDs as a joint-venue with theNine Network:
9-47 Albany St Crows Nest, 2065 Australia
