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Warner Music relaunches Asylum Records in the US

By Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 1 November 2017

Warner Music is rebooting Asylum Records in the US. Kenny Weagly – a long-time exec at the mini-major – is charged with the task of leading the latest version of the label, that was originally launched by that David Geffen back in 1970 and which has been through various incarnations in the subsequent decades. Weagly will be joined by producer Dante Ross, who becomes SVP A&R.

Confirming his new role, Weagly said: “Asylum was founded with artistic freedom as its guiding principle and the new Asylum expands on that ideal by believing in and supporting our artists’ visions for their music, as well as when and how they want to release it. Our mantra is nimbleness and flexibility – the ability to tailor-make deals, from singles projects to multi-album careers – for original artists across a spectrum of genres”.

Meanwhile the mini-major’s recorded music boss man Max Lousada added: “We’re committed to encouraging entrepreneurship and nurturing diverse musical cultures within the WMG family. Asylum is one of the most revered brands in the music industry, and by relaunching it in the US as a label that’s all about musical independence and flexibility, we are opening another avenue for fresh, innovative artistry to thrive”.

All hail the thriving of fresh innovative artistry, I say. Get thee to the Asylum. The American Asylum, I mean. Asylum Records was rebooted in the UK nearly a decade ago, and the British version of the label – although also part of Warner – will continue to operate independently from the all-new look US version. Though fresh innovative artistry thrives there as well, I’m sure.