Republic Records is a prominent frontline record label owned by Universal Music Group.
The company was founded by brothers Monte and Avery Lipman in 1995 as a subsidiary of MCA’s Geffen Records, but the label’s distribution later moved to Universal Records.
Monte Lipman then became the President of the Universal Records label, while Avery Lipman became Republic Records’ President.
Republic’s first signing was the Bloodhound Gang.
Avery Lipman has stated that he and Monte Lipman conceived the idea for Republic Records at the kitchen table in their apartment. They had been working at record companies and he was in between jobs when they started putting out records, just as a hobby. Their approach was mostly a grassroots approach and the first record they put out was a major success.
The label’s first huge success came in the form of British group Chumbawamba, signed as a joint venture with Universal Records. The band’s debut album Tubthumper went on to sell over 10 million copies worldwide.
Other early Republic Records signings included Three Doors Down and Godsmack.
In 2000, Universal Music Group acquired a controlling interest in Republic Records.
In 2006, UMG merged Universal Records and Republic Records to create Universal Republic Records, appointing Monte Lipman as President and CEO of the label and Avery Lipman as Co-President and COO.
Universal Republic Records changed its name back to the original Republic Records in 2012.
In 2013, UMG signed new long-term agreements with Republic Records founders Monte Lipman and Avery Lipman and they became Chairman & Chief Executive Officer and President & Chief Operating Officer of Repbulic, respectively.
In 2015, Republic Records signed Post Malone. Taylor Swift, an iconic pop star, signed a direct deal with Republic Records in 2018; her music was previously released through Big Machine Records.
Today, Republic Records’ roster includes superstar artists such as Ariana Grande, Black Sabbath, Florence + the Machine, Hailee Steinfeld, James Blake, James Bay, John Mellencamp, Julia Michaels, Kid Cudi, Liam Payne, Of Monsters and Men, Post Malone, Seth MacFarlane, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift and more.
The label is also comprised of various business ventures, including American Recordings (The Avett Brothers), Boominati Worldwide (Metro Boomin), Brushfire (Jack Johnson), Casablanca Records (Tïesto), Cash Money (Drake, Jacquees, Nicki Minaj), Hollywood Records (Sofia Carson, Zendaya), Lava Records (Greta Van Fleet, Jessie J, Lorde), Monkeywrench (Pearl Jam), XO (The Weeknd, Belly, NAV), Young Money (Drake, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj), Roc Nation (Jaden Smith, Justine Skye, The Dream), among others.
Republic also maintains a long-standing strategic alliance with country powerhouse Big Machine Records, and Universal Music Latin Entertainment. In addition, Republic has expanded to release high-profile soundtracks for Universal Pictures (Fifty Shades of Grey, SING), Fox TV (Lee Daniels’ STAR, The Four), and NBC TV (The Voice), as well as other notable film and television franchises.Music Business Worldwide