Warner Records

United States • Los AngelesFounded 1958

Warner Records is Warner Music Group's flagship US imprint, founded in 1958 and based in Los Angeles. Formerly Warner Bros. Records, it was renamed Warner Records in 2019. Its roster includes Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran (US), Green Day, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, and its catalog includes Prince, Madonna, and Fleetwood Mac.

Contact & HQ

Headquarters

3400 Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA, USA

Ownership & Distribution

Label Type

Major Imprint

Parent Company

Warner Music Group

Distribution

Warner Music Group

Additional Details

Genres

PopRockHip-HopR&B

Signing Process

Warner Records runs its own A&R. Unsolicited demos are not accepted. Artists are signed through referrals and A&R scouting.

Demo Policy

No unsolicited demos. Submit through representation.

Notable Artists

Dua Lipa
Green Day
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Michael Buble
Prince (catalog)
Madonna (catalog)

Sub-Labels / Imprints

Warner Records NashvilleReprise Records

Warner Records is Warner Music Group's flagship US imprint, founded in 1958 and based in Burbank, California. Formerly known as Warner Bros. Records, it was renamed Warner Records in 2019. Its roster includes Dua Lipa, Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Michael Buble. Its catalog includes Prince, Madonna, and Fleetwood Mac, three of the most commercially significant catalogs in music.

Warner Records operates as a full-service major imprint across pop, rock, hip-hop, and R&B. It runs Warner Records Nashville for country and Reprise Records as a subsidiary. Its strength is pop and rock with WMG's global distribution and marketing behind it.

How Warner Records Operates

Warner Records runs dedicated A&R with a focus on pop and rock. It invests heavily in global album campaigns, radio, and streaming. Its catalog division manages the Prince, Madonna, and Fleetwood Mac archives, which are major revenue drivers.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Warner Records is a primary WMG target for pop and rock artists. Its roster of global pop stars (Dua Lipa) and legacy rock acts (Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers) shows range across eras and genres. If your music has mainstream pop or rock potential, Warner Records is a strong option within WMG.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

Master ownership: Warner Records (via WMG) owns your masters under a standard deal.
Catalog competition: Prince, Madonna, and Fleetwood Mac reissue cycles consume marketing resources.
No unsolicited demos: You need representation or an A&R relationship.
LA vs NY strategy: Warner Records (Burbank) and Atlantic (New York) sometimes overlap in signing focus.