| Giant Records (Warner) | |
|---|---|
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| Parent company | Warner Music Group |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Irving Azoff |
| Status | Defunct |
| Distributing label | Warner Bros. Records Rhino Entertainment (re-issues) |
| Genre | Various |
| Country of origin | US |
Giant Records was launched in 1990 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. Records and Irving Azoff, who had sold his companies to MCA Records for $15.7 million. Azoff initially intended for the the label to be called 'Big Records,' but that name had been taken.
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History
Beginnings
Along with Interscope Records, Giant became one of two start up labels Warner Music Group bankrolled in 1990. Upon its launch, Warner Bros. saw this as a replacement for Geffen Records (which had been purchased by MCA Music Entertainment the same year.) Giant used the catalog numbers that would have been assigned to Geffen, had it remained with Warner.
Giant's first release was the Gulf War all-star tribute song "Voices That Care," assembled by producer David Foster, in early 1991. That spring the label released "Hold You Tight," by Tara Kemp, which went on to become a top five single. In the months to follow, Giant released the highly successful soundtrack album to New Jack City, which would go on to sell sixteen million copies worldwide and introduced the labels next signees Color Me Badd, whose debut album C.M.B. achieved multi-platinum status and spun off two number one singles. Under the supervision of Cassandra Mills, who was president of its Urban Division, the label went on to score hits with such acts as MC Hammer, Jade, Lord Finesse and teen pop star Jeremy Jordan.
The company also signed Steely Dan, Warren Zevon, Oingo Boingo, Deep Purple, Morbid Angel and later Brian Wilson. The label also released If Only My Heart Had a Voice by Kenny Rogers in 1993, who had previously recorded a number of albums for its sister label Reprise Records.
Decline
While the company was adept at launching the recording careers of new artists (namely R&B, hip-hop and Country acts), it often had trouble sustaining their success for an extended period of time. In 1993, Giant became dissatisfied with the way WEA was handling its international affairs and subsequently struck a deal with BMG to distribute its records outside of the U.S. By the mid/late 1990s, Giant was quickly unraveling. In a bid to begin anew, the company replaced most of its staff and focused most of its attention on its newly-launched subsidiary label Revolution Records in 1996. By decade's end, the company reverted to the Giant Records moniker again, to little effect. During this time, it distributed Paladin Records, which included country/trip-hop artist Greg Garing and singer-songwriter Steve Forbert.
In 2001, Warner Music Group ended its joint venture with Giant, which was absorbed into its Warner Bros. parent. The last Giant release, however, did carry the originally intended Big Records name.
Giant Records artists
The following is a list of artists who have recorded for Giant Records.
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See also
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