Wind-Up Records
Encyclopedia
Wind-up Entertainment, Inc. is a record label
based in New York City
. It was formed in 1997 by Alan Meltzer, former owner of CD One Stop
, following his 1996 purchase of Grass Records. Wind-up is currently the largest independently-owned record label in the world. The parent company Wind-up Entertainment also runs numerous publishing companies as well as a full-scale retail, online and tour merchandising company. The company's slogan is "Developing Career Artists."
Some of the successful acts on the label include Creed
, Evanescence
, Seether
, Finger Eleven
and People in Planes
and most recently Thriving Ivory
. The label has also re-released albums from bands previously associated with Grass Records: The Wrens
and Commander Venus
.
In September 2009, the label reached an agreement with EMI Music Germany and in February 2011 an agreement was reached with EMI Music Canada. The partnership has seen EMI Music take over the marketing and distribution of artists such as Creed, Evanescence, Seether and Finger Eleven throughout the world outside of the US.
On October 31, 2011, the label's founder, Alan Meltzer, died at the age of 67.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was formed in 1997 by Alan Meltzer, former owner of CD One Stop
CD One Stop
CD One Stop was a distributor of pre-recorded music in the late 1980s through the 90s. It was started in 1985 by Alan Meltzer, owner of the Titus Oaks Records music chain in Long Island...
, following his 1996 purchase of Grass Records. Wind-up is currently the largest independently-owned record label in the world. The parent company Wind-up Entertainment also runs numerous publishing companies as well as a full-scale retail, online and tour merchandising company. The company's slogan is "Developing Career Artists."
Some of the successful acts on the label include Creed
Creed (band)
Creed is an American rock band formed in 1995 in Tallahassee, Florida. Becoming popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the band has released three consecutive multi-platinum albums, one of which has been certified diamond, and has sold over 28 million records in the United States, with an...
, Evanescence
Evanescence
Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide...
, Seether
Seether
Seether is a post-grunge/alternative metal band from Pretoria, South Africa, formed in 1999. The band is currently signed to Wind-up Records...
, Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven is a Canadian rock band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1989. They have currently released five studio albums, with their album The Greyest of Blue Skies bringing them into the mainstream...
and People in Planes
People in Planes
People in Planes are a five piece Indie rock band from Cardiff, Wales. They are signed to Wind-up Records. Prior to 2003 they were known as Tetra Splendour and before that they went by the name of Robots in the Sky...
and most recently Thriving Ivory
Thriving ivory
Thriving Ivory is an American rock band who originated in the San Francisco Bay area. They released their self-titled Wind-up Records debut album on June 24, 2008. The debut album reached #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart on the strength of the charting single "Angels on the Moon"...
. The label has also re-released albums from bands previously associated with Grass Records: The Wrens
The Wrens
The Wrens are an indie rock band that formed in the late 1980s in New Jersey. The group consists of Charles Bissell, Greg Whelan, Kevin Whelan, and Jerry MacDonald. Their debut album Silver was released in 1994...
and Commander Venus
Commander Venus
Commander Venus was an American emo band from Omaha, Nebraska. Fronted by Conor Oberst and Tim Kasher, the band also included Todd Fink and Matt Bowen of The Faint, Ben Armstrong of Head of Femur and Robb Nansel, executive producer of the indie label Saddle Creek...
.
In September 2009, the label reached an agreement with EMI Music Germany and in February 2011 an agreement was reached with EMI Music Canada. The partnership has seen EMI Music take over the marketing and distribution of artists such as Creed, Evanescence, Seether and Finger Eleven throughout the world outside of the US.
On October 31, 2011, the label's founder, Alan Meltzer, died at the age of 67.
Artist roster
Accurate with respect to Wind-up's website as of September 20th, 2011.- BaysideBayside (band)Bayside is an American punk rock band from Queens which formed in the winter of 2000. The band has released five full length albums since signing to Victory Records...
- Civil TwilightCivil Twilight (band)Civil Twilight is a three-piece rock band from Cape Town, South Africa. They are signed to Wind-up Records, and have released their self-titled debut album, Civil Twilight.-Origin:...
- Company of ThievesCompany of Thieves (band)Company of Thieves is an indie rock group from Chicago, Illinois. Their first release, Ordinary Riches, was released digitally on January 6, 2009, with a physical CD release on February 24, 2009...
- CreedCreed (band)Creed is an American rock band formed in 1995 in Tallahassee, Florida. Becoming popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the band has released three consecutive multi-platinum albums, one of which has been certified diamond, and has sold over 28 million records in the United States, with an...
- EvanescenceEvanescenceEvanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide...
- Finger ElevenFinger ElevenFinger Eleven is a Canadian rock band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1989. They have currently released five studio albums, with their album The Greyest of Blue Skies bringing them into the mainstream...
- Five For FightingFive for FightingFive for Fighting is the stage name of American singer-songwriter John Ondrasik. He is best known for his piano-based rock, such as the Top 40 songs "Superman " , "100 Years" , and "The Riddle" .-Early years:...
- It's Alive
- James DurbinJames Durbin (singer)James Durbin is an American rock singer and guitar player from Santa Cruz, California, who finished in fourth place on the tenth season of American Idol.-Early life:...
- Jeremy FisherJeremy FisherJeremy Fisher is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Fisher is based in Montreal, Quebec and was previously based on Vancouver Island, B.C. and in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A....
- O.A.R.O.A.R.O.A.R. is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge , Chris Culos , Richard On , Benj Gershman , and Jerry DePizzo...
- Emily OsmentEmily OsmentEmily Jordan Osment is an American teen actress, singer-songwriter and voice actress born in Los Angeles, California. After working in several television films in her childhood, she gained fame for co-starring as Gerti Giggles in Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over...
- People in PlanesPeople in PlanesPeople in Planes are a five piece Indie rock band from Cardiff, Wales. They are signed to Wind-up Records. Prior to 2003 they were known as Tetra Splendour and before that they went by the name of Robots in the Sky...
- SeetherSeetherSeether is a post-grunge/alternative metal band from Pretoria, South Africa, formed in 1999. The band is currently signed to Wind-up Records...
- Scott StappScott StappScott Alan Stapp is an American musician and singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Creed, of which he is a founding member. His debut solo album, The Great Divide, was released in 2005. A second album, Between Lust and Love, is currently in production...
- Thriving IvoryThriving ivoryThriving Ivory is an American rock band who originated in the San Francisco Bay area. They released their self-titled Wind-up Records debut album on June 24, 2008. The debut album reached #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart on the strength of the charting single "Angels on the Moon"...
Previous artists
- 12 Stones12 Stones12 Stones is a rock band that was formed in 2000 in Mandeville, Louisiana. They have collectively sold more than 2 million records.-History:The four band members met in Mandeville, Louisiana, a small suburb north of New Orleans, and within 15 months were signed to a record deal with Wind-up Records...
- Alter BridgeAlter BridgeAlter Bridge is an American rock band that was formed in 2004 in Orlando, Florida by lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips, who are all also members of Creed. Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Myles Kennedy, formerly of The Mayfield Four and the frontman...
- American PearlAmerican PearlAmerican Pearl was a hard rock band from Los Angeles, California. They released one studio album through Wind-up Records in 2000 and toured internationally before disbanding two years later.-History:...
- Atomship
- Ben MoodyBen MoodyBenjamin Robert Moody is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and actor. He is best known as co-founder, lead guitarist, and songwriter of Grammy Award-winning rock band Evanescence from 1995 to October 2003...
- Big DismalBig DismalBig Dismal was a Florida based post-grunge Christian Rock band featuring vocalist Eric Durrance, guitarist Chuck Shea, bassist Gary Sobel, and drummer Jeff Chomin. Before the band found its way to Wind-Up, it was essentially just Durrance, toiling away in Tallahassee's local scene...
- Bob GuineyBob GuineyRobert "Bob" Guiney was a contestant on the first season of The Bachelorette and later, appeared as the bachelor in the fourth season of The Bachelor. He has hosted GSN Live from 2009 until the show's ending in 2011....
- Boy Hits CarBoy Hits CarBoy Hits Car is a four piece American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California.- Biography :The band was formed in 1993. After releasing their first album, My Animal, independently in 1998, they went on the Sno-Core Tour and recorded their next album, Boy Hits Car, on Wind-up Records...
- BoysetsfireBoysetsfireBoysetsfire is a post-hardcore band from Newark, Delaware and West Chester, Pennsylvania that formed in October 1994. Boysetsfire is composed of guitarists Chad Istvan and Josh Latshaw, drummer Matt Krupanski, and vocalist Nathan Gray. The band is currently auditioning for a new...
- Breaking Point
- CartelCartel (band)Cartel is a American pop rock band from Conyers, Georgia that formed in 2003. The band is best known for their single "Honestly", featured on their 2005 debut album Chroma, and for their 2007 appearance on MTV's Band in a Bubble....
- Cauterize
- The Crash MotiveThe Crash MotiveThe Crash Motive was a rock band on the record label Wind-Up Records. The band consisted of five members who met at the University of Delaware. The band was formerly known as Omnisoul.-Biography:...
- The Drowners
- Drowning PoolDrowning PoolDrowning Pool is a four-piece alternative metal band from Dallas, Texas.-Early days :Drowning Pool rose to fame while playing along with Ozzy Osbourne during an Ozzfest tour. Their 2001 debut album, Sinner was certified platinum within six weeks...
- Eric Durrance
- Dust for LifeDust for Life-Formation and Initial Success:After the dissolution of the Memphis grunge band Bacchanal, Jason Hughes recruited three members from the local Memphis rock band Spaceman to form DFL. Chris Gavin of the band Burning Blue was added and became the second main songwriter of the group.In late 1999, DFL...
- Early States
- EdgewaterEdgewater (band)Edgewater was a five-piece post-grunge band from the Dallas, Texas area that began in 1997. The band's style was not aimed to fit into any particular genre. According to drummer Jeremy Rees, "Our music is like our name...
- Endless Hallway
- The ExitThe ExitThe Exit is a New York City-based band indie/punk/reggae group, formed in 2000. The band's music blends '80s dub and reggae with '90s punk and indie rock. The band's members include Ben Brewer on lead guitar and vocals, and Gunnar Olsen on drums. Jeff DaRosa was formerly the band's lead vocals and...
- The Februarys
- Hawthorne HeightsHawthorne HeightsHawthorne Heights is an American rock band from Dayton, Ohio, formed in 2001. Their line-up currently consists of lead-singer and rhythm guitarist JT Woodruff, lead-guitarist and vocalist Micah Carli, bassist and backing vocalist Matt Ridenour, and drummer Eron Bucciarelli...
- Megan McCauley
- Must
- Old Man
- Papercut Massacre
- Pilot SpeedPilot SpeedPilot Speed is a Canadian rock band that formed in 1999 in Toronto, Ontario. The quartet's debut EP, For All That's Given, Wasted, was released in 2001 which gathered attention from MapleMusic Recordings who later signed them...
- Push PlayPush PlayPush Play was a pop rock band formed on Long Island, NY. The band consisted of CJ Baran , Steve Scarola , Nick Deturris and Derek Ries . The band had found success without a label by utilizing social networking and selling their albums on iTunes and other online music vendors...
- The Queen Killing KingsThe Queen Killing KingsThe Queen Killing Kings are an American rock band based out of New Haven, Connecticut. Originally a duo started in 2006 by lead singer/song writer/pianist Coley O'Toole, the band has expanded into a four piece with the release of their debut album, Tidal Eyes.-Biography:Growing up in Shelton,...
- Seven WiserSeven WiserSeven Wiser was a four-piece alternative metal band from New York, New York. They were signed to Crash Records. The band's first album debuted on Wind-Up records in June 2004. According to Sound Scan, Seven Wiser has been able to sound scan 10,000 copies of their debut album in the few months...
- Stars of Track and FieldStars of Track and FieldStars of Track and Field is a three-piece indie rock band from Portland, Oregon, currently on the Wind-Up Records label. Their name is in reference to the Belle and Sebastian song of the same name from the album If You're Feeling Sinister....
- StefyStefyStefy is a pop band from Orange County, California. The group, formerly known as "The Lovely", consists of Jason Gaviati , Stefy Rae , Sean Meyer and Jordan Plosky...
- Stereo FuseStereo FuseStereo Fuse is a post-grunge band from Dallas, Texas, USA.Stereo Fuse was formed in 2000 after guitarist Jeff Quay and drummer Chad Jenkins were forced to disband their previous group...
- StrataStrata (band)Strata was a rock band from Campbell, California formed in 2001. They released two full-length albums with Wind-up Records, before disbanding after the departure of vocalist Eric Victorino on 19 January 2008.-History:...
- Stretch PrincessStretch PrincessStretch Princess was a British alternative rock band, which formed in 1996. The band consisted of Jo Lloyd , James Wright , and Dave Magee .They released two albums...
- SubmersedSubmersedSubmersed was an American rock band from Stephenville, Texas. They disbanded in 2008.-History:Submersed was signed to Wind-up Records, and worked with Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti on its debut studio album, In Due Time, which featured the singles "You Run", "Hollow", and the title track...
- Tickle Me PinkTickle me PinkTickle Me Pink is an American rock band from Fort Collins, Colorado currently signed to Wind-Up Records. The band is composed of Sean Kennedy , Stefan Runstrom , Joey Barba and Steven Beck...
- TricksideTrickside-History:Trickside was composed of brothers Jeff Mendelsohn and Dave Mendelsohn of New York City. The name "Trickside" came from a childhood playing card game. The band's single "Under You" was included on the soundtrack to the film On the Line, and reached #27 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 charts....
- The WrensThe WrensThe Wrens are an indie rock band that formed in the late 1980s in New Jersey. The group consists of Charles Bissell, Greg Whelan, Kevin Whelan, and Jerry MacDonald. Their debut album Silver was released in 1994...
Soundtracks
- 1080° Avalanche1080° Avalanche1080° Avalanche is a snowboarding game for the Nintendo GameCube, developed by Nintendo's in-house development studio, NST, and published by Nintendo. Avalanche is a sequel to 1080° Snowboarding for the Nintendo 64. The game has an emphasis on racing, rather than doing tricks, in contrast to other...
(video game) - Daredevil: The AlbumDaredevil: The AlbumDaredevil: The Album was released in 2003 by Wind-Up Records for the movie Daredevil, starring Ben Affleck. All songs were previously unreleased, and some songs appeared on later releases...
- Elektra: The Album
- Fantastic 4: The Album
- John Tucker Must Die
- The Punisher: The Album
- Scream 3: The AlbumScream 3: The AlbumScream 3: The Album is the original soundtrack album to the film Scream 3. The Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds song "Red Right Hand" is played in the film, having been heard in all three films. Nick Cave actually wrote a "sequel" to the song just for the film, which can be heard in the closing credits....
- Walk the LineWalk the Line (soundtrack)Walk the Line is a Grammy Award-winning soundtrack from the movie Walk the Line released November 15, 2005 by Wind-Up Records. There are nine songs performed by Joaquin Phoenix, four songs by Reese Witherspoon, one song by Waylon Payne, one song by Johnathan Rice, two songs by Tyler Hilton, and...
- World's Strongest Man