Geffen Records

Geffen Records is an American record label established by David Geffen and owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M Records imprint.
Founded in 1980, Geffen Records has been a part of Interscope Geffen A&M since 1999 and has been used by Universal Music as a syndicating division, serving its purpose to operate as a premier label for many new releases since 2003 and its 2017 reboot and at the same time to reissue many releases from recording labels such as Decca Records (exclusively the American pop/rock catalog), Kapp Records, DreamWorks Records, MCA Records, Uni Records, Chess Records, Almo Sounds (Interscope has managed reissues of the label in 2015), Dot Records, and ABC Records (primarily its pop, rock, and R&B recordings).
The label has released significant recordings from artists including Elton John, Nirvana, Aerosmith, Neil Young, Cher, Guns N' Roses, John Lennon, Olivia Rodrigo, The Rolling Stones, Yeat, Yungblud, Kali Uchis, Dave, Alesso, Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel, Donna Summer, Weezer, Mary J. Blige, Blink-182, Avicii, Madness, Sylvers, Kylie Minogue, Enya, Counting Crows, Tesla, Keyshia Cole, Lifehouse, Beck, Nelly Furtado, Lil Durk, Marshmello, Rise Against, Snoop Dogg, and Rob Zombie.
History
1980–1990: Formation
Geffen Records began operations in 1980, having been started by music industry businessman David Geffen who, in the early 1970s, had founded Asylum Records. Geffen stepped down from Asylum in 1975, when he crossed over to film and was named a vice president of Warner Bros. Pictures. He was fired from Warner , but still remained locked in a five-year contract, which prevented him from working elsewhere. When that deal expired, he returned to work in 1980 and struck a deal with, ironically, Warner Records, the sister company to Warner Bros. Pictures, to create Geffen Records. Warner Bros. Records provided 100 percent of the funding for the label's start-up and operations and Warner distributed its releases in North America, while Epic Records handled distribution in the rest of the world until 1985 when Warner Music Group (WMG) took over distribution for the rest of the world. Profits were split 50/50 between Geffen Records and its respective distributors.
Geffen Records' first artist signing was superstar Donna Summer, whose gold-selling album The Wanderer became the label's first release in 1980. The label then released Double Fantasy by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Two weeks after it entered the charts, Lennon was murdered in New York City. Subsequently, the album went on to sell millions and gave Geffen its first number-one album and single; the rights to the album would later be taken over by EMI, which eventually was absorbed by Geffen's parent, Universal Music Group (The present incarnation of MCA).
As the 1980s progressed, Geffen would go on to have success with such acts as Asia, Berlin, Enya, Kylie Minogue, Quarterflash, Wang Chung, and Sammy Hagar. The label also signed several established acts such as Elton John, Irene Cara, Cher, Debbie Harry, Don Henley, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, and Jennifer Holliday. Toward the end of the decade, the company also began making a name for itself as an emerging rock label, thanks to the success of Whitesnake (U.S. and Canada only), The Stone Roses, Guns N' Roses, Tesla, Sonic Youth and the comeback of 1970s-era rockers Aerosmith. This prompted Geffen to create a subsidiary label, DGC Records in 1990; which focused on more progressive rock and would later embrace the emergence of alternative rock—Nirvana being an example. Geffen also briefly distributed the first incarnation of Def American Recordings through Warner Music Group from 1988 to 1990.
1990–1998: Acquisition by MCA
After a decade of operating through WMG, when its contract with the company expired, the label was sold to MCA Music Entertainment (later renamed Universal Music Group) in 1990. The deal ultimately earned David Geffen an estimated US$800 million in stock (until the cash acquisition of MCA by Japanese conglomerate Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. in 1991 made Geffen a billionaire) and an employment contract that ran until 1995. Following the sale, Geffen Records operated as one of MCA's leading independently managed labels. Geffen stepped down as head of the label in 1995 to collaborate with Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg to form DreamWorks SKG, an ambitious multimedia empire dealing in film, television, books and music. Geffen Records would distribute releases on the new operation's DreamWorks Records subsidiary. In January 1996, Geffen Records funded and distributed a short-lived boutique label Outpost Recordings featuring the likes of Whiskeytown, Ry Cooder, Veruca Salt, and Hayden. However, under MCA, Geffen's fortunes began to dwindle.
1999–2009: Interscope-Geffen-A&M
In December 1998, Seagram decided to merge Universal Music Group with PolyGram. In the ensuing months, a number of corporate reshufflings occurred, resulting in Geffen, alongside A&M Records, being merged into the Interscope Geffen A&M Records group, resulting in Geffen firing 110 of its employees. Unlike A&M, which was closed entirely, Geffen was able to continue existing as a brand under Interscope Records. At the same time, international distribution of Interscope and Geffen releases switched to ex-PolyGram label Polydor Records, which had already been distributing A&M releases overseas (in return for A&M handling Polydor releases in the U.S.).
In October 1999, Jordan Schur (of Flip Records) was chosen as Geffen's new president; this led to Schur stepping down as the head of Flip, but he still managed to maintain control of the label and a few acts from Flip's roster, such as Cold and Professional Murder Music, were transferred over to Geffen. Geffen's first release under Schur's leadership was the End of Days soundtrack, released in November 1999, and under the direction of Schur, Geffen was to become a predominantly rock music-based label.
Geffen continued to do steady business—so much so that in 2003, UMG folded MCA Records into Geffen. Though Geffen had been substantially a pop-rock label, its absorption of MCA (and its back catalogs) led to a more diverse roster; with former MCA artists such as Mary J. Blige, The Roots, Blink-182, Rise Against and Common now featured on the label. Meanwhile, DreamWorks Records also folded, with artists such as Nelly Furtado, Lifehouse and Rufus Wainwright being absorbed by Geffen as well. During this time, DGC Records was also folded into Geffen, with retained artists now recording for Geffen directly (DGC was reactivated in 2007, however it would now operate through Interscope Records instead).
As the 2000s progressed, Geffen's absorption of the MCA and DreamWorks labels, along with continuing to sign new acts such as Ashlee Simpson, Angels & Airwaves, Snoop Dogg and The Game, had boosted the company to the extent that it began gaining equal footing with the main Interscope label, leading some industry insiders to speculate that it could revert to operating as an independently managed imprint at UMG again. At the end of 2007, however, Geffen was absorbed further into Interscope. The restructuring resulted in Geffen laying off sixty employees.
In 2009, it was announced that Geffen Records had signed an agreement with the Holy See to produce an album of Marian songs and prayers from Pope Benedict XVI.
2010–present
Jimmy Iovine relaunched the Geffen imprint in 2011, moving its headquarters from California to New York City. Gee Roberson was appointed chairman.
In March 2017, Neil Jacobson was appointed President of Geffen Records to oversee the relaunch of the label via new signings as well as reinvigoration of the label's legendary catalog. In December 2019, Jacobson left Geffen to start Crescent Drive Productions.
In January 2020, Lee L'Heureux was appointed General Manager of Geffen Records.
In March 2022, Tom March, a British record executive formerly of Polydor Records, was appointed president of Geffen Records.
Geffen has seen major success amongst their developing artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Kali Uchis, Yungblood and YEAT. Rodrigo’s Sour broke the global Spotify record for the biggest opening week for an album by a female artist. It topped the charts in several countries, including the US Billboard 200, and was one of the best-selling albums of 2021. Uchis’ Album released under Geffen, Red Moon in Venus (2023), became her first to debut within the top 10 on the Billboard 200.
The Rolling Stones announced their new album “Hackney Diamonds” will be released under Geffen Records on October 20, 2023. This marks their first record of new material in over 18 years.
Geffen signed superstar DJ, Alesso, in 2023.
HYBE x Geffen Records
In February 2021, HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) and UMG’s Geffen Records officially announced their strategic joint venture partnership — an unprecedented collaboration between a U.S. record label and the leading K-pop and entertainment lifestyle platform company. HYBE x Geffen Records have partnered to release music by HYBE’s artists around the world, including releases from artists such as BTS, NewJeans, Seventeen, and BTS individual members.
In November 2021, HYBE x Geffen Records announced that they would be creating a global girl group. The years-long process of creating this one-of-a-kind girl group will be the subject of an upcoming untitled Netflix documentary series. With unprecedented access, the series will be a compelling portrayal of the journey to global stardom, including insight into the unique training and development program from HYBE and Geffen Records. It will be directed by award-winning filmmaker, Nadia Hallgren, who was at the helm of the four-time Emmy nominated Netflix documentary, Becoming. The series produced by HYBE, Interscope Films and Boardwalk Pictures is set to premiere in 2024.
Labels
HYBE
Cinematic Music Group
Downtown Records
Rebel Music
Simple Stupid Records
Artists
Current artists
4TUNAT (FlyTown/Geffen)
Abby Jasmine (Cinematic Music Group/Geffen Records; distribution formaily licensed to Foundation Media)
Ado (Virgin/Geffen)
Alesso (10:22PM/Geffen)
Ann Marie
Big Time Rush (Downtown Records/Geffen Records)
Braden Bales
BTS (HYBE; distribution in the US)
Byron Messia
Celeste
Cian Ducrot
Dave (Neighbourhood/Geffen)
Dexter Tortoriello (Downtown Records/Geffen Records)
Easy Life
Guns N' Roses
Highway (Victor Victor Worldwide/Geffen Records)
Holly Humberstone
Hotboii (Rebel Music/Geffen Records)
Inhaler
J Hope (Big Hit/Geffen Records)
Jimin (Big Hit/Geffen Records)
Jungkook (Big Hit/Geffen Records)
Kali Uchis (EMI/Geffen; Previously with Interscope)
Le Sserafim (Source Music; distribution in the US)
Huddy
Kenneth Cash (Cinematic Music Group/Geffen Records)
Kidd G
Lawsy (LISTEN TO THE KIDS/Geffen Records)
Lil Heat (Cinematic Music Group/Geffen Records; distribution licensed to Ingrooves and previously with Foundation Media)
Lola Kirke (Downtown Records/Geffen Records)
Lul Bob (Good Money Global/Cinematic Music Group/Geffen Records; distribution licensed to Ingrooves and previously with Foundation Media)
That Mexican OT
Michael Kiwanka
midwxst (Simple Stupid/Geffen Records)
Neon Trees (Thrill Forever Records/Downtown Records/Geffen Records)
NewJeans (ADOR; distribution in the US)
Nirvana (from DGC Records) (Reissues)
Jace! (Simple Stupid/Geffen Records; distribution licensed to Ingrooves and previously with Foundation Media)
Ola Runt (Front Street/Cinematic Music Group/Geffen Records; distribution formaily licensed to Ingrooves and previously with Foundation Media)
Olivia Rodrigo
Prentiss (Cinematic Music Group/Geffen Records)
Riovaz
Rob49 (Rebel Music/Geffen Records; distribution licensed to Ingrooves and previously with Foundation Media)
Seventeen (Pledis Entertainment; distribution in the US)
Skaiwater (Cinematic Music Group/Geffen Records)
Skilla Baby
Suga (Big Hit/Geffen Records)
Smokingskul (LISTEN TO THE KIDS/Geffen Records)
SpotemGottem (Rebel Music/Geffen Records)
Tay Money
Thug Drama (BTM Music Group Inc.)
Tokyo's Revenge (Blac Noize!/Cypress Park Music/Geffen Records/Interscope Records; distribution licensed to Foundation Media)
V (Big Hit/Geffen Records)
Yeat (Field Trip/Lyfëstyle Corporation/Geffen Records)
Yhapojj (Simple Stupid/Geffen Records)
Yungblud (Locomotion/Geffen Records)
Zack Bia (Field Trip/Geffen)
Former artists
A Drop in the Gray
Aerosmith (from Columbia Records)
Aimee Mann
Alex Salibian
AlunaGeorge
Angels & Airwaves
Ashlee Simpson
Asia
Avant (from Magic Johnson Music/MCA Records)
Avicii
Bipolar Sunshine
Blaque
Blink-182 (from MCA Records)
Box Car Racer
Bobby Brown
Cher
Common (GOOD/Geffen, from MCA Records)
Counting Crows
Cowboy Junkies
Dazz Band
DJ Snake
Don Henley
Donna Summer
Eagles
Elton John
Emile Haynie
Enya
Eve (from Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
Field Mob (Disturbing tha Peace/Geffen, from MCA Records)
Finch (from Drive-Thru Records)
The Game (from Aftermath/G-Unit/Interscope)
Garbage (from Almo Sounds)
Girlicious
Greyson Chance (eleveneleven/Maverick/Geffen)
Gryffin
Guns N' Roses
GZA
Jacob Collier
Jeff Bhasker
Jennifer Holliday
J.I the Prince of N.Y (G*STARR/Interscope/Geffen)
John Kilzer
John Lennon
John Waite
Ken Laszlo
Keyshia Cole
Klepto (from Larceny Entertainment)
Kylie Minogue
Lifehouse
Lil Durk (from Alamo/OTF/Interscope)
Lil Jon
Martin Terefe
Mary J. Blige (from MCA Records)
Mura Masa
Nelly Furtado (from DreamWorks Records)
New Found Glory
Orianthi
Peter Gabriel (US/Canada)
Quarterflash
The Plimsouls
Puddle of Mudd
Rise Against
Rod Wave (from Alamo; distribution licensed to Foundation Media and previously with EMPIRE)
The Roots (from DGC Records, later switched to MCA Records, then back to Geffen)
Sauce Money (Roc-A-Fella/Geffen, later switched to MCA Records)
Shaggy (from MCA Records)
Smokepurpp (from Alamo/Interscope)
Snoop Dogg (Doggy Style/Star Trak/Geffen, from MCA Records)
Solange (Music World/Geffen)
Sonic Youth
The Starting Line (from Drive-Thru Records)
Tesla
Tei Shi (Downtown Records/Geffen)
Thug Drama (BTM Music Group Inc.)
Tommy Keene
The Like
XTC
Yoko Ono
Weezer
Wang Chung
See also
Geffen Records discography
John Kalodner
List of record labels
References
External links
- Geffen Records is included within the Interscope site and is part of Interscope-Geffen-A&M
American record labels
Record labels based in California
New York (state) record labels
American country music record labels
Heavy metal record labels
Pop record labels
Rock record labels
Record labels established in 1980
1980 establishments in California
Companies based in New York City
Labels distributed by Universal Music Group
David Geffen