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Vagrant Records

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Vagrant Records
Parent companyBMG Rights Management
Founded1996
FounderRich Egan,Jon Cohen
Distributor(s)Universal Music Group[1](physical)
BMG Rights Management(digital)
GenreEmo,punk,indie rock,alternative rock,post-hardcore
Country of originUnited States
LocationSanta Monica, California
Official websitewww.vagrant.com

Vagrant Recordsis an Americanrecord labelbased inCalifornia.[2]It was founded in 1995 by Rich Egan and Jon Cohen. The label focuses onrock,but features artists in a variety of other genres includingfolk,soul,electronic,andpop.It is home to artists such asThe 1975,Death Spells,Eels,Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes,CRUISR,Active Child,PJ Harvey,School of Seven Bells,Black Rebel Motorcycle Club,James Vincent McMorrow,Black Joe Lewis,Wake Owl,Blitzen Trapper,andBombay Bicycle Club.Originally, Vagrant Records was mostly focused onemobands such asDashboard Confessional,Saves the Day,The Get Up Kids,Senses Fail,andAlkaline Trio.The label is considered one of thepre-eminentlabels of theemomusic scene.[3]

In 2014, Vagrant was acquired byBMG Rights Management.[4]Co-founder Jon Cohen then became BMG's executive vice president of recorded music,[5]until he left the company in September 2017.[6]It remains to be distributed autonomously (outside of BMG's main distribution partner Warner Music Group), by affiliated labels in selected countries.

History

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The first band signed by Vagrant Records was Boxer and their album,The Hurt Process,released on May 5, 1998. The pop-punk album notably featured drummerChris Pennie,who would go on to play withDillinger Escape PlanandCoheed and Cambria.

The Get Up Kids

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In 1999, Vagrant Records signed Kansas City, Missouri, band,The Get Up Kids,and the band's Vagrant debut,Something to Write Home About,was released in September 1999. Egan and Cohen borrowed $50,000 from Cohen's parents to fund the recording of the Get Up Kids album, derived from the mortgaging of the family house.[7]The album was wildly successful, and single-handedly made Vagrant Records one of the top independent labels in the country.[8][9]

Rapid growth

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They signed Los Angeles punk rock trioAutomatic 7and released the band's 2nd albumBegger's Lifeon July 25, 2000. They followed this by signing and releasing albums from heavyweights in the emo scene likeAlkaline Trio,Saves the Day,andDashboard Confessional.In June 2001, the label signed a distribution deal with JCOR Records, which in turn was distributed byUniversal Records.It allowed Vagrant's releases to be available in stores via Universal's distribution methods.[10]In March 2002, the label made a distribution deal withFestival Mushroom Records,who would handled Vagrant's releases in Australia.[11]Vagrant would later enter into a deal withInterscope Records.[12]In June 2002, the label signed a deal withMotor Music,which handled distribution and promotion for Vagrant's releases in Germany.[13]Dashboard Confessional's video forScreaming Infidelities,directed by Maureen Egan and Matthew Barry, earned Vagrant the MTV2 award at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards.[14]Rich Egan is cited as saying the MTV Video Music Award win "changed everything" for the label.

Paul Westerberg

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The label then went on to release solo material fromThe Replacementsfrontman,Paul Westerberg,signifying an initial departure from its roots of nineties punk andemo.[15]

Genre diversification

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They soon signedEelsand released their albumBlinking Lights and Other Revelations.In 2005, the label acquired New York City indie labelStartime International,with whom they co-released albums fromThe French KicksandThe Futureheads.During that time, Vagrant signedThe Hold SteadyandThe Lemonheads.

Poquito Records

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In 2006, Vagrant formed a children's label imprint, Poquito Records, and released Vagrant artistThe New Amsterdams' side-projectThe Terrible Twos' debut albumIf You Ever See an Owl.

Density Records

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In April 2007, Vagrant formed another imprint label, Density Records, which will release heavier material than has traditionally been released on the label.[16]

On August 5, 2009,Rammstein,theBerlin-basedindustrial metalsextet, signed a US marketing and distribution deal with Vagrant Records.[17]

Current bands

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Former bands

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See also

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References

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  1. ^"BMG forms alliance with Universal Music Group; plans to move physical distribution to UMG's Commercial Services division".musicbusinessworldwide.com.19 October 2023.
  2. ^Sacher, Andrew (May 19, 2021)."Vagrant Records launches 25th anniversary campaign w/ reissues, a podcast & more".Brooklyn Vegan.RetrievedMay 23,2021.
  3. ^"25 Years of Vagrant Records: The label that accidentally took emo to…".4 November 2021.
  4. ^"US: BMG Acquires Vagrant Records".BMG Rights Management.November 17, 2014.RetrievedMay 23,2021.
  5. ^"BMG acquires Vagrant Records - Complete Music Update".www.completemusicupdate.com.
  6. ^"Jon Cohen out at BMG".www.musicweek.com.
  7. ^Alternative PressIssue 204 "Say Goodnight, Mean Goodbye: The Oral History of The Get Up Kids"
  8. ^Paul, Aubin,About Vagrant Records,Punk News,retrieved2008-03-02
  9. ^Grubbs, Eric (2008),Post: A Look at the Influence of Post-Hardcore-1985-2007,iUniverse,pp. 224–266,ISBN978-0-595-51835-7
  10. ^White, Adam (June 29, 2001)."The Vagrant-gets-major-rumor is Not True!".Punknews.org.RetrievedFebruary 10,2021.
  11. ^White, Adam (March 4, 2002)."Vagrant in Oz".Punknews.org.RetrievedFebruary 16,2021.
  12. ^August, Justin (February 12, 2006)."Buddy Nielsen of Senses Fail".Punknews.org.Aubin Paul.RetrievedMay 21,2018.
  13. ^White, Adam (June 18, 2002)."Vagrant installs one of those fancy German Motors".Punknews.org.RetrievedFebruary 27,2021.
  14. ^Heller, Greg (2000-09-10),Bands Seek Emotional Rescue,San Francisco Chronicle,retrieved2008-03-02
  15. ^Billboard.com (2012)."Exclusive: Paul Westerberg Returns On Vagrant".Billboard.com.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved1 September2012.
  16. ^Paul, Aubin (April 12, 2007)."Vagrant launches 'heavy music' imprint".Punknews.org.RetrievedFebruary 14,2022.
  17. ^"Roadrunner Records Page Not Found".Roadrunner Records Official Website.{{cite web}}:Cite uses generic title (help)
  18. ^"Vagrant signs John Ralston".Alternative Press.January 20, 2006.RetrievedJune 27,2016.
  19. ^"Protest The Hero sign to Vagrant, touring with the Fall Of Troy".Alternative Press.January 24, 2006.RetrievedJune 27,2016.
  20. ^"THRICE OFFICIALLY SIGN TO EPITAPH RECORDS, SHARE NEW SINGLE & ANNOUNCE FALL TOUR WITH THE BRONX".The Noise.June 5, 2018.
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