Atlantic Records

Atlantic Records launched in October 1947 when Ahmet Ertegün and Herb Abramson pooled a $10,000 loan from Ertegün's dentist, Dr. Vahdi Sabit. The label's first releases hit shelves in January 1948, focusing on jazz, R&B, and gospel. By the early 1950s, singer Ruth Brown had delivered a string of hits that kept the company afloat, earning Atlantic the nickname "The House That Ruth Brown Built." In 1953, Jerry Wexler joined as a partner, bringing the term "rhythm and blues" he had coined at Billboard. Under Wexler's production, Atlantic became the home of Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, and Otis Redding, defining soul music in the 1960s.

Warner Bros.-Seven Arts acquired Atlantic in 1967, giving the label the financial muscle to sign rock acts. Led Zeppelin, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Yes joined the roster. In 2004, Atlantic merged with Elektra Records to form the Atlantic Music Group. The label has consistently ranked among the top three U.S. labels by market share, often trading the #1 spot with Interscope and Columbia. In 2022, Julie Greenwald became CEO, while Craig Kallman remained chairman. As of 2024, Atlantic operates offices in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, London, Berlin, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney, and São Paulo, and distributes music in over 50 countries through Warner Music Group.

Atlantic's catalog includes some of the most valuable recordings in history. In 2024, the label acquired David Bowie's estate catalog for a reported $250 million. That same year, streaming revenue topped $1 billion, driven by Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Zach Bryan, and newer signings like Megan Thee Stallion and NewJeans. The label has expanded into Africa with Atlantic Records Africa in 2023 and invested heavily in AI-driven artist discovery and marketing. Despite occasional controversies over streaming royalties and artist contracts, Atlantic remains a powerhouse in the music industry, with an estimated brand value of $1.2 billion.[edit]