WEA International Inc.

Former umbrella record company for local WEA branches outside of the U.S.; predecessor of Warner Music International resp. Warner Music International Inc.. It is usually mentioned as an international (outside the US) copyright holder for releases on various Warner Music Group labels. The name is still seen on some recent releases from Warner Music Group (mostly from labels grouped under Atlantic Records Group division), but is going to be deprecated. The company was founded by Nesuhi Ertegun and Phil Rose on August 25, 1970 under the name Kinney Record Group International. It was renamed to WEA International Inc. in 1972. Sometimes printed as: · WEA Int. . WEA Int. Inc. · WEA Int'l Inc. · WEA International Inc · WEA International, Inc. Please determine the correct label based on the logos depicted on the release: For releases with various designs of the WEA logo, use the corresponding brands WEA, WEA Records, Wea Music or Wea International. Warner Bros. Records and Atlantic are among the other labels commonly administered by WEA International Inc. In addition to the label and in accordance with what is printed on the release, company branches such as WEA Records Ltd. or WEA Music Of Canada, Ltd. may be added to the company field section. 1970 Warner Bros. Records operations established in the UK (1972 named WEA Records Ltd.), Canada (1972 WEA Music Of Canada, Ltd.), Australia (later WEA Records Pty. Limited) and Japan (with Pioneer Electronics Corp. as Warner Bros.-Pioneer Corporation, later Warner-Pioneer Corporation and WEA Music K.K.). 1971 Companies established in Germany (1973 WEA Musik GmbH) and France (1972 WEA Filipacchi Music). In order to comply with US monopoly laws, Warner Bros. Records changes the name of its non-US operations to Kinney Music. 1972 On October 1, US monopoly laws change and the company name becomes WEA Records. Company opens in New Zealand (WEA Records Limited). 1975 Affiliates/companies opened in the Netherlands (WEA Records B.V.), Italy (WEA Italiana S.p.A.) and South Africa (WEA Records (Pty) Ltd.). Company renames in US as WEA International Inc. 1976 Company established in Brazil. 1977 Company opens in Belgium (WEA Records SA / NV). 1978 Affiliates established in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Austria. 1979 Companies open in Sweden and Greece. 1980 Company opens in Mexico. Affiliate established in Ireland. 1982 Spain division opens. 1984 Company opens in Argentina. 1985 Company in Switzerland is established. 1986 Affiliate opens in Portugal. Withdrawal from South Africa. 1987 US-based company WEA Latina opens. 1988 Wea International acquires TELDEC and Magnet Records Ltd. (both passed to EastWest label group, excluding TELDEC classical music operations, which continues to use this name today). Company enters into an agreement with French classical label Erato Disques and a joint venture with independent UK based ZTT Records. 1989 Company acquires CGD Messaggerie Musicali S.p.A. in Italy and MMG Inc. in Japan (like previously mentioned 1988 acquisitions also passed to EastWest label group). Warner-Pioneer venture in Japan becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of WEA International. Affiliates created in Denmark, Finland and Korea. 1990 French label Carrere Disques (Carrere records) acquired, without catalogue rights, which continued to belong to Carrere family, now being split-off into various other companies. Wea International changes name to Warner Music International. All affiliate companies followed and changed the name into "Warner Music (Country name)" (e.g. Warner Music France, Warner Music UK etc.).