Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres.

History[link]

Beginnings[link]

Epic Records was launched in 1953 by CBS for the purpose of marketing jazz, pop and classical music that did not fit the theme of the more mainstream Columbia Records. Pop talent on co-owned Okeh Records were transferred to Epic which made Okeh a rhythm and blues label.^[1] Epic's bright-yellow, black and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. This has included such notables as the Berlin Philharmonic, Charles Rosen, the Juilliard String Quartet, Antal Doráti conducting the Hague Philharmonic and George Szell conducting the Cleveland Orchestra.

Expansion of genres and mainstream success[link]

By 1960, the label's musical base had been expanded to include all genres. This was done in part to prevent the roster of Columbia Records (which, at the time, had a reputation for releasing material by more established acts) from being overstuffed with newer artists.^{[citation needed]} Subsequently, Epic became better known for its signing of newer, fledgling acts. By the end of the 1960s, Epic earned its first gold records and had evolved into a formidable hit-making force in rock and roll, R&B and country music. Among its many acts, it included Roy Hamilton, Bobby Vinton, The Dave Clark Five, The Hollies, Tammy Wynette, Donovan, The Yardbirds, Lulu, July and Jeff Beck. Several of the British artists on the Epic roster during the 1960s were the result of CBS's Epic/Okeh units' international distribution deal with EMI; Epic recordings were issued by EMI on the Columbia label.

Also during the 1960s, Epic oversaw the smaller subsidiary CBS labels including: Okeh Records and Date Records. In 1968, the Epic imprint was added in the UK and distributed by CBS after the distribution deal with EMI expired that year.^[2]

Epic's commercial success continued to grow in the 1970s with releases from ABBA, Boston, Cheap Trick, The Clash, Charlie Daniels, Heart, The Isley Brothers, The Jacksons, Labelle, Meat Loaf, Johnny Nash, Ted Nugent, REO Speedwagon, Minnie Riperton, Pegasus, Charlie Rich, Sly & the Family Stone, Steve Vai and Edgar Winter. Also contributing to the labels success was its distribution of Philadelphia International Records, which produced additional hit records by acts such as The Three Degrees and McFadden and Whitehead.

During the 1980s, Epic was arguably the most successful label of the decade.^{[citation needed]} Its 1980s and 1990s mainstream success were fueled by its signing and releasing of albums by such acts as Michael Jackson, Shakin' Stevens, Culture Club, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine, Adam Ant, Living Colour, Prong, Dead or Alive, Europe, Cyndi Lauper, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam, Sade, Luther Vandross, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Céline Dion among others. The label's greatest pay-dirt achievement came with the release Thriller, the 1982 album by Michael Jackson, which went on to achieve approximately eighty million in international sales, becoming the biggest selling album in history.

More recently, other successful acts on the label have included Anastacia, Jennifer Lopez, The Fray, Jessica Simpson, Shakira, Korn, Fiona Apple, Ozzy Osbourne, Nate McDonald, Chevelle, JLS, and Rage Against the Machine.

1980s-2000s[link]

Epic Records is today owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Sony bought CBS Records in 1987, and the company was renamed Sony Music in 1991. In 2004, Sony merged with another powerhouse music distributor, BMG, bringing labels such as Epic, Arista, Columbia, RCA, Jive, and many others under one parent company, Sony BMG. In February 2009, singer/songwriter Amanda Ghost was appointed president of Epic Records.^[3] Later in the year, Sony BMG Music (during a reconsolidation of labels) merged Epic and Columbia's operations, and subsequently formed the Columbia/Epic Label Group — but both labels continue to operate as separate brands. Sony BMG's Legacy Recordings reissues the company's classic and catalogue titles.

In addition, in the 1990s, European operations of Sony Music was integrated into two separate labels, Epic and Columbia. It was followed by Australian and New Zealand operation of Sony Music in 1997.

The Japanese operation is called Epic Records Japan Inc..

2010s & L.A. Reid era[link]

In July 2011, L.A. Reid became the head of the Epic Records which also includes various former Jive Records artists.^[4] Reid has already begun a new "era" in signing artists, having signed up YouTube sensation Karmin.^[5] Through Sony Music Entertainment's restructuring, artists such as Outkast, Ciara and Avril Lavigne have joined Epic.^[6][7] Epic will sign the winners of The X Factor.^[8]

It was confirmed in February 2012 that Sylvia Rhone would be launching a new record label through Epic Records.^[9]

Imprint labels[link]

The following is a list of labels Epic Records has distributed:

Current[link]

• Konvict Muzik
• Beluga Heights (2008–present)
• Daylight Records (2000–present)
• DC Flag Records (2004–present)
• E1 Music (2007–present)
• Glowworm Records (?-present)
• Battery Records
• Verity Gospel Music Group
• Volcano Entertainment
• LaFace Records (2011-present)

Former[link]

• 550 Music (1993–2000)
• Beluga Heights Records (2006–2008)
• Believe In A Dream (1981-1984)
• Blue Sky (1974-1982)
• Caribou Records (1976-1981)
• Cold Chillin' Records (1993–1999)
• Date Records (1960s)
• Epic Records Nashville (? - May 2006)
• Epic Street (1993–1998)
• Epic Dance (mid-1990s)
• CBS Associated/Epic Associated (1983–1995)
• Chycago International Records (1982-1984)
• Cleveland International Records (1976-1983)
• CTI^{[disambiguation needed ]} (1980)
• Tuff City Records (1983–1984)
• Hidden Beach Records (1998–2007)
• Gamble (1972-1975)
• Glacial Pace (mid-1990s)
• Immortal Records (1994–2006)
• Invictus Records (1973-1976)
• Jet Records (1978-1983)
• Kirshner Records (1974-1983)
• MJJ Music (1991–1999)
• Modern Art Records (?-?)
• Nemperor Records (1977-1990)
• Ode Records (1967–1969, 1976–1979)
• OKeh Records (1965–1970, 1994–2000)
• Pasha Records (1979-1990)
• Philadelphia International Records (1971–1984)
• Portrait Records (1976–1992)
• Private I Records (1982-1984)
• Rock-N-Roll (1982-1987)
• Ruthless Records (late 1990s)
• Scotti Brothers (1979-1988)
• SOLAR Records (1989–1993)
• T-Neck (1972-1984)
• Tabu Records (1978–1991)
• TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) (1975-1977) (1981-1982]]
• Work/Chaos Records (1994–2000)
• Virgin Records (1976-1978), (1982-1986)

Epic Records artists[link]

Epic Records Executives[link]

• L.A. Reid — Chairman & CEO ^[10]
• Nick Raphael — Epic UK Managing Director (2001-2011)
• Jo Charrington — Epic UK Head of A&R (2007-2011)

Logos in use[link]

• Epicrecords.jpg

  Classic radial sound sunburst logo, used in the 1960s, revived in late 1998; used until 2006. Still used on Japanese operations.

• Epicrecords-logo.png

  Script logo, used from late 1978 to 1991; revived in 2006 and was used until 2011.

• Epic Records logo 1991.gif

  Stacked-record logo used from 1991 to late 1998.

• Epic Records 2011.svg

  Red print logo, used from 2011 to present

See also[link]

• List of record labels
• Epic/Sony Records (Japanese branch of Epic Records)
• RCA Records
• Columbia Records

References[link]

External links[link]

• Epic Records – Official website
• Sony Music, Parent Company of Epic
• Epic Records on Myspace
• Epic US/UK A&R team contact list

v t e Sony Corporation Primary businesses Sony Corporation (electronics & holding of the Sony group) · Sony Music Entertainment (music) · Sony Pictures Entertainment (motion pictures and television) · Sony Computer Entertainment (video games) · Sony Financial Holdings (financial services; 60%) · Sony Digital Audio Disc Corporation Technologies and brands α · Betacam · Blu-ray · BRAVIA · CD · Cyber-shot · Dash · Dream Machine · DVD · Handycam · HDCAM/HDCAM-SR · LocationFree · Memory Stick · MiniDisc · MiniDV · mylo · Reader · S/PDIF · SDDS · SXRD · Sony Tablet · UMD · VAIO · Video8/Hi8/Digital8 · Walkman · Walkman Phones · XDCAM · Xplōd · HMZ-T1 Historical products AIBO · CV-2000 · DAT · Betamax · Sony CLIÉ · Discman · JumboTron · Lissa · Mavica · NEWS · Qualia · Rolly · TR-55 · Trinitron · U-matic · Watchman · WEGA Electronics Sony EMCS · Sony Electronics (subsidiary in the US) · Sony Creative Software · Sony Mobile Communications  · S-LCD (50% minus 1 share) · Sony Mobile Display · Sony Optiarc · Sharp Display Products (7%) · Aiwa (former) Sony Music Entertainment Sony/ATV Music Publishing (50%) · Columbia Records · Epic Records · RCA Records · Sony Music Nashville (Arista Nashville, BNA Records, Columbia Nashville, RCA Records Nashville) · Provident Label Group · Verity Gospel Music Group · Sony Music Latin · Sony Masterworks  · Legacy Recordings  · RED Distribution  · IODA  · Syco Music  · Syco TV  · Syco Film  · Sony Music Australia · Sony Music Japan  · Gracenote · Aniplex · A-1 Pictures Sony Pictures Entertainment Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group (Columbia Pictures · Sony Pictures Classics · Screen Gems · TriStar Pictures · Triumph Films) · Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (Destination Films · Stage 6 Films · Affirm Films) · Sony Pictures Television Group (Adelaide Productions · Culver Entertainment · Embassy Row · 2waytraffic · Lean-M  · Gogglebox Entertainment · Victory Television · Silver River Productions · Starling · Huaso · Floresta · Teleset) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment · Sony Wonder · Sony Pictures Family Entertainment Group · Sony Pictures Digital (Sony Pictures Imageworks · Sony Pictures Animation · Sony Pictures Mobile) · Sony Pictures Studios · Sony Pictures Consumer Marketing (Sony Pictures Consumer Products · Sony Pictures Loot) U.S. networks Sony Movie Channel · GSN (40%), joint venture with DirecTV · FEARnet HD (joint venture with Comcast and Lionsgate) · 3net (joint venture with Discovery Communications and IMAX) International networks Sony Entertainment Television (Asia, South East Asia, India, Latin America, South Africa, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Baltic and United Kingdom) · AXN · AXN HD · AXN HD+1 · AXN Asia · AXN India · AXN Pakistan · AXN White · AXN Crime · AXN Black · AXN Mystery · AXN Sci Fi · AXN Spin · Sony Aath · Multi Screen Media · Animax · Animax Asia · Animax India · Animax Pakistan · Animax Korea · Animax Eastern Europe · BeTV · Sony Spin · SET One · SET Max · Sony SIX · Sony MIX · SET PIX · SAB TV · Men&Movies · Movies4Men Sony Computer Entertainment Sony Online Entertainment · PlayStation · PSP · PlayStation Vita · Cellius (49%) · Square Enix (8.25%) · Sony Imagesoft (defunct) Online distribution platforms Sony Entertainment Network (Music Unlimited · Video Unlimited · PlayStation Network) · FEARnet · The Minisode Network · Crackle Financial services Sony Financial Holdings · Sony Life Insurance · Sony Assurance · Sony Bank · Sony Bank Securities Other businesses So-net Entertainment · Sony Broadcast & Professional Research Laboratories · Sony Sendai Other assets Sony Corporation of America (umbrella company in the US) · Other subsidiaries Joint ventures Sony/ATV · FeliCa Networks · Vevo · Cellius (49%) · Sharp Display Products (7.04%) Key personnel Kazuo Hirai · Masaru Ibuka · Nobuyuki Idei · Yasuo Kuroki · Ken Kutaragi · Michael Lynton · Akio Morita · Norio Ohga · Amy Pascal · Howard Stringer  · Nicole Seligman Category ·  Commons ·  Wikinews

A Love
File:A Love.jpg A Love (Sarang) movie poster
Hangul	사랑
RR	Sarang
MR	Sarang
Directed by	Kwak Kyung-taek
Produced by	Jeong Tae-Won Yang Jung-Gyeong
Written by	Kwak Kyung-taek
Starring	Ju Jin-mo Park Si-yeon
Editing by	Park Gwang-Il
Release date(s)	September 19, 2007 (2007-09-19)
Running time	104 min.
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean

A Love (사랑 - Sarang) is a 2007 South Korean film directed by Kwak Kyung-taek. Kwak Kyung-taek's most notable film is Chingoo. A Love stars Ju Jin-mo from 200 Pounds Beauty and Park Si-yeon.

Plot[link]

At age 17, In ho meets a girl as beautiful as a watercolor painting, and promises to protect her after her brother dies. Although he is the best fighter in his school, he dreams of making his mother proud by going to college. It takes him 7 years to confess to the girl of his dreams. He stabs a gangster in the neck for her, although he wanted to live quietly like everyone else. But to keep his promise to protect her, he stabs Chi-kwon, a notorious mobster in Busan. He devotes his life to working for Chairman Yoo. He buries his love for the vanished girl and gets a second chance while working at the docks. He offers his life to the man who first holds out his hand for him. The girl he cannot forget returns as a love he cannot have. She becomes his patron’s woman and beyond reach... But as he decides to be happy for once in life, cruel destiny rattles everything in his life.

Cast[link]

• Ju Jin-mo - In-ho
• Park Si-yeon - Mi-Ju
• Joo Hyun
• Kim Min-jun

See also[link]

• List of Korean language films
• Korean cinema
• List of Korea-related topics

External links[link]

• Official site (Korean)
• Sa-rang (2007) at the Internet Movie Database
• A Love at HanCinema

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This South Korean film-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston on December 29, 2007.
Background information
Birth name	Kisean Anderson
Born	(1990-02-03) February 3, 1990 (age 22) Miami, Florida, United States
Origin	Kingston, Jamaica
Genres	Reggae fusion, dance, R&B[1]
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, rapper, actor
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Beluga Heights, Epic, TM3 Records, E1 Music
Associated acts	Flo Rida, Soulja Boy, Unk, Rick Ross, Iyaz
Website	www.seankingston.com

Sean Kingston (born Kisean Anderson; February 3, 1990) is a Jamaican-American singer. He pursued a music career and debuted in 2007 with the album Sean Kingston.

Early life[link]

Kingston was born on February 3, 1990, in Miami, Florida and moved to Kingston, Jamaica when he was six.^[2] He attended high school in Ocho Rios.^[3] His grandfather was the noted Jamaican reggae producer Lawrence Lindo,^[4] who worked under the stage name Jack Ruby.^[5][2] At age 11, Kingston spent 3 weeks in jail for breaking and entering, and Kingston lived in a car while his mother was incarcerated for identity theft.^[2][6]

Music career[link]

[edit] 2007–2008: Sean Kingston

Sean Kingston was discovered through MySpace by Tommy Rotem at Beluga Heights, and signed to the label in a partnership deal with Sony.^[7] Beluga is a label notable for its focus on discovering and developing artists.^[8] In an interview with HitQuarters label head and producer J.R. Rotem described this process with regards to Kingston:

"Sean Kingston was a rapper when we found him and it was a development process to get him more melodic. At Beluga we essentially refine the talent so that it's more of a marketable product."^[7]

In a venture between Epic Records and Koch Records, Kingston recorded and released the single "Beautiful Girls" in May 2007.^[9] The single, based on the bass line and lyrical "association" of the 1961 hit "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King, reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and topped the UK Singles Chart along with many other international charts. Similarly, the song "Me Love" samples the main hook out Led Zeppelin's "D'yer Mak'er", from their 1973 album Houses of the Holy. The song also debuted at number one in Australia, where it knocked off Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry", which had been at number one for nine weeks. The song stayed on the Canadian Hot 100 number one spot for over six weeks before getting knocked down to third place by the Plain White T's. "Beautiful Girls" remained at number one in Canada longer than any other song in 2007. In 2007, Kingston was the opening act for Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape Tour and for select dates on Beyoncé's The Beyoncé Experience Tour. In 2008, he was one of the opening acts for the Australian leg of Kelly Clarkson's My December Tour.^[10] Since Sean is a Jamaican singer, he got his stage name "Kingston" from the capital of Jamaica called Kingston, Jamaica.