MAX RELAUNCHES ANOTHER WMG IMPRINT

Max Lousada is relaunching Asylum Records, the imprint David Geffen and Elliot Roberts founded in 1971, with ADA Worldwide President, A&R and Label Services, Kenny Weagly as President and Dante Ross as Senior Vice President, A&R.

“We’re committed to encouraging entrepreneurship and nurturing diverse musical cultures within the WMG family,” Lousada, Warner Music Group’s CEO, Recorded Music, said. “Asylum is one of the most revered brands in the music industry, and by relaunching it in the U.S. as a label that’s all about musical independence and flexibility, we are opening another avenue for fresh, innovative artistry to thrive.”

Asylum Records, which was revived in 2004 as an urban music incubator, is currently operating in the U.K.; the two labels will be run separately.

Weagly will report to Eliah Seton, Worldwide President of ADA, which is part of WMG’s services division, led by Stu Bergen, CEO of International and Global Commercial Services, WMG.

Asylum Records U.S. is hitting the ground running. The label’s first signing, rapper Ugly God, has already scored a platinum hit with “Water”; dance artist Crankdat has released his solo debut “Dollars”; and New Orleans bounce artist Big Freedia, Baltimore rap duo Peso Da Mafia and Staten Island emcee Shoneyin are already inked. Producer Mike Dean is signed to the label and working with Dice Soho.

“Asylum was founded with artistic freedom as its guiding principle,” said Weagly, “and the new Asylum expands on that ideal by believing in and supporting our artists’ visions for their music, as well as when and how they want to release it. Our mantra is nimbleness and flexibility—the ability to tailor-make deals, from singles projects to multi-album careers—for original artists across a spectrum of genres.”

Unlike WMG's Asylum, the one we work in is run by actual inmates.