CMC International was an American independent record label founded by Bill Cain and Tom Lipsky in 1991, focused mainly on classic rock, and classic heavy metal. The label was the haven of many hard rock, arena rock, thrash metal, glam metal, and AOR artists in the period when all the majors were investing all their financial efforts on grunge and alternative rock acts.[2] In 1995 CMC started a partnership with BMG Entertainment,[2] which in 1999 owned the majority of the company, with founder Tom Lipsky holding a minority stake.
| CMC International Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | BMG Rights Management Sanctuary Records Group |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Bill Cain and Tom Lipsky |
| Status | Defunct |
| Distributor(s) | Universal Music Group[1] (physical) BMG Rights Management (digital) |
| Genre | Heavy metal, hard rock, rock |
| Country of origin | US |
| Location | Raleigh, North Carolina |
CMC International became a division of Sanctuary Records Group in 2000, with Lipsky becoming president of Sanctuary Records North America.[3] After Universal Music Group acquired Sanctuary in 2007, CMC International ceased to exist. However, due to conditions imposed by the European Commission following UMG's 2012 acquisition of EMI, it sold Sanctuary to BMG Rights Management in 2013 for over €46 million ($71.875 million).[4] Since then, Sanctuary has been distributed globally by Warner Music Group through its ADA division.[5][6]
Tom Lipsky is currently working as president of Roadrunner Records' Loud & Proud division, managing classic rock bands and artists.[7]
Notable former artists
edit- Accept
- Annihilator
- Pat Benatar
- Blackthorne
- Bruce Dickinson
- Blue Öyster Cult
- Christopher Cross
- Deep Purple (US)
- Dokken
- Eddie Money
- The Fixx
- Iron Maiden
- Joe Cocker
- Judas Priest
- Justin Hayward
- Kix
- L.A. Guns
- Alexi Lalas
- La Toya Jackson
- Loverboy
- Lynch Mob
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Yngwie J. Malmsteen
- Molly Hatchet
- Motörhead
- Night Ranger
- Overkill
- Saigon Kick
- Saxon
- Slaughter
- Soulmotor
- Styx
- 38 Special
- Thin Lizzy
- Tyketto
- Vixen
- Warrant
- Widowmaker
- W.A.S.P.
- Yes
References
edit- ^ "BMG forms alliance with Universal Music Group; plans to move physical distribution to UMG's Commercial Services division". musicbusinessworldwide.com. 19 October 2023.
- ^ a b Wright, Jeb (2010). "The Invisible Man: An Interview with Tom Lipsky". Classic Rock Revisited.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
- ^ Masson, Gordon; Ed Christman (April 8, 2000). "U.K.'s Sanctuary Buys Castle Music". AllBusiness.com. Dun & Bradstreet. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ Chmielewski, Dawn C. (February 14, 2013). "Universal Music agrees to sell Sanctuary Records". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013.
- ^ Ed Christman (April 28, 2016). "Warner Music's Global Deal for BMG's Catalog Sets Up Showdown With RED". Billboard.com.
- ^ "BMG moves distribution of 8,000 albums to Warner's ADA - Music Business Worldwide". musicbusinessworldwide.com. March 7, 2017. Archived from the original on March 13, 2017.
- ^ "Tom Lipsky". LinkedIn. Retrieved June 16, 2011.