Roadrunner Records Update: 16 Positions Cut at US Label
Estimated 36 employees in total put out of work
By Adrien Begrand Apr 26, 2012 4:18PM
As reported earlier today, Roadrunner Records, one of the most prominent and influential metal and hard rock labels over the last 30 years, has been slashing jobs left and right today in a cost-cutting measure by parent company Warner Music Group. Gone are the UK, European, and Canadian branches of the label, and as mentioned this morning, one couldn't help but be suspicious that the US side of the label wouldn't escape the axe.Indeed, it's just been confirmed by Billboard that 16 staff members at Roadrunner USA will lose their jobs, estimating a total of 36 jobs cut by WMG today. The article continues:
Concurrent with his departure, the label is being realigned so that it will utilize the Warner Music Group for back-office and other support capabilities while retaining frontline label functions like A&R, marketing, promotion and publicity.
In the U.S., Roadrunner will continue to operate as a standalone frontline label, although 16 staffers in the States are losing their jobs.
Internationally, Roadrunner's staff will continue to carry out some label functions, such as marketing, promo and publicity. Other responsibilities, principally support functions, will be carried out by Warner Music teams, which means that 20 staffers will lose their jobs.
Roadrunner, which continues to be a strong brand in rock music, will continue to have personnel in every territory it does currently, with the exception of the Netherlands office, which is being shuttered. Wessels founded the label in the Netherlands in 1980.
Longtime label President Jonas Nachsin, who has served in that role since 1999, will remain on staff.
***
Although it's a small relief that Roadrunner isn't completely dead, in one fell swoop the label has been reduced to a shadow of its former self - founder/CEO Cees Wessels has also stepped down - making this the darkest day for those who work in the metal music industry since the sudden closing of Metal Maniacs and Metal Edge magazines three years ago.
Interestingly, of all the reactions to the Roadrunner cuts on Twitter, Metal Blade CEO Brian Slagel had one of the most perceptive comments:
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