Investor Group Led by Thomas H. Lee Partners, Edgar Bronfman, Jr., Bain Capital and Providence Equity Partners to Purchase Warner Music Group and Create One of the World's Largest Independent Music Companies

Business Wire, Nov 24, 2003

In 1995, the company developed into the Elektra Entertainment Group, which comprises an array of imprints including the flagship Elektra label and Goldmind Inc., among others.

The Atlantic Group

Fifty-five years ago, Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson started an independent jazz and R&B label in New York City, which they named Atlantic Records. Growing from literally a one-room operation into one of the preeminent companies in the rapidly evolving music industry, the Atlantic label soon became recognized and revered around the world -- a name synonymous with artistry and quality.

Over the past half-century, Atlantic artists have had a profound impact on the development of modern music, while entertaining and engaging listeners with songs that have rooted themselves in our collective consciousness.

The Atlantic Group of today has been built on an enduring philosophy of developing career artists and nurturing top executive talent, spurring growth from within its own ranks. The company is now comprised of three main divisions: the flagship Atlantic label, Lava and Nonesuch. Together, they are releasing recordings by artists working in a wide spectrum of musical fields. At the same time, the company has been a pioneer in the marriage of music and new technology.

Word Entertainment

Founded in 1951 as Word Records, Word Entertainment is a pioneer of contemporary Christian music, a genre that is considered among the fastest-growing in the music industry. Today, Word Entertainment is a multi-faceted company known for innovative product development and marketing, as well as strategic distribution of music and videos. Encompassing Word Label Group, Word Publishing, Word Music, and Word Distribution, Word Entertainment is one of the great success stories of the contemporary Christian music industry.

Word Label Group is home to the Word Records and Squint Entertainment labels.

Word Publishing has approximately 45 Christian songwriters under contract and administers a catalog of more than 40,000 copyrighted songs.

Word Music is the industry's premier source for church hymnals, choral music, and associated instrumental music, vocal folios, and accompaniment tracks.

Word Distribution provides sales, marketing, and distribution to Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) accounts for WMG product and that of distributed labels, including Curb Records, Integrity Music, Big Idea Productions, M2.0 Communications, INO Records, Ray Boltz Music, Spindust Records, Spring Hill Music, Praise Gathering Music Group, Metro One Music, Daywind, Floodgate Records, Crowne Music Group, Garden City Music, and Family Home Entertainment.

An affiliate of Curb Records, Inc., a leading Nashville-based independent record company, is a 20% partner in Word Entertainment. Curb Records, Inc. and its affiliates are parties to long-term worldwide distribution agreements with WEA Corp., London Records and WEA International Inc.

Warner Music International

Established in 1970 as WEA International, Warner Music International (WMI) is the most far-reaching of Time Warner's divisions, promoting both U.S. and local repertoire around the world.