WMG and Crush Music Announce Joint Music Venture, Kicks off With New WEEZER Album

Warner Music Group (WMG) has announced the creation of a joint venture with Crush Music co-founders, Jonathan Daniel and Bob McLynn. The first act signed to the newly established label is the multi-platinum-selling band Weezer, who will be released via WMG’s Atlantic Records. Future Crush Music label releases will be released via Atlantic or Warner Bros. Records.

Daniel and McLynn are responsible for discovering Crush Music’s major acts, including Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco, while revamping the careers of megastar Sia, San Francisco’s Train, and indie-alternative staple, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. Since its establishment as a management company in 2002, Crush Music has grown into a full-service music company that has key staff in radio, digital, TV/film, brand partnerships, PR, and content production. Crush Music's highly innovative marketing staff, overseen by CMO Dan Kruchkow, will work all releases in conjunction with either the Atlantic or Warner Bros. team. Crush’s A&R staff, helmed by Evan Taubenfeld, will continue to focus on unearthing and building talent.

 “We’ve had a great relationship with Atlantic and the entire global Warner Music team over the years, developing and breaking artists such as Panic! at the Disco, Travie McCoy/Gym Class Heroes, and more,” said McLynn. “So when it was time to find a partner for our new label venture, we knew WMG would be a natural fit.”

 “Crush has an impressive ability to attract and develop unique talent," said Warner Bros. Records Chairman & CEO Cameron Strang. "This new label will make an excellent addition to the family, and we are all looking forward to working together to nurture exciting artists and release amazing music."

 “Our association with Jonathan, Bob, and their outstanding team goes back over a decade, and we’re thrilled to take our partnership to a new level with the formation of the Crush Music label,” said Julie Greenwald, Atlantic Records Chairman & COO, and Craig Kallman, Atlantic Records Chairman & CEO. “They bring great ears, creativity, vision, and dedication to their work, and they share our mission of building artists’ careers for the long haul. And to be able to launch the label with a new album from Weezer is simply fantastic.”

The first release from the Crush Music label will be Weezer’s self-titled, tenth studio album (referred to as The White Album), out on April 1, 2016. The first track from the highly anticipated album, “Thank God For Girls” (“insanely catchy new single” - NPR), has charted across multiple genres and is currently sitting in the top 10 at alternative radio. In addition, the band recently announced a massive 40+ city nationwide USA co-headlining summer tour with Panic! At The Disco that is already selling out markets.