Warner/Reprise Records

American company

Also known as: Reprise Records

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July 16, 2026

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Warner/Reprise Records, now part of the Warner Music Group (WMG), is a prominent American record label. Founded in 1958 by Warner Bros. film studios, it initially aimed to retain artists within the Warner fold. A key development was the 1963 acquisition of Reprise Records, a label started by Frank Sinatra.

Under the leadership of Mo Ostin, Warner/Reprise became known for fostering artistic freedom and supporting a diverse range of musicians, from Frank Sinatra and James Taylor to Black Sabbath and Madonna. This approach allowed the label to achieve both critical acclaim and commercial success across various genres, including rock, heavy metal, R&B, and hip-hop. WMG is now one of the "big three" global music conglomerates.12

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Warner/Reprise Records
Hoping to find musical freedom, Johnny Mercer, the writer of “Moon River,” helped launch Capitol Records in 1942. Nineteen years later, Frank Sinatra, in search of musical freedom of his own, left Capitol and formed the Reprise label. In 1963 Reprise was sold to Warner…
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Hoping to find musical freedom, Johnny Mercer, the writer of “Moon River,” helped launch Capitol Records in 1942. Nineteen years later, Frank Sinatra, in search of musical freedom of his own, left Capitol and formed the Reprise label. In 1963 Reprise was sold to Warner…
Read More