{{Short description|US record label}} {{Infobox record label | name = Wind-up Records | image = Wind-up_Records_Logo.jpg | parent = Concord | founded = {{start date|1997}} | defunct = {{end date|2016}} | founder = {{flatlist| * Alan Meltzer * Diana Meltzer }} | distributor = {{plainlist| * BMG (1997–2004) * Sony BMG (2004–2008) * Warner Music (2004–2011; Canada only) * Sony Music (2008–2009) * EMI (2009–2012) * Universal Music Group (2012–2016) * Craft Recordings (reissues) }} | genre = {{flatlist| * Rock * metal * various }} | country = U.S. | location = New York City | website = {{URL|winduprecords.com}} }}

'''Wind-up Records, LLC''' (legally known as '''Wind-up Entertainment Inc.''' until 2004) was an American record label founded by Alan and Diana Meltzer in 1997. It was based in New York City and was distributed by BMG Distribution. Wind-up's best-selling artists worldwide were Creed and Evanescence.

==History== Wind-up Records was formed in 1997 by Alan Meltzer, former owner of CD One Stop, and his wife Diana Meltzer, following their 1996 purchase of Grass Records.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Grass+grows+with+new+ownership+and+BMG+distribution+deal%3B+Slate+of...-a017820381 |title=Grass grows with new ownership and BMG distribution deal |publisher=Business Wire via TheFreeLibrary.com |first=Domenique |last=Leomporra |date=January 17, 1996 |access-date=January 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430052321/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Grass+grows+with+new+ownership+and+BMG+distribution+deal%3B+Slate+of...-a017820381 |archive-date=April 30, 2011}}</ref><ref name="holrep20111031">{{cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/alan-meltzer-wind-up-dies-255385 |title=Alan Meltzer, Founder of Wind-Up Records, Dies at 67 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Shirley |last=Halperin |date=October 31, 2011 |access-date=December 4, 2011}}</ref> The parent company Wind-up Entertainment also runs numerous publishing companies as well as a full-scale retail, online and tour merchandising company. The company's slogan was "Developing Career Artists".

Some of the successful acts on the label included Evanescence, Creed, Seether and Finger Eleven. The label has also re-released albums from bands previously associated with Grass Records, such as Toadies, the Wrens and Commander Venus.<ref name="grass">{{cite web |url=http://www.winduprecords.com/grass/ |title=Grass Records Reissues |work=WindupRecords.com |access-date=2007-09-28}}</ref>

The label's current roster includes Civil Twilight, Jillette Johnson, The Griswolds, The Virginmarys, Young Guns, Strange Talk, The Revivalists, Five for Fighting, Crobot, Filter, SPEAK, Genevieve and Aranda.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.winduprecords.com/news/happenings-wind-up/|title = Craft Recordings &#124; Official Website and Store}}</ref>

In September 2009, the label reached an agreement with EMI Music Germany and in February 2011 with EMI Music Canada. The partnership has seen EMI Music take over the marketing and distribution of artists such as Creed, Evanescence, Seether and Finger Eleven throughout the world outside of the US.<ref name="EMI">{{cite web|url=http://www.emigroup.com/Press/2009/press110.htm |title=American label Wind-up Records signs with EMI Music |work=emigroup.com |access-date=2009-12-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009152135/http://www.emigroup.com/Press/2009/press110.htm |archive-date=October 9, 2009 }}</ref>

In Canada, distribution was initially with Sony Music Canada as was the distribution in the United States. However, in October 2004, distribution in Canada switched over to Warner Music Canada with the creation of Wind-up Entertainment Canada. Distribution in Canada moved again, for a third time in February 2011, this time to EMI Music Canada.

On October 31, 2011, the label's founder, Alan Meltzer, died at the age of 67.<ref name="holrep20111031" />

In 2012, Universal Music Group acquired the EMI music operations, making the distribution in Canada solely distributed by Universal Music Group.

In October 2013, the Bicycle Music Company bought the rights to much of Wind-Up's back catalog, including the contracts to acts such as Seether. These artists will be distributed by Concord Music Group, which later merged with Bicycle.<ref name="billboard20131031">{{cite news |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/record-labels/5777964/bicycle-music-acquires-wind-up-records-back-catalog-cuts |title=Bicycle Music Acquires Wind-Up Records' Back Catalog, Cuts Deal with Concord Music Group |work=Billboard |first=Ed |last=Christman |date=October 31, 2013 |access-date=May 7, 2015}}</ref> In May 2015, Concord bought the rest of the Wind-Up label.<ref name="mweek20150506">{{cite news |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/concord-bicycle-music-acquires-wind-up-records-and-fearless-records/061699 |title=Concord Bicycle Music acquires Wind-Up Records and Fearless Records |work=Music Week |first=Murray |last=Stassen |date=May 6, 2015 |access-date=May 7, 2015}}</ref>

In 2016, Concord retired Wind-Up as a frontline label, and transferred most of Wind-Up's artists to other labels. Wind-Up's reissues are released under Craft Recordings, Concord's reissue label.

== Artist roster == ===Final roster=== Accurate according to Wind-up's website as of October 9, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.winduprecords.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009001126/http://www.winduprecords.com/|archive-date=2016-10-09|title=Home {{!}} Wind-up Records|date=2016-10-09|access-date=2018-04-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

* Allday * Aranda * Civil Twilight * Citizen Zero * Crobot * Feenixpawl * Filter * Five for Fighting * Genevieve * Jillette Johnson * Papercut Massacre * The Revivalists – transferred to Razor & Tie * Speak * Ryan Star * Strange Talk * The Griswolds * Young Guns * The Virginmarys

===Previous artists=== * 12 Stones<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.antimusic.com/news/10/aug/2412_Stones_Leave_Wind-Up.shtml |title=12 Stones Leave Wind-Up |work=antiMusic.com |date=August 24, 2010 |access-date=September 3, 2010}}</ref> * Alter Bridge * American Pearl * Atomship * Baboon * Bayside * Ben Moody * Big Dismal * Bob Guiney * Boy Hits Car * Boysetsfire * Brainiac * Breaking Point * Cartel * CFO$ * Company of Thieves * The Crash Motive * Creed * The Darkness * The Drowners * Drowning Pool * Dust for Life * Edgewater * Emily Osment * Evanescence * The Exit * Finger Eleven * Hawthorne Heights * James Durbin * Jeremy Fisher * Liquor Bike * New Radiant Storm King * O.A.R. * People in Planes * Pilot Speed * Pollen * Push Play * Scott Stapp * Seether * Seven Wiser * Stars of Track and Field * Stefy * Stereo Fuse * Strata * Stretch Princess * Submersed * Tickle Me Pink * Thriving Ivory * Trickside * The Wrens

==Soundtracks== * ''1080° Avalanche'' (video game) * ''Daredevil: The Album'' * ''Elektra: The Album'' * ''Fantastic 4: The Album'' * ''John Tucker Must Die'' * ''The Punisher: The Album'' * ''Scream 3: The Album'' * ''Walk the Line: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack''

==See also== * List of record labels

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.winduprecords.com/ Official site] * [http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Diana_Meltzer_int.html Interview with Diana Meltzer, ''HitQuarters'', July 2003]

{{12 Stones}} {{Concord Music Group}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:American record labels Category:Defunct record labels of the United States Category:Record labels established in 1997 Category:Record labels disestablished in 2016 Category:Sony Music