Warner Acquires Recorded Music Rights to YES'
Complete Atlantic Records Catalog
Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Remain One of
the Most Respected and Influential Bands of All Time, With More
Than 30 Million Albums Sold Worldwide
LOS
ANGELES, Jan. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Warner Music
Group's (Nasdaq: WMG) Global Catalog Division has announced the
acquisition of the recorded music rights and income streams from
YES' Atlantic Records era catalog. More than 50 years after the
British group's debut, YES remains one of the most successful,
respected, and influential rock bands of all time, with more than
30 million albums sold worldwide.
This acquisition continues a longstanding relationship between
the band and Warner Music that now
spans over a half-century, beginning with YES' self-titled 1969
Atlantic debut album. The deal encompasses landmark works such as
Fragile, Close to the Edge, and 90125. The
full purchase includes 12 studio albums, as well as live recordings
and compilations.
In making the announcement, Kevin
Gore, Warner Music's
President of Global Catalog, said: "My introduction to YES came
while working at a record store in Ohio in 1983. I loved the 90125 album
and went to see the band live, where I was introduced to their
catalog of incredible songs. I've been a fan ever since and we're
absolutely thrilled and deeply honored that the strong relationship
between YES and Warner Music will
continue forever."
The band added in a joint statement: "The entire YES family came
together and worked enthusiastically with Warner Music Group to
secure this historic deal, ensuring that these iconic recordings
will continue to be curated in the optimum manner to delight their
fans across more than five decades, while also finding and
developing new audiences for this timeless music."
YES is among the most enduring, ambitious, and virtuosic bands
in music history, with a dedicated legion of fans across the globe.
When the progressive rock pioneers joined the Rock & Roll Hall
of Fame in 2017, Rush's Geddy Lee
noted in his induction speech: "The music of YES is still echoing
down through the years, showing me that music truly is a
continuum."
The original members of YES – bassist Chris Squire, singer Jon
Anderson, drummer Bill
Bruford, guitarist Peter
Banks, and keyboardist Tony
Kaye – came together in 1968. In early 1969, the band
auditioned at London's Speakeasy
Club for Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet
Ertegun, who immediately signed them up. Later that year,
the group released its self-titled debut, mixing original material
with totally reworked versions of songs by groups like the Byrds
and the Beatles.
YES became an international arena band after Steve Howe joined in 1970 for The Yes
Album and Rick Wakeman in 1971
for Fragile. The band's sound evolved and its songs became
more ambitious as they adopted a symphonic approach to their music
and explored more enigmatic themes with their lyrics. Drummer
Alan White joined in 1972 after the
recording of Close to the Edge.
This era saw YES build a huge global following, enjoying both
critical and commercial success thanks to a string of now-classic
albums: The Yes Album (platinum), Fragile (double
platinum), Close to the Edge (platinum), the double album
Tales from Topographic Oceans (gold), Relayer (gold),
Going for the One (gold), and Tormato (platinum). The
'70s also produced some of YES' best-loved tracks, including "I've
Seen All Good People," "Starship Trooper," "Roundabout," and "Heart
of the Sunrise," along with album-side length epics like "Close to
the Edge" and "The Gates of Delirium."
A new YES incarnation was born in 1983 when Anderson, Squire,
White, and original keyboardist Tony
Kaye were joined for the first time by guitarist
Trevor Rabin. The landmark album
90125 was certified triple platinum and produced the band's
first and only #1 hit, "Owner of a Lonely Heart." An instrumental
track on the album, "Cinema," would go on to win the GrammyÒ Award
for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. In 1987, YES released its
final album for Atlantic, Big Generator. It was certified
platinum and featured the radio hits "Love Will Find a Way" and
"Rhythm of Love."
Studio albums, live recordings, and compilations included in the
deal:
Yes (1969)
Time and a Word (1970)
The Yes Album (1971)
Fragile (1971)
Close to the Edge (1972)
Yessongs (1973)
Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973)
Relayer (1974)
Yesterdays (1975)
Going for the One (1977)
Tormato (1978)
Drama (1980)
Yesshows (1980)
Classic Yes (1981)
90125 (1983)
9012Live: The Solos (1985)
Big Generator (1987)
Yesyears (1991)
Yesstory (1992)
Highlights: The Very Best of Yes (1993)
In A Word: Yes (1969-) (2002)
Yes Remixes (2003)
The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary
Collection (2003)
The Word Is Live (2005)
High Vibration (2013)
Progeny: Seven Shows from Seventy-Two (2015)
The Steven Wilson Remixes (2018)
Topographic Drama: Live Across America (2017)
Yes 50 Live (2019)
About Warner Music Group
With a legacy extending back over 200 years, Warner Music Group
(WMG) today brings together artists, songwriters, and entrepreneurs
that are moving entertainment culture across the globe. Operating
in more than 70 countries through a network of affiliates and
licensees, WMG's Recorded Music division includes renowned labels
such as 300 Entertainment, Asylum, Atlantic, Big Beat, Canvasback,
Elektra, Erato, First Night, Fueled by Ramen, Nonesuch, Parlophone,
Reprise, Rhino, Roadrunner, Sire, Spinnin', Warner Records, Warner Classics, and Warner
Music Nashville. WMG's music publishing arm, Warner Chappell Music, has a catalog of over one
million copyrights spanning every musical genre, from the standards
of the Great American Songbook to the biggest hits of the 21st
century. Warner Music Group is also home to ADA, the independent
artist and label services company – as well as next gen artist
services division WMX, which includes consumer brands such as
Songkick, the live music app; EMP, the merchandise e-tailer;
UPROXX, the youth culture destination; and HipHopDX, the hip-hop
music news site. In addition, WMG counts storytelling powerhouse
Warner Music Entertainment and social media content creator IMGN
among its many brands. Follow WMG on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn,
and Facebook.
Media Contact:
Jason
Elzy
Jason.elzy@rhino.com
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SOURCE Warner Music Group Corp.