Roadrunner Records
| Roadrunner Records | |||
| Founded | 1980 | ||
| Distributing label | Universal Music Group/The Island Def Jam Music Group | ||
| Genre(s) | Rock, Metal | ||
| Country | US | ||
| Web address | http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ | ||
Roadrunner Records is a major record label that concentrates heavily on metalcore and post-hardcore bands (with exceptions). The label was launched in Holland in 1980 and was originally called "Roadracer Records". In 1986 Roadrunner opened its US headquarters in New York City and later opened offices in England, Germany, France, Japan and Australia. They gained prominence in the early 90's as being a primary distributor of mainstream death metal artists. As the 90's went on, several of Roadrunner's bands managed to make an impact on the mainstream, most notably Sepultura and Type O Negative. Sepultura's 1993 album, Chaos A.D., became the first Roadrunner band to crack the Top 40 on the Billboard album chart. Type O Negative became the first Roadrunner band to receive a certification from the RIAA. This was a Gold award for the 1993 album, Bloody Kisses, which was certified in late 1995. In 2000, Slipknot became the 1st Roadrunner band to go Platinum. Some consider their later switch of band types for more commercial fare to be a fall from grace. Roadrunner is distributed by the Universal Music Group through a share of the label owned by The Island Def Jam Music Group.
Some of their most successful artists include Megadeth (a recent acquisition), Cradle of Filth, Machine Head,Opeth, Nickelback, Nightwish, Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Theory of a Deadman and Stone Sour.