Giant Records

Giant Records is a record-label brand associated primarily with an American label launched in 1990 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. Records and music executive Irving Azoff. Its early catalog combined contemporary pop, R&B, hip-hop, rock, country, metal, and soundtrack releases. The label's first release was the Gulf War-era all-star benefit single "Voices That Care," assembled by producer David Foster. Soon afterward, Tara Kemp's "Hold You Tight" became a Top Five U.S. single, establishing Giant as a commercially visible new imprint. The label's early-1990s activity was unusually broad. It released the soundtrack to the film New Jack City and signed artists including MC Hammer, Jade, Lord Finesse, Jeremy Jordan, Steely Dan, Warren Zevon, Oingo Boingo, Chicago, Deep Purple, Morbid Angel, Brian Wilson, and Kenny Rogers. Giant also created a country division in Nashville, whose first signing was Dennis Robbins. This mixture of established catalog artists and newer commercial acts reflected the label's position as a flexible mainstream imprint rather than a narrowly specialized genre label. Azoff expanded the brand beyond recorded music in 1992 by creating Giant Pictures. That film venture produced The Inkwell, released in 1994, and closed the following year. In recorded music, Giant changed its international distribution arrangements in 1993 after dissatisfaction with Warner's handling of international affairs. It entered an agreement with BMG for distribution outside the United States while Warner-affiliated distribution continued to support much of its domestic activity. By the middle and late 1990s, Giant had undergone substantial staff changes and introduced Revolution Records as a subsidiary label. Brian Wilson signed with Revolution in 1997. Giant subsequently returned to its original name and also distributed releases from Paladin Records, including work by singer-songwriter Steve Forbert. These changes illustrate the label's attempts to reorganize its business and broaden its roster during a period of consolidation in the recorded-music industry. The original Warner-Azoff joint venture ended in 2001, when Warner Music Group absorbed Giant into Warner Bros. Records. BMG consequently stopped repressing and distributing earlier Giant releases. Later reissues have generally been handled by Warner's catalog operations, including Rhino, in cooperation with Warner Records; some of those packages retain the Giant logo because of the brand's role in the original releases. The Giant name was revived in a different corporate setting in February 2015, when Warner Music Sweden announced its reactivation. Simon Erics's "Waiting for the Sun" was identified as the first single issued under that Swedish Giant Records banner. In June 2022, Irving Azoff launched Giant Music, an independent and rebranded operation with no connection to Warner. Giant Music is related historically through Azoff and the name, but it should not be treated as the same corporate entity as the original Warner-affiliated Giant Records label. Accordingly, the Giant Records article covers a brand with several phases: the original U.S. joint venture, its absorption into Warner Bros. Records, a Swedish Warner Music revival, and the later independent Giant Music initiative.

Giant Records was established in 1990 through a joint venture between Warner Bros. Records and Irving Azoff. The label entered the market during a period when major music companies used affiliated imprints to sign a mixture of emerging performers, established catalog acts, and genre-focused artists. Its first release, issued in early 1991, was "Voices That Care," a Gulf War-related all-star benefit recording produced by David Foster. The label then gained commercial momentum with Tara Kemp's "Hold You Tight," which reached the Top Five of the U.S. singles chart. Giant's early catalog was broad. It issued the soundtrack for New Jack City and worked with artists from pop, R&B, hip-hop, rock, country, and heavy metal. Its roster included MC Hammer, Jade, Lord Finesse, Jeremy Jordan, Steely Dan, Warren Zevon, Oingo Boingo, Chicago, Deep Purple, Morbid Angel, Brian Wilson, and Kenny Rogers. A Nashville country division was also created, with Dennis Robbins as its first signing. The resulting business was less a single-genre boutique than a general-interest label operating with Warner's distribution infrastructure. In 1992, Azoff extended the brand into film through Giant Pictures. The subsidiary produced The Inkwell, released in 1994, but closed in 1995 after that single production. In 1993, Giant changed its overseas distribution arrangement and made a deal with BMG for distribution outside the United States. The move reflected tensions over Warner's international administration of the label's recordings. During the mid-to-late 1990s, Giant replaced much of its staff and established Revolution Records as a subsidiary. Brian Wilson joined Revolution in 1997. Giant later resumed using its principal name and distributed recordings associated with Paladin Records, including releases by Steve Forbert. These organizational changes took place as the music industry was becoming increasingly concentrated around major-label groups and their affiliated imprints. The original joint venture ended in 2001 when Warner Music Group absorbed Giant into Warner Bros. Records. BMG ceased repressing and distributing earlier Giant releases. Warner's later catalog and reissue operations, including Rhino in coordination with Warner Records, became responsible for many subsequent reissues. Some reissue packaging continued to display the Giant logo, preserving the imprint's identity even after its independent operating structure had ended. The name was later revived by Warner Music Sweden in February 2015. That incarnation was part of Warner Music Sweden rather than a continuation of the original U.S. company, and Simon Erics's "Waiting for the Sun" was reported as its first release. In June 2022, Azoff introduced Giant Music as an independent, rebranded label with no connection to Warner. The history of Giant therefore includes a defunct American joint venture, a later Swedish Warner label using the same name, and a distinct independent operation descended from Azoff's association with the brand.

• 2022

  Giant Music is launched independently

  [1]Giant Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Irving Azoff introduces Giant Music as an independent operation separate from Warner.

• 2015

  Warner Music Sweden revives the name

  [1]Giant Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Warner Music Sweden reactivates the Giant Records banner, beginning with a single by Simon Erics.

• 2001

  Warner absorbs the original label

  [1]Giant Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Warner Music Group ends the joint venture and absorbs Giant into Warner Bros. Records.

• 1997

  Revolution Records signs Brian Wilson

  [1]Giant Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Brian Wilson signs with Giant's subsidiary imprint Revolution Records.

• 1995

  Giant Pictures closes

  [1]Giant Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The film subsidiary shuts down after producing The Inkwell.

• 1994

  The Inkwell is released

  [1]Giant Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Giant Pictures produces and releases The Inkwell, its only film production.

• 1993

  BMG receives international distribution rights

  [1]Giant Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Giant changes its arrangement for distribution outside the United States and reaches an agreement with BMG.

• 1992

  Giant Pictures is created

  [1]Giant Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Irving Azoff expands the brand into film production through Giant Pictures.

• 1991

  Initial releases establish the label

  [1]Giant Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Giant issues "Voices That Care," followed by Tara Kemp's "Hold You Tight," which becomes a Top Five single.

• 1990

  Giant Records is launched

  [1]Giant Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label begins as a joint venture between Warner Bros. Records and Irving Azoff.

Mainstream multi-genre record label with pop, R&B, hip-hop, rock, country, metal, and soundtrack activities.

• Benefit single · 1991

  Voices That Care

  Giant's first release was an all-star benefit recording assembled by producer David Foster in connection with the Gulf War period. The single helped introduce the imprint and associated it with a high-profile collaborative release rather than a conventional solo-artist debut.

• Pop single · 1991

  Hold You Tight

  Tara Kemp's "Hold You Tight" was one of Giant's earliest major commercial releases. Its Top Five U.S. chart performance gave the newly established label an early mainstream success and demonstrated its ability to compete in contemporary pop.

• Film soundtrack · 1991

  New Jack City soundtrack

  The soundtrack to New Jack City was among Giant's most prominent early releases. It represented the label's role in the commercially important connection between film projects and urban music during the early 1990s.

• Reissue program

  Giant Records catalog reissues

  After the original label was absorbed into Warner Bros. Records, later catalog reissues were handled through Warner-related reissue operations, including Rhino in cooperation with Warner Records. Reissue packaging has in some cases retained the Giant logo.

• 1991Voices That Care

  United States

  Giant launched its recorded-music activity with an all-star benefit single produced by David Foster and connected to the Gulf War period.

  Outcome. The release served as the label's first issued product and gave the new imprint high-profile visibility.

  Source

• 2022

  Azoff introduces independent Giant MusicStrategy

  Background

  Irving Azoff sought to relaunch the concept independently rather than through the former Warner relationship.

  Action taken

  Azoff launched a rebranded and independent operation called Giant Music, explicitly separate from Warner.

  Aftermath

  The launch created a new independent business associated with the Giant name but not the same corporate entity as the original Giant Records label.

  Source

• 2015

  Warner Music Sweden reactivates Giant RecordsProduct launch

  Background

  Warner Music Sweden chose to reuse the Giant name for a new Swedish label banner.

  Action taken

  The Swedish operation launched the revived banner with Simon Erics's "Waiting for the Sun."

  Aftermath

  The name returned to active use within Warner's Swedish business, distinct from the original U.S. joint venture.

  Source

• 2001

  Warner ends the joint venture and absorbs GiantM&A

  Background

  The original Warner-Azoff joint venture was terminated after approximately a decade of operation.

  Action taken

  Warner Music Group absorbed Giant into Warner Bros. Records.

  Aftermath

  Giant ceased operating as an independent Warner-affiliated label, although its branding continued to appear on some later catalog reissues.

  Source

• 1993

  Giant changes international distribution to BMGStrategy

  Background

  The label became dissatisfied with Warner Music Group's handling of international affairs.

  Action taken

  Giant entered an arrangement with BMG to distribute its recordings outside the United States.

  Aftermath

  BMG later ceased repressing and distributing earlier Giant releases after Warner ended the joint venture and absorbed the label in 2001.

  Source

1. 1Giant Recordsen.wikipedia.org