Theory Entertainment LLC,[1] doing business as 300 Entertainment, is an American record label founded by Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles, Todd Moscowitz, and Roger Gold.[2] The label's roster includes acts across multiple genres such as hip hop, rock, pop, electronic, alternative, and country. Current artists include Young Thug, Fetty Wap, YNW Melly, No Savage, Rejjie Snow, Cheat Codes, Tee Grizzley, Famous Dex, Shy Glizzy, Cobi, Meg Mac, Dae Dae, The Hunna, Maggie Lindemann, Bailey Bryan, OMB Peezy, Ice Prince, $not, Des Rocs, Savage Gasp, TLE Cinco, and Mary J Blige. It is based in New York City. The label also acts as distributor for Young Thug's record label YSL Records, whose roster includes rappers Gunna and the late Lil Keed.
| 300 Entertainment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | Warner Music Group |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder |
|
| Distributor(s) | 300 Elektra |
| Genre | Various |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | New York City, New York |
| Official website | 300ent |
In 2021, Warner Music Group acquired 300 for $400 million.[3] In June 2022, 300 Entertainment was merged with Elektra Music Group to create the umbrella label 300 Elektra Entertainment (3EE), though both Elektra and 300 continued to maintain their separate identities as labels.[4][5]
Company history edit
Foundation edit
Cohen resigned as chairman and chief executive officer of Warner Music Group's recorded music operation to start 300 with Todd Moscowitz, ex-Warner Bros president, Kevin Liles, ex-EVP Warner Music, and Roger Gold, former SVP of the office of the chairman and CEO at Warner Music. Cohen, Liles, and Moscowitz had also worked together at Def Jam, which Cohen had run in the 1980s and 1990s.[6]
It was announced that singer Eric Bellinger had been signed to 300 Entertainment.[7] In April 2014, Atlantic Records A&R DJ Drama stated that Atlanta rapper Young Thug had been signed to 300 Entertainment,[8][9] In June 2014, it was revealed that Atlanta hip hop group Migos were also signed to the label.[10] In early 2014, Lyor Cohen quietly signed Conrad Sewell after Sewell had been passed on by most of the major labels. The day after signing with 300, the Australian singer received offers from virtually every label that had passed on him, for, in some cases, "well over $1 million."[11]
As of 2017, Fetty Wap's "Trap Queen" is the label's biggest single to date, going 10× platinum.[12] Its first pop hit was Cheat Codes' "No Promises" featuring Demi Lovato. Its first country pop[13] artist to be signed is Bailey Bryan.[14]
Exit of Cohen edit
In September 2016, Lyor Cohen announced his exit from 300.[15] Following this announcement, Kevin Liles assumed the role of CEO.[16] Liles would make appearances to follow in The Wall Street Journal and on MSNBC to discuss his role and the label.[17]
Partnerships edit
Funding edit
The company is backed by a wide range of investors, including Google, investment firm Columbus Nova, Israeli-American hedge fund billionaire Noam Gottesman's TOMS Capital, former Warner Music digital chief Alex Zubillaga, and Kemado Records' co-founder Andres Santo Domingo. The investment agreements were pulled together by media investment banker Aryeh Bourkoff and Ori Winitze of LionTree.[18]
Atlantic Records edit
Atlantic Records signed a distribution deal to distribute all of 300's content in November 2013.[citation needed]
+1 Records edit
In 2014, 300 announced that +1 Records had become an official partner label of the company.[19]
YSL Records edit
In November 2016, Young Thug started YSL (Young Stoner Life) Records as an imprint under 300 Entertainment.[20] Artists on the imprint include Gunna, Lil Keed, Strick, T-Shyne, Lil Duke, Karlae, Yak Gotti, Yung Kayo, HiDoraah, and Dolly White.[21]
Unauthorized Entertainment edit
In February 2017, the label's Senior Vice President of A&R, Selim Bouab, launched the label Unauthorized Entertainment under 300.[22]
Murder Inc. Records edit
In June 2017, it was announced that 300 Entertainment had partnered with Murder Inc. Records.[23]
Undercover Prodigy edit
In September 2017, Hopsin did an interview with HardKnocktv stating that he had signed with 300. His single "The Purge" was released through 300 Entertainment and Undercover Prodigy.[24]On November 24, 2017, Hopsin Released his album No Shame and debuted at 42 on the Billboard 200. Both Kevin Liles and Hopsin has referred to the deal as a partnership for 300 and Undercover Prodigy.
Producers edit
Some of 300 Entertainment signed producers include Chason Samuel, Metro Boomin, Young Thug, PinkPantheress, and others.
Artists edit
| Artist | Year signed | Albums with 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Shy Glizzy | 2014 | Law 3: Now or Never (2014)[25] Young Jefe 2 (2016)[26] The World is Yours (2017)[27] Fully Loaded (2018) |
| Young Thug | 2014 | Barter 6 (2015) I'm Up (2016) Slime Season 3 (2016) Jeffery (2016) Beautiful Thugger Girls (2017) So Much Fun (2019) Slime & B (2020) Punk (2021) Business is Business (2023) |
| Fetty Wap[28] | 2014 | Fetty Wap (2015) For My Fans (2018) Bruce Wayne (2018) Trap & B (2020) The Butterfly Effect (2021) |
| Highly Suspect | 2014 | Mister Asylum (2015) The Boy Who Died Wolf (2016) MCID (2019) |
| Cobi[29] | 2015 | Songs from the Ashes PT. 1 (2017) Songs from the Ashes PT. 2 (2018) |
| Meg Mac[30] | 2015 | Low Blows (2017) Hope (2019) |
| TK Kravitz[31] | 2015 | 2.0 (2018) |
| Maggie Lindemann | 2016 | |
| The Hunna | 2016 | 100 (2016)[32] |
| Lil Duke[33] | 2016 | Blue Devil 2 (2019) |
| Famous Dex | 2016 | Dex Meets Dexter (2018) Dexter 2031 (EP) (2020) |
| Cheat Codes[34] | 2016 | Level 1 (EP) (2018) Level 2 (EP) (2019) (International distribution through Parlophone, since 2018 co-signed with Spinnin' Records, another Warner Music Group subsidiary.) |
| YNW Melly | 2016 | I Am You (mixtape) (2018) We All Shine (mixtape) (2019) Melly vs. Melvin (2019) Just a Matter of Slime (2021) |
| Tee Grizzley | 2017 | Bloodas (2017)[35] Activated (2018) Scriptures (2019) The Smartest (2020) Built for Whatever (2021) |
| Bailey Bryan | 2017 | So Far (EP) (2017)[36] Perspective (EP) (2019) |
| OMB Peezy[37] | 2017 | Humble Beginnings (EP) (2017) Preacher to the Streets (2019) |
| Agnez Mo[38] | 2018 | |
| Lil Keed[39] | 2018 | Keed Talk to 'Em (2018) Long Live Mexico (2019) Trapped on Cleveland 3 (2020) |
| NGeeYL | 2018 | Tales of YL (2018) Hiatus (2019) Live Ammo (2020) |
| Paris Shadows | 2018 | One Night in Paris (EP) (2018)[40] |
| Megan Thee Stallion[41] | 2018 | Tina Snow (2018) Fever (2019) Suga (2020) Good News (2020) |
| Phony Ppl[42] | 2018 | mō’zā-ik.(2018) |
| Lukas James | 2019 | |
| Nova Miller[43] | 2019 | |
| TLE Cinco[citation needed] | 2018 | 20Cinco (2019) Self Conscious (2020) |
| Trapboy Freddy[44] | 2019 | |
| Noah Cunane[45] | 2019 | |
| Drax Project | 2019 | Drax Project (2019) |
| $NOT[46][47] | 2019 | Beautiful Havoc (2020)[48] Ethereal (2022)[49] |
| Waterparks[50] | 2020 | Greatest Hits (2021)[51] |
| PmBata | 2021 | "favorite song" (song)[52][53] |
| Des Rocs | 2021 | A Real Good Person In A Real Bad Place (EP) (2021) |
| María Becerra | 2021 | Animal (2021) |
| Mary J. Blige | 2021 | Good Morning Gorgeous (2022)[54] |
| Quarters of Change | 2021 | Into The Rift (2022) Portraits (2024)[55] |