Warner Classics
| Warner Classics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | Warner Music Group |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Genre | Classical music |
| Country of origin | France |
| Official website | http://www.warnerclassics.com |
Warner Classics is the classical music arm of Warner Music Group. The label itself began issuing new recordings under the Warner Classics banner in 1991.[1] The company also includes the Erato Records, Teldec Records and NVC Arts labels. Based in France,[2] Warner Music also distributes the Lontano and Finlandia labels.[3]
History
What was then known as Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, which owned Warner Bros. Records and Atlantic Records, acquired Elektra Records in 1969 which included Elektra's Nonesuch Records classical music label. This led to the formation of WEA, the forerunner of Warner Music. Nonesuch is now part of Warner Bros. Records. WEA acquired Teldec Records in 1988. Warner Classics was formed in 1991. The renamed Warner Music acquired Erato Records in 1992.
The label developed a larger profile in 2013 when it absorbed EMI Classics with that label's output absorbed into the Warner Classics label and the co-owned Virgin Classics absorbed into Erato.[4]