Artery Recordings launched in 2010 by Eric Rushing, and was the initial home for such bands as Attila and Chelsea Grin. Now, it is essentially no more. A report from AltPress reveals the company was acquired by Warner Music Group for an undisclosed sum, and the entire staff, including president Shan Dan Horan, were let go.
Eyebrows were raised earlier today when Jonny Craig, whose band Slaves has an album coming out on Artery later this year, posted a photo of him visiting Warner Music Group's offices in New York City today with the caption "A fresh start."
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYMNsbLA-BD/
AltPress reached out to Artery president Shan Dan Horan who confirmed the news and said the future of the label is uncertain:
"To address the rumors, yes, Artery has sold to Warner,” Horan said in a statement to Alternative Press. “I can't disclose too much about the deal, but building up this company to a million record sales in just five years is a tremendous accomplishment for the fans, our artists and the team. I'm humbled and appreciate each and every band I've ever had the honor of developing at Artery Recordings. As we hand over the keys to Warner, I'm not quite sure their plans for the label or catalog, but I hope they keep the legacy alive. With new Slaves and Capture albums on the horizon, I'm sure the fans will be ecstatic."
People losing their jobs is never good for the music business. It looks like Warner will likely pluck the successful bands off the label, and release the ones they don't deem profitable. Warner will also capitalize on the back catalogue. Attila frontman Chris Fronzak's label, Stay Sick, was an imprint on the label, no word on what happens to those bands.
Meanwhile, Jacob Harmond of Chelsea Grin, who started on Artery but have since moved on to Rise Records was not exactly ecstatic about the move:
Lol. So fucking wack. That label would be nothing without CG and Attila, and we don't get SHIT for royalities. Bum ass shit ??? https://t.co/ghQ17sXLRF
— Jacob Harmond? (@JaekGrin) August 29, 2017
