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Geffen Records
Geffen Records logo.svg
Parent company Universal Music Group
Founded 1980; 45 years ago (1980)
Founder David Geffen
Distributor(s)
Genre Various
Country of origin United States
Location Santa Monica, California, U.S.

Geffen Records is an American record label that helps musicians release their music. It was started in 1980 by a famous music businessman named David Geffen. Today, it is owned by Universal Music Group, one of the biggest music companies in the world.

Geffen Records works closely with Interscope Records as part of a group called Interscope Geffen A&M. Since 2003, Geffen has been a main label for many new music releases. It also helps re-release music from other record labels that have joined Geffen over the years. These include famous labels like MCA Records, DreamWorks Records, and DGC Records.

History

How Geffen Records Started (1980–1990)

David Geffen
David Geffen (pictured in 1973) founded Geffen Records in 1980.

Geffen Records began in 1980. Its founder, David Geffen, had already helped start another record label called Asylum Records in the 1970s. After working in movies for a few years, Geffen returned to music in 1980. He made a deal with Warner Bros. Records to create Geffen Records.

Warner Bros. Records provided all the money to start Geffen Records. They also helped distribute the music in North America. Another company, CBS Records, handled distribution in other parts of the world until 1985. Geffen Records and its distributors split the profits equally.

The first artist to sign with Geffen Records was the superstar Donna Summer. Her album The Wanderer was the label's first release in 1980. Soon after, Geffen released Double Fantasy by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. This album became a huge success, selling millions of copies and giving Geffen its first number-one album and song.

In the mid-1980s, Geffen Records became very successful with artists like Asia, Berlin, Enya, and Elton John. The label also signed many well-known artists such as Cher, Don Henley, and Neil Young.

Towards the end of the 1980s, Geffen Records became known for its rock music. Bands like Whitesnake, Guns N' Roses, Tesla, and Aerosmith had big hits. This led David Geffen to create a new label in 1990 called DGC Records. DGC focused on more experimental rock and later became famous for alternative rock bands like Nirvana.

Joining Bigger Companies (1990–1998)

After almost ten years, Geffen Records was sold to MCA Music Entertainment in 1990. This deal made David Geffen very wealthy. Geffen Records then operated as one of MCA's main labels. A year later, MCA was bought by a Japanese company called Matsushita Electric (now Panasonic).

In 1995, David Geffen left his role at the label. He teamed up with Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg to create DreamWorks SKG, a new company for movies, TV, and music. Geffen Records helped distribute music for DreamWorks' own label, DreamWorks Records. In 1996, MCA Inc., Geffen's parent company, changed its name to Universal Studios, Inc. Its music division became Universal Music Group.

Mergers and New Beginnings (1999–2003)

In 1998, Universal Music Group merged with another large music company called PolyGram. This meant Geffen Records now had new sister labels like A&M Records and Island Records.

In late 1998, Geffen Records and A&M Records merged to form Interscope Geffen A&M Records (IGA). This new group became one of Universal Music Group's main divisions. However, this merger also led to some employees being let go. Unlike A&M, which was closed down for a while, Geffen continued to exist as a brand under Interscope Records.

In 1999, Jordan Schur became the new president of Geffen Records. Under his leadership, Geffen became a label mostly focused on rock music.

Growing Stronger (2003–2009)

In 2003, Universal Music Group combined MCA Records with Geffen. This brought many new artists to Geffen, including Mary J. Blige, The Roots, and Blink-182. Later that year, DreamWorks Records also joined Geffen, adding artists like Nelly Furtado and Lifehouse. The remaining parts of DGC Records also merged into Geffen, bringing artists like Beck and Sonic Youth.

With these mergers and new artists like Ashlee Simpson and Snoop Dogg, Geffen Records became very strong. Some people even thought it might become an independent label again. In 2006, musician Ron Fair became the chairman of Geffen. That same year, rapper The Game joined Geffen and his album Doctor's Advocate became number one.

Geffen also had success with artists like Keyshia Cole. However, by the end of 2007, Geffen became even more closely tied to Interscope Records. In 2009, Geffen Records even signed a special agreement with the Holy See to produce an album of religious songs from Pope Benedict XVI.

New Launches (2011–2017)

In 2011, the head of Interscope Geffen A&M, Jimmy Iovine, relaunched Geffen Records. Its main office moved to New York City. Gee Roberson, who used to manage Kanye West, was appointed chairman. However, by late 2013, Geffen became less active, and most of its artists moved to Interscope.

In 2017, Neil Jacobson was appointed president of Geffen Records. He was tasked with launching the label again, signing new artists, and bringing new life to its famous music collection.

Recent Success (2019–Present)

In 2018, DJ Snake released his album Carte Blanche through Geffen. One of its songs, "Taki Taki", became a huge hit.

In 2019, Neil Jacobson left Geffen. In early 2020, Lee L'Heureux became the general manager. Geffen Records then saw more success with artists like Rod Wave, Lil Durk, and Yungblud.

In late 2020, Olivia Rodrigo joined Geffen. Her song "Drivers License" quickly reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 2021. In May 2021, she released her first album, Sour. It was a massive success, staying at number one on the Billboard 200 for five weeks. This made Olivia Rodrigo the first female artist in nearly 13 years to have a number one album on Geffen Records.

Olivia Rodrigo released her second album, Guts, in September 2023, which also debuted at number one. Also in 2023, Kali Uchis released her album Red Moon in Venus through Geffen, which reached the top five on the Billboard 200.

Labels

Main article: List of Universal Music Group labels
  • HYBE
  • Cinematic Music Group
  • Downtown Records
  • Rebel Music
  • Simple Stupid Records
  • GoodTalk

Artists

See also: List of Geffen Records artists

Current artists

  • 4TUNAT (FlyTown/Geffen)
  • Abby Jasmine (Cinematic Music Group/Geffen Records)
  • Ado (Virgin Music/Geffen)
  • Alesso (10:22PM/Geffen)
  • Ann Marie
  • Avicii
  • Big Time Rush (Downtown Records/Geffen)
  • BoyNextDoor (Hybe – KOZ/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Braden Bales
  • BTS (Hybe – Big Hit/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Byron Messia
  • Camila Cabello
  • Celeste
  • Cian Ducrot
  • ColintheKidd (Droolpz Records)
  • Dave (Neighbourhood/Geffen)
  • Dexter Tortoriello (Downtown Records/Geffen)
  • Easy Life
  • Enhypen (Hybe – Belift Lab/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Fromis 9 (Hybe – Pledis/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Guns N' Roses
  • Highway (Victor Victor Worldwide/Geffen)
  • Holly Humberstone
  • Hotboii (Rebel Music/Geffen)
  • Illit (Hybe – Belift Lab/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Inhaler
  • J-Hope (Hybe – Big Hit/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Jimin (Hybe – Big Hit/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Jungkook (Hybe – Big Hit/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Kali Uchis (EMI/Geffen)
  • Katseye (Hybe/Geffen)
  • Le Sserafim (Hybe – Source Music/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Huddy
  • Kenneth Cash (Cinematic Music Group/Geffen)
  • Kidd G
  • Lawsy (LISTEN TO THE KIDS/Geffen)
  • Lil Heat (Cinematic Music Group/Geffen)
  • Lola Kirke (Downtown Records/Geffen)
  • Lul Bob (Good Money Global/Cinematic Music Group/Geffen)
  • That Mexican OT
  • Michael Kiwanuka
  • midwxst (Simple Stupid/Geffen)
  • Neon Trees (Thrill Forever Records/Downtown Records/Geffen)
  • NewJeans (Hybe – ADOR/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Nirvana (from DGC Records) (Reissues)
  • Jace! (Simple Stupid/Geffen)
  • Ola Runt (Front Street/Cinematic Music Group/Geffen)
  • Olivia Rodrigo
  • Prentiss (Cinematic Music Group/Geffen)
  • Riovaz (Darkroom/Geffen)
  • RM (Hybe – Big Hit/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Rob49 (Rebel Music/Geffen)
  • Seventeen (Hybe – Pledis/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Skaiwater (Cinematic Music Group/Geffen)
  • Skilla Baby
  • Smokingskul (Simple Stupid/Geffen Records)
  • SpotemGottem (Rebel Music/Geffen Records)
  • Suga (Hybe – Big Hit/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Tay Money
  • Thug Drama (BTM Music Group Inc.)
  • Tokyo's Revenge (Blac Noize!/Cypress Park Music/Geffen Records/Interscope Records)
  • TWS (Hybe – Pledis/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • V (Hybe – Big Hit/Geffen; distribution in the US)
  • Yeat (Field Trip/Lyfëstyle Corporation/Geffen)
  • Yhapojj (Simple Stupid/Geffen Records)
  • Yungblud (Locomotion/Geffen Records)
  • Zack Bia (Field Trip/Geffen)

Former artists

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Geffen Records para niños

  • Geffen Records discography
  • John Kalodner
  • List of record labels
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