History Creator / ElektraRecords

* Music/ZacBrownBand

Elektra was founded as a small, independent FolkMusic label by college student Jac Holzman in 1950. The company became a force on the folk scene -- its roster included Judy Collins and Creator/TheodoreBikel, among others -- and also released a series of profitable sound effects albums. However, by [[TheSixties the mid-60s]], Holzman was looking to expand into RockAndRoll. He signed {{Blues Rock}}ers The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, then followed up with Music/{{Love|Band}}, who in turn recommended Music/TheDoors. From then on, Elektra established itself as one of the major names in the PsychedelicRock field; they also helped launch PunkRock by signing two of [[UsefulNotes/{{Michigan}} Ann]] [[UsefulNotes/{{Detroit}} Ar]][[UsefulNotes/UniversityOfMichigan bor]]'s finest, Music/MC5 and Music/TheStooges, as well as Music/{{Nico}}. Both The Stooges' debut and Nico's ''The Marble Index'' would be produced by former Music/TheVelvetUnderground member, Music/JohnCale. While these ProtoPunk artists' albums initially flopped, [[VindicatedByHistory they would later be recognized as classics]]. On the opposite end of the musical spectrum, Elektra's roster included soft rockers Bread and {{Singer Songwriter}}s like Music/CarlySimon, Music/HarryChapin and Music/TimBuckley. However, Elektra stumbled when they opened a UsefulNotes/{{London}} office in the late 60s to directly sign British bands. Although the UK division released some interesting music, it never became truly competitive with more established companies; also, its only successful group, eccentric FolkRock combo The Incredible String Band, wound up [[ChannelHop leaving the label]] after a few years.

* Music/{{Love}}

Elektra was founded as a small, independent FolkMusic label by college student Jac Holzman in 1950. The company became a force on the folk scene -- its roster included Judy Collins and Creator/TheodoreBikel, among others -- and also released a series of profitable sound effects albums. However, by [[TheSixties the mid-60s]], Holzman was looking to expand into RockAndRoll. He signed {{Blues Rock}}ers The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, then followed up with Music/{{Love}}, who in turn recommended Music/TheDoors. From then on, Elektra established itself as one of the major names in the PsychedelicRock field; they also helped launch PunkRock by signing two of [[UsefulNotes/{{Michigan}} Ann]] [[UsefulNotes/{{Detroit}} Ar]][[UsefulNotes/UniversityOfMichigan bor]]'s finest, Music/MC5 and Music/TheStooges, as well as Music/{{Nico}}. Both The Stooges' debut and Nico's ''The Marble Index'' would be produced by former Music/TheVelvetUnderground member, Music/JohnCale. While these ProtoPunk artists' albums initially flopped, [[VindicatedByHistory they would later be recognized as classics]]. On the opposite end of the musical spectrum, Elektra's roster included soft rockers Bread and {{Singer Songwriter}}s like Music/CarlySimon, Music/HarryChapin and Music/TimBuckley. However, Elektra stumbled when they opened a UsefulNotes/{{London}} office in the late 60s to directly sign British bands. Although the UK division released some interesting music, it never became truly competitive with more established companies; also, its only successful group, eccentric FolkRock combo The Incredible String Band, wound up [[ChannelHop leaving the label]] after a few years.

* Film/LaraCroftTombRaider (Soundtrack)

Elektra was reactivated by Warner in 2009; its latter-day roster includes Music/BrunoMars (who quickly moved to Atlantic), Music/ZacBrownBand, Music/LittleBoots, Music/ChristinaPerri, Music/MarinaDiamandis and Music/EdSheeran. In June 2018, WMG announced that Elektra would become a frontline label again, separate from Atlantic, with Creator/FueledByRamen and Creator/RoadrunnerRecords moving into Elektra Music Group's umbrella. Four years later, the label merged with 300 Entertainment, with the pair distributing music both under their own names and under the 300 Elektra Entertainment umbrella. Since its return to frontline status, Elektra has seen success with artists such as Sturgill Simpson, Young the Giant, and Fitz & The Tantrums.

With the rise of PunkRock and NewWaveMusic, change was once again in the air in the late '70s and Elektra responded accordingly, signing Music/TheCars, Music/{{Television}}, and (a few years later) Music/XUSBand. In the 1980s and early '90s, the label was yet again on the cutting edge as an outlet for the burgeoning AlternativeRock genre, signing acts like Music/{{Kyuss}}, Music/{{Phish}}, Music/{{Ween}}, Music/TenThousandManiacs, Music/TheyMightBeGiants and Music/ViolentFemmes. They also made US-only deals with Music/TheAfghanWhigs, Music/BillyBragg, Music/{{The Cure|Band}}, Music/HappyMondays, Music/ThePixies, Music/PublicImageLtd and Music/TheSistersOfMercy, as well as The Sugarcubes, which paid off when singer Music/{{Bjork}} underwent a BreakupBreakout. This was likely helped by Elektra being the historical home of two of alternative's biggest influences, Music/TheStooges and Music/TheDoors. The label entered the fields of CountryMusic (Music/ConwayTwitty, Music/HankWilliamsJr), HipHop (Music/BustaRhymes, Music/DelThaFunkeeHomosapien, Music/CeeLoGreen, Music/GrandmasterFlashAndTheFuriousFive), and HeavyMetal (Music/{{Dokken}}, Music/{{Metallica}}, Music/MotleyCrue).

* Music/ThePixies*

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/elektra_records.jpg]]

Elektra was reactivated by Warner in 2009; its latter-day roster includes Music/BrunoMars (who quickly moved to Atlantic), Music/ZacBrownBand, Music/LittleBoots, Music/ChristinaPerri, Music/MarinaDiamandis and Music/EdSheeran. In June 2018, WMG announced that Elektra would become a frontline label again, separate from Atlantic, with Creator/FueledByRamen and Creator/RoadrunnerRecords moving into Elektra Music Group's umbrella. Four years later, the label merged with 300 Entertainment, with the pair distributing music both under their own names and as 300 Elektr Entertainment. Since its return to frontline status, Elektra has seen success with artists such as Sturgill Simpson, Young the Giant, and Fitz & The Tantrums.

Elektra was reactivated by Warner in 2009; its latter-day roster includes Music/BrunoMars (who quickly moved to Atlantic), Music/ZacBrownBand, Music/LittleBoots, Music/ChristinaPerri, Music/MarinaDiamandis and Music/EdSheeran. In June 2018, WMG announced that Elektra would become a frontline label again, separate from Atlantic, with Creator/FueledByRamen and Creator/RoadrunnerRecords moving into Elektra Music Group's umbrella. Since its return to frontline status, the label has seen success with artists such as Sturgill Simpson, Young the Giant, and Fitz & The Tantrums.

* Music/MarkRonson

* Music/TheodoreBikel

Elektra was founded as a small, independent FolkMusic label by college student Jac Holzman in 1950. The company became a force on the folk scene, and also released a series of profitable sound effects albums, but by [[TheSixties the mid-60s]], Holzman was looking to expand into RockAndRoll. He signed {{Blues Rock}}ers The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, then followed up with Music/{{Love}}, who in turn recommended Music/TheDoors. From then on, Elektra established itself as one of the major names in the PsychedelicRock field; they also helped launch PunkRock by signing two of [[UsefulNotes/{{Michigan}} Ann]] [[UsefulNotes/{{Detroit}} Ar]][[UsefulNotes/UniversityOfMichigan bor]]'s finest, Music/MC5 and Music/TheStooges, as well as Music/{{Nico}}. Both The Stooges' debut and Nico's ''The Marble Index'' would be produced by former Music/TheVelvetUnderground member, Music/JohnCale. While these ProtoPunk artists' albums initially flopped, [[VindicatedByHistory they would later be recognized as classics]]. On the opposite end of the musical spectrum, Elektra's roster included soft rockers Bread and {{Singer Songwriter}}s like Music/CarlySimon, Music/HarryChapin and Music/TimBuckley. However, Elektra stumbled when they opened a UsefulNotes/{{London}} office in the late 60s to directly sign British bands. Although the UK division released some interesting music, it never became truly competitive with more established companies; also, its only successful group, eccentric FolkRock combo The Incredible String Band, wound up [[ChannelHop leaving the label]] after a few years.

* Music/{{Queen|Band}}*[[note]]plus Japan and Australia/New Zealand; all of Elektra's rights have expired[[/note]]