American record label
WWE Music Publishing, Inc.
;
[1]
[2]
[3]
trade name
WWE Music Group, LLC.
, is an American
record label
funded and operated by World Wrestling Entertainment (
WWE
), a division of
TKO Group Holdings
, a majority-owned subsidiary of
Endeavor Group Holdings
. It was manufactured and co-marketed by
Columbia Records
and was distributed by
Sony Music
.
[4]
[5]
The label specializes in
compilation album
of the WWE wrestlers' entrance themes, often by contributing performing artists, but also releases titles that have been actually performed by the wrestlers themselves, including the various-artists album
WWE Originals
and
John Cena
's
You Can't See Me
.
Historically, most WWE entrance themes have been created by
Jim Johnston
since the 1980s,
[6]
while in recent times, themes have been written or performed by John Alicastro and Mike Lauri,
[7]
known collectively as
CFO$
from 2012 to 2019.
[8]
Since 2019, DJDTP, a music production company based in New York, is responsible for all themes used by WWE using the pseudonym "
def rebel
".
[9]
History
[
edit
]
Beginnings
[
edit
]
The series of
WWE
(WWF) produced albums began in 1985 with
The Wrestling Album
.
[10]
The album contained the song "
Land of a Thousand Dances
", recorded by a majority of the WWF roster at the time (including
Roddy Piper
,
Jesse Ventura
, and
Randy Savage
). The locker room would later reconvene for the song's music video.
[10]
Later in 1993,
WrestleMania: The Album
was released, but it failed to chart on the
Billboard
200
. By 2002, however, it had sold a total of 91,000 copies.
[10]
Format change and success
[
edit
]
The format of the wrestling albums changed in 1996, as the focus went from the wrestlers themselves singing to a compilation of various wrestlers' entrance themes.
[10]
WWF Full Metal: The Album
was the first album released with the new focus, and included the Monday Night Raw theme "Thorn in Your Eye" by Slam Jam, a supergroup composed of members of metal bands Anthrax, Savatage, Pro-Pain, and Overkill.
[10]
In October, the album reached No. 184 on the
Billboard
200
and by 2002, had sold 173,000 copies.
[10]
This new format proved to be a success. The follow-up album,
WWF The Music, Vol. 2
, which was released two years later, spent sixteen weeks on the chart and sold over 480,000 copies.
[10]
WWF The Music, Vol. 3
and
WWF The Music, Vol. 4
, released in December 1998 and November 1999 respectively, each sold over one million copies.
[10]
In particular,
Vol. 3
reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200, spent thirty weeks on the chart, and sold over 1.21 million copies.
[10]
The album reached position No. 4 in its debut week, stayed on the charts for twenty weeks, and sold over 1.13 million copies.
[10]
On March 21, 2000, the company worked with
Priority Records
to release a
hip hop music
album titled
WWF Aggression
,
[11]
which involved rappers such as
Snoop Dogg
,
Ol' Dirty Bastard
,
Method Man
, and
Kool Keith
, all of whom recorded versions of various wrestlers' entrance themes.
[10]
This album differed from previous albums, which were more along the lines of
rock music
.
[10]
Despite the change, the album still sold approximately 640,000 copies.
[10]
In October 2000, WWE announced the launch of the record label under the name
SmackDown! Records
, with Ron McCarrell as the president.
[12]
[13]
[14]
In February 2001,
WWF The Music, Vol. 5
debuted on the Billboard 200 at position No. 2, spending two weeks in the top twenty and selling 176,000 copies.
[10]
as well as reaching No. 2 in the
UK Albums Chart
and No. 5 in the
Canadian Albums Chart
.
[15]
The album included an original song by
Dwayne Johnson
.
[10]
By 2002,
Vol. 5
had sold 640,000 copies.
[10]
In September 2001, the
WWF Tough Enough
album sold 138,000 copies.
[10]
In May 2001, WWE signed their first act, the heavy metal band
Neurotica
,
[16]
and released their third album in June 2002,
[17]
the only non-wrestling related album released on the label so far, before they disbanded.
In 2002,
WWF Forceable Entry
sold 145,000 copies in its first week to enter the Billboard 200 at position No. 3.
[10]
[18]
It was the fourth consecutive WWE album to debut in the top ten of the Billboard 200.
[18]
Forceable Entry
also debuted on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums Chart.
[18]
The album included music from
Creed
,
Our Lady Peace
,
Limp Bizkit
,
Marilyn Manson
,
Kid Rock
,
Drowning Pool
,
Rob Zombie
,
Sevendust
, and
Saliva
.
[19]
[20]
Later in the year,
WWE Anthology
was certified platinum after just 10 days of release.
[21]
As of March 2006, WWE officially announced the launching of the "WWE Music Group" under the management of Neil Lawi,
[22]
[23]
who not only maintains the label but selects songs to be used on television and pay-per-view events, and regularly scouts new talent to showcase via WWE.
[24]
Within two months of operation, the newly restructured label had an album reach the top 10 of the Billboard 200 when
WWE Wreckless Intent
, with songs by artists such as
Motorhead
,
Three 6 Mafia
,
P.O.D.
, and
Killswitch Engage
, reached No. 8.
[25]
[26]
In 2007, the label released
¡Quiero Vivir!
, the debut album of WWE ring announcer
Lilian Garcia
, in conjunction with
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
.
[27]
In 2007, WWE released
WWE The Music, Volume 7
, the company's first digital-only album, on
iTunes
,
[28]
and starting in 2012, WWE began making old albums available through online stores, starting with the first five "Volume" albums released from 1995 to 2001.
[29]
On April 20, 2013, the entrance theme of wrestler
Fandango
reached No. 44 in the
UK Singles Chart
,
[30]
after briefly being close to the Top 10 in the mid-week charts.
[31]
Following the
NXT Arrival
show on February 27, 2014, WWE released singles of eight NXT wrestlers created by CFO$,
[32]
and it was followed in May by the music video and single of
Tyler Breeze
.
[33]
On November 30, 2017, it was reported that Jim Johnston's contract with the WWE had expired and that the company had released him after more than thirty-two years of employment.
[34]
[35]
Disputed issues
[
edit
]
Composer James D. Papa filed a lawsuit against the WWE Music Group,
Michael Hayes
, and
Jim Johnston
in July 2012 over the use of the music from
World Championship Wrestling
, citing redirected royalty payments to several wrestling related songs he either wrote or co-wrote by securing the rights to music unlawfully. Along with the defendants of the case were long with VE Newco LLC, the parent company of
Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment
(distribution of WWE DVD and Blu-rays),
Yuke's
(WWE video games), and
Take-Two Interactive
(who owns the WWE video game license after
THQ
filed for bankruptcy in January 2013) were added in September 2013.
[36]
The filing noted that the two sides resolved their issues following an
alternative dispute resolution
conference because there are a number of
WWE Network
versions of
list of NWA/WCW closed-circuit events and pay-per-view events
using all 11 songs from the
Slam Jam
CD that were placed on the Network, replacing versions of the PPV that had edited out the original music. A similar lawsuit brought against the company by
Harry Slash & The Slashtones
and Roderick Kohn over the rights to original music used by
Extreme Championship Wrestling
that WWE had been using during
the Invasion
was resolved with a settlement that saw WWE purchase the catalogue outright in January 2005 along with the assets in 2003 in bankruptcy court.
The case was then settled in court on May 5, 2014, before the March 23, 2015, trial date. However, WWE has again denied any wrongdoing and claimed that since Papa "consented to use" of his music in WCW and
World Class Championship Wrestling
broadcasts, and subsequently, WWE would have the rights to his material since they acquired the copyrights lawfully. WWE also said that the music in the World Class documentary would be "
fair use
" and that Papa did not have any copyright for the "clone song" that Johnston created, so any claim against that song should be thrown out.
[37]
In other media
[
edit
]
Discography
[
edit
]
Compilation albums
[
edit
]
Album
|
Release date
|
Tracks
|
Notes
|
The Wrestling Album
|
1985
|
10
|
|
Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II
|
1987
|
10
|
|
WrestleMania: The Album
|
July 1993
|
10
|
|
WWF Full Metal: The Album
|
1996
|
14
|
Reissued outside North America as
WWF Champions: The Album ? Full Metal Edition
in 1996
|
WWF The Music, Volume 2
|
November 18, 1997
|
15
|
|
Hits of the World Wrestling Federation: We Gotta Wrestle
|
1997
|
15
|
Alternate version of
Volume 2
released outside the United States
|
WWF The Music, Volume 3
|
December 29, 1998
|
14
|
|
WWF The Music, Volume 4
|
November 2, 1999
|
14
|
|
WWF Aggression
|
March 21, 2000
|
13
|
Featured songs by commercial artists performing themes
|
WWF The Music, Vol. 5
|
February 20, 2001
|
14
|
|
WWF Forceable Entry
|
March 26, 2002
|
18
|
Last album sold under the WWF banner
|
WWE Anthology
|
November 12, 2002
|
86
|
Three-disc compilation
|
WWE Originals
|
January 13, 2004
|
17
|
Original songs recorded by wrestlers
|
ThemeAddict: WWE The Music, Vol. 6
|
November 15, 2004
|
16
|
Released with a bonus DVD featuring entrance videos
|
WWE Wreckless Intent
|
May 23, 2006
|
15
|
|
WWE The Music, Vol. 7
|
March 16, 2007
|
21
|
Download only
|
RAW Greatest Hits: The Music
|
December 18, 2007
|
19
|
|
WWE The Music, Vol. 8
|
March 25, 2008 (US)
March 24, 2008 (UK)
|
14
|
|
Voices: WWE The Music, Vol. 9
|
January 24, 2009 (Australia)
January 27, 2009 (US)
April 13, 2009 (UK)
|
13
|
|
WWE The Music: A New Day, Vol. 10
|
January 28, 2010
|
14
|
.
|
Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Entrance Music EP
|
June 13, 2011
|
4
|
|
Hall of Fame 2012 ? The Music
|
March 25, 2012
|
16
|
|
WWE The Music: The Beginning
|
July 16, 2012
|
80
|
|
WrestleMania ? The Music 2013
|
April 1, 2013
|
23
|
|
SummerSlam ? The Music 2013
|
August 16, 2013
|
20
|
|
The Federation Era
|
April 1, 2014
|
23
|
|
The Music of WCW
|
April 1, 2014
|
60
|
|
WrestleMania ? The Music 2014
|
April 7, 2014
|
62
|
|
The Music of the WWE Network
|
April 14, 2014
|
8
|
|
Total Divas: The Music
|
March 6, 2015
|
12
|
|
WWE Tough Enough: The Music
|
June 22, 2015
|
3
|
|
WWE: Undertaker ? From the Vault
|
March 20, 2016
|
21
|
|
WWE: Uncaged
|
December 16, 2016
|
16
|
|
WWE: Uncaged II
|
March 17, 2017
|
16
|
|
WWE: Uncaged III
|
August 21, 2017
|
16
|
|
WWE: Uncaged IV
|
November 20, 2017
|
12
|
|
WWE: Uncaged V
|
August 20, 2018
|
14
|
|
WWE: Uncaged VI
|
October 26, 2018
|
14
|
|
WWE: Uncaged VII
|
January 25, 2019
|
13
|
|
WWE: Uncaged VIII
|
May 17, 2019
|
13
|
|
WWE: Uncaged IX
|
August 9, 2019
|
21
|
|
WWE: Uncaged X
|
October 4, 2019
|
25
|
|
WWE: Uncaged XI
|
January 31, 2020
|
12
|
|
WWE: Uncaged XII
|
April 3, 2020
|
14
|
|
WWE: Uncaged XIII
|
August 21, 2020
|
15
|
|
WWE: Uncaged XIV
|
November 20, 2020
|
53
|
|
WWE: Uncaged XV
|
February 7, 2021
|
25
|
|
Single-artist albums
[
edit
]
Soundtrack albums
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"SUBSIDIARIES OF WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC. For World_Wrestling_Entertainment (WWE)"
. Archived from
the original
on July 26, 2014
. Retrieved
July 19,
2014
.
- ^
"Wrestling Archives"
.
- ^
"Public document"
.
sec.gov
. Retrieved
September 13,
2023
.
- ^
"Columbia Records Enters Into New Agreement with World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc"
. Sony Columbia Records. December 4, 2007. Archived from
the original
on July 14, 2014
. Retrieved
July 8,
2014
.
- ^
"WWE Music Group profile in discogs"
.
- ^
Ali, Reyan (April 3, 2013).
"The Man Who Writes WWE Wrestlers' Theme Music Is a James Taylor Fan"
.
The Atlantic
. Retrieved
July 10,
2014
.
- ^
"Biography: John Alicastro & Mike Lauri"
.
Wind-up Records
. Retrieved
July 10,
2014
.
- ^
"WWE.com feature on the CFO$"
.
- ^
"Update On WWE's Recent Trademark Filing For "Def Rebel"
"
.
wrestling-news.net
. May 23, 2020
. Retrieved
April 1,
2023
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
Basham, David (April 5, 2002).
"Got Charts? Wrestling With WWE LPs"
.
MTV
. Retrieved
March 28,
2008
.
- ^
"WWE Entertainment and Top Hip-Hop Artists Team Up For Aggression: 13 rap versions of the official WWE Superstar themes"
. WWE. March 16, 2000. Archived from
the original
on March 13, 2014
. Retrieved
July 9,
2014
.
- ^
"SmackDown! Records: WWE Entertainment Launches New Record Label with Ron McCarrell Named President"
. WWE. October 10, 2000. Archived from
the original
on March 13, 2014
. Retrieved
July 9,
2014
.
- ^
Lisi, Clementine (October 7, 2000).
"WWF to Smack Down Own Label on Records"
. New York Post.
Archived
from the original on March 4, 2016
. Retrieved
July 9,
2014
.
- ^
"WWE launches own record label". Slam Sports. October 6, 2000.
- ^
"WWE The Music: Volume 5 CD Debuts at NO. 2 on Billboard Top 200"
. WWE. March 1, 2001. Archived from
the original
on March 13, 2014
. Retrieved
July 8,
2014
.
- ^
"SmackDown! Records Announces The Signing of Neurotica and The Release of New Album"
. WWE. July 16, 2001. Archived from
the original
on March 13, 2014
. Retrieved
July 8,
2014
.
- ^
a
b
Taylor, Jason D. (June 25, 2002).
"Neurotica ? Neutorica"
.
AllMusic
. Retrieved
July 5,
2014
.
- ^
a
b
c
"WWE Forceable Entry Debuts At no.3 On Billboard Top 200"
. Business Wire. April 4, 2002
. Retrieved
March 28,
2008
.
- ^
"Hard Rockers Square Off On 'WWF Forced Entry'
"
. Billboard. February 8, 2002.
Archived
from the original on May 26, 2022
. Retrieved
July 9,
2014
.
- ^
"Rock's Hottest Stars Get Down & Dirty on WWE Forceable Entry CD Featuring Creed, Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, Drowning Pool, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Sevendust, Saliva, & Others"
. Sony Columbia. March 4, 2002
. Retrieved
July 9,
2014
.
[
permanent dead link
]
- ^
"WWE Anthology hits Platinum 10 days after shipping"
. WWE. November 25, 2002. Archived from
the original
on March 13, 2014
. Retrieved
July 9,
2014
.
- ^
"WWE Launches the WWE Music Group, Neil Lawi named General Manager"
. WWE. March 27, 2006. Archived from
the original
on March 19, 2008
. Retrieved
March 28,
2008
.
- ^
"WWE enters the ring with music venture"
.
New Zealand Herald
. March 27, 2006
. Retrieved
July 9,
2014
.
- ^
High, Kamau (June 15, 2008).
"Music a key element in WWE brand profile"
.
Reuters
.
Archived
from the original on September 24, 2015
. Retrieved
July 9,
2014
.
- ^
Hoffman, Brett (May 31, 2006).
"Wreckless Intent debuts in Top 10"
. WWE
. Retrieved
July 8,
2014
.
- ^
Hillhouse, Dave (June 6, 2006).
"Wreckless Intent ? Silly title, good CD"
. Slam Sports. Archived from the original on July 11, 2014
. Retrieved
July 9,
2014
.
{{
cite news
}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link
)
- ^
"WWE and Universal Music Latino release Lilian Garcia's "Quiero Vivir"
"
. WWE. September 24, 2007. Archived from
the original
on March 13, 2014
. Retrieved
July 8,
2014
.
- ^
Dee, Louis (April 3, 2007).
"iTunes and WWE team up again"
. WWE
. Retrieved
July 8,
2014
.
- ^
"
"WWE: The Music, The Beginning" released digitally"
. WWE. July 16, 2012
. Retrieved
July 8,
2014
.
- ^
"WWE ? Chachalala (Fandango)"
.
Official Charts Company
. April 20, 2013
. Retrieved
July 8,
2014
.
- ^
"Fandango's catchy entrance music shoots up the iTunes charts"
. WWE. April 10, 2013
. Retrieved
July 8,
2014
.
- ^
"The music of WWE NXT"
. WWE. March 5, 2014
. Retrieved
July 8,
2014
.
- ^
Rueter, Sean (June 6, 2014).
"Tyler Breeze world premiere music video from WWE NXT (June 5, 2014)"
. CageSide Seats
. Retrieved
July 8,
2014
.
- ^
"Legendary entrance music composer Jim Johnston released by WWE"
.
Daily Mirror
. December 2, 2017.
- ^
"WWE Release Jim Johnston"
. December 2017.
- ^
"WWE: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights"
.
- ^
"WWE: The Latest on James D. Papa's Lawsuit over WCW Music"
.
- ^
"John Cena's Theme Song is Now Being Used to Sell Toyota Camrys"
. September 4, 2017.
- ^
"CFO$ on Instagram: "As gamers and hockey fans, it's an honor to be featured in #NHL17 with our track #BreakAway ???? #CFOS #WWE #NHL #OttawaSenators ???? #GoalSong"
"
.
www.instagram.com
. Archived from
the original
on December 26, 2021
. Retrieved
July 19,
2018
.
- ^
WWE.com Staff (January 2, 2018).
"Washington Capitals use Oney Lorcan's entrance theme as its official goal song"
.
WWE
. Archived from
the original
on November 29, 2020
. Retrieved
November 2,
2022
.
- ^
"UFC's Colby Covington Teases WWE Debut; Kurt Angle Gave Permission to Use Theme Song"
.
Bleacher Report
. November 7, 2021
. Retrieved
November 7,
2021
.
- ^
"WWE legend The Undertaker congratulates Israel Adesanya for his win over Jared Cannonier after tribute entrance at UFC 276"
.
Talksport
. July 6, 2022
. Retrieved
July 6,
2022
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
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History
| |
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Programming
| |
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Home bases
| |
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Personnel
| |
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Notable rivalries
and matches
| |
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Affiliated properties
| |
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Defunct businesses
| |
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Notable acquisitions
| |
---|
Investments
| |
---|
Related companies
| |
---|
Partnerships
| |
---|
Championships
| |
---|
Accomplishments
| |
---|
Brand extension
| |
---|
International
| |
---|
Miscellaneous
| |
---|
|
---|
WWE Music Group's compilations
| |
---|
One-off albums
| |
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Related articles
| |
---|