Queen Record Label: Who Are They Signed To? 2024 Deal Info & Past Contracts

Curious about what record label Queen is signed to? Want to know all about past deals, releases, net worth, and Their masters ownership?  Whether you are an artist yourself, hoping to follow in Queen's footsteps, or you are a curious music lover… You're in the right place! In this post, we are exploring all of that and more, so scroll on 🙂 …
Who Are Queen Signed To?
Table Of Contents
  1. Who Are Queen Signed To?
  2. Artist Background: Queen's Previous Record Labels & Contracts
  3. Awards: Queen's Achievements
  4. How Did Queen Get Famous?
  5. Does Queen Write Their Own Songs?
  6. What is Queen's Net Worth?
  7. Other Artists Signed To Island Records
  8. Does Queen Own Their Masters?
  9. The Wrap Up
 

Who Are Queen Signed To?

Island Records: Queen has been signed to Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group, for their latest record deal. This announcement was made by the band's frontman, May, during an interview on BBC's HARDtalk. Despite this new partnership, Queen's record company in the US and Canada remains Hollywood Records. This signing marks a significant moment for Queen, as it means that their entire back catalog will now have a single global distributor for the first time in decades. Prior to this deal, Queen was signed to EMI-owned Capitol Records in the US for a brief period in the late 1980s. Now, thanks to Universal's distribution of both Island and Hollywood Records, Queen fans around the world will have easier access to the band's entire catalog.

Artist Background: Queen's Previous Record Labels & Contracts

Embed from Getty Images Queen was an English rock band formed in London in 1970. In February 1973, the band advertised their upcoming album on BBC Radio 1, but they were still unsigned at the time. The following month, they reached an agreement with EMI Records and released their first single, “Keep Yourself Alive,” on July 6. Their self-titled debut album was released a week later and featured a photograph of Mercury performing live on the front cover. The album received positive reviews from critics, but “Keep Yourself Alive” did not gain much attention and had mediocre sales. Queen later signed with Capitol Records, but the relationship was fraught with difficulties. Their 1984 album “The Works” featured hit songs like “Radio Ga Ga,” “Hammer to Fall,” and “I Want to Break Free,” but the cross-dressing video for “I Want to Break Free” proved divisive and was removed from the album's US release. Despite these challenges, “The Works” earned triple platinum in the UK and spent two years on the albums chart, earning praise from Rolling Stone as “the Led Zeppelin II of the eighties.”    

Awards: Queen's Achievements

Queen has been a major force in popular culture for over 50 years. They are one of the best-selling musical artists in the world, with estimated record sales between 250 and 300 million. Their song “Another One Bites the Dust” from The Game (1980) is their best-selling single, and their compilation album Greatest Hits (1981) is the best-selling record in the UK and has received nine times platinum certification in the US. Their performance at the 1985 Live Aid event is often cited as one of the best in music history.

In recognition of their achievements, Queen has been awarded several accolades. They received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music in 1990, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2018, they received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2005, they received the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors.  

How Did Queen Get Famous?

Embed from Getty Images Queen became famous through their unique blend of rock music and incorporating various styles, such as progressive rock, hard rock, heavy metal, arena rock, and pop rock.
They were formed in London in 1970 and their earliest works were influenced by progressive rock and hard rock.
Over time, they began to incorporate more radio-friendly elements into their music, which helped them to gain a wider audience and ultimately achieve fame.  

Does Queen Write Their Own Songs?

The songs of Queen are written by their members. Each member contributed to the group's legacy in their own way. For example, Freddie Mercury wrote “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Are The Champions”.  

What is Queen's Net Worth?

Net Worth: $600 million. Queen has sold more than 300 million albums globally since the release of their self-titled album in 1973. Some of their most well-known songs include Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, Somebody To Love, The Show Must Go On, We Are The Champions, and Don't Stop Me Now.  

Other Artists Signed To Island Records

  • Dean Lewis
  • Demi Lovato
  • Jack Garratt
  • Jessi J.
  • Matt Corby
  • Robyn
  • U2
  • Alex Reece
  • Many more
 

Does Queen Own Their Masters?

No, Queen does not own the masters to their music. Queen Productions Ltd. is the owner of the band's master recordings, while Queen Music Ltd. owns their publishing rights and has partnered with Sony Music Publishing for management. Queen Music Ltd. pays Queen Production Ltd. its royalties from music publishing.

The Wrap Up

There you have it! I'm curious, was that what you expected from Queen? Let me know in the comment section… To stay up to date with Queen be sure to follow the official Queen Twitter Page and the Queen YouTube Channel for all of the latest Queen events! Record labels can be very complicated, and there are so many different types of record deals and contracts to be aware of. If you are an artist yourself, exploring possible options for your career, you might wanna check out our example record deal contracts to stay in the know – record label scams are rampant in the industry, sadly.   Not surprisingly, many artists are choosing to stay independent and start an independent record label – we at Industry Hackerz are ALL for that; whatever route gets you to where you want to go! We also have free music licensing templates that you can download and use if you do go that route; protect yourself, always.

You might also like to check out the contract status of these other prominent artists:  

About Author

Arielle P

Arielle P

Songwriter | Music Producer | Engineer.

With a background in music production and a strong passion for education, Arielle is dedicated to helping emerging artists navigate the music industry. She has worked with a diverse range of artists, from indie rock bands to well-known hip-hop and grime artists. Arielle's unique approach to teaching focuses on empowering artists to take control of their brand, ensuring they retain creative ownership throughout their journey. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting with new sounds in her home studio and sharing her insights through music production tutorials and workshops.

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