Radioactive Records

Radioactive Records J.V.
Parent companyUniversal Music Group
Founded1990
FounderGary Kurfirst
StatusDefunct
Distributor(s)MCA Records (originally)
Geffen Records/UMe (Reissues)
GenreVarious
Country of originUnited States
Official websiteradioactive.com

Radioactive Records was an American record label. It was formed as a joint venture between talent manager Gary Kurfirst (who managed such acts as the Ramones, Big Audio Dynamite, Deee-Lite and Deborah Harry) and MCA Records, and it is now out of business.[1] Its catalogue is now owned by Geffen Records and licensed through Universal Music Enterprises.

Acts on the label included Live, Black Grape, the Ramones, Big Audio Dynamite, Traci Lords, and Angelfish (Shirley Manson[2][3]—Manson joined Garbage courtesy of Gary Kurfirst[4]). The band Pray TV from Melbourne, Australia, and British group Cooler Than Jesus (featuring Simon White, who later played in Brit-pop band Menswear) were also signed by the label in the early 1990s.[5][6]

Radioactive released the original soundtrack album for the nineteenth James Bond film, The World Is Not Enough, as well as the single of the title track, which was a massive hit throughout Europe.

In 1997, Kurfirst formed a related label, Radiouniverse, as a joint venture with Universal Music Group's Universal Records.[7] It debuted with albums from Radio Iodine and Dig, bands that were formerly signed to Radioactive. Other acts signed to the label included The Devlins and Tyzle Fly.[7]

The Ramones catalogue, which was distributed by EMI's Chrysalis Records around the world except US and Canada, is owned by Parlophone (division of Warner Music Group) except US and Canada, where it is owned by Geffen and UMe.

  1. ^ "Legendary Manager Gary Kurfirst Dies". encore.celebrityaccess.com. 14 January 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Gary Kurfirst". Gary Kurfirst. Retrieved 2014-10-11.
  3. ^ Goldman, Vivien (16 January 2009). "Gary Kurfirst, Rock Promoter and Manager of the Talking Heads, Dies at 61". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Legendary Manager Gary Kurfirst Dies". encore.celebrityaccess.com. 14 January 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  5. ^ "Pray TV - Paydirt". cdbaby.com. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Cooler Than Jesus – Teeny Freaks". discogs.com. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  7. ^ a b Rosen, Craig (7 June 1997). "Gary Kurfirst, Universal Bow Radiouniverse Label". Billboard. Retrieved 21 May 2016.