Elektra

Elektra is an American record label founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt, who put in $300 each and started it in Holzman's dorm room at St. John's College. It began in folk and became the label of the Doors, the Stooges and MC5, then later Metallica, Tracy Chapman, Björk and, in the US, the Cure.

The early catalog covered folk, jazz, gospel and blues, with Josh White, Theodore Bikel and Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. Judy Collins signed in 1961, and Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Tim Buckley and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band followed. Holzman started Nonesuch in 1964 as a budget classical label.

Kinney bought Elektra and Nonesuch in 1970, and in 1972 Elektra merged with Asylum Records to form Elektra/Asylum. It was folded into Atlantic Records Group in 2004, then revived in 2009 as an imprint with Bruno Mars, CeeLo Green, Justice and Kaleo on its releases. In 2018 it became Elektra Music Group alongside Fueled by Ramen and Roadrunner, with Brandi Carlile, Young the Giant and Tones and I among its acts. A 2022 merger with 300 Entertainment created 300 Elektra Entertainment, which joined Atlantic Music Group in 2024. The Elektra name still appears on releases.