Roadrunner Records

Label code: LC 9321 / LC 09321. Utilize Roadrunner Productions and/or Roadrunner Productions B.V. if the release attributes them. Counterfeits should be linked to Roadrunner Records.

Roadrunner Records was established in the Netherlands in 1980 by Cees Wessels. The label primarily released heavy metal and related genres in Europe during the 1980s, often through licensing agreements with other labels. Roadracer Records was utilized outside of Europe until the late 1980s, when it also began being used in Europe. Roadrunner signed numerous innovative or controversial metal bands, including Annihilator, Carnivore, Death, Deicide, Gorguts, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Obituary, Pestilence, and Sepultura. During the 1990s, the label shifted to a more commercial focus, which alienated many of their heavier and more extreme metal bands.

Roadrunner became one of the largest independent heavy metal labels until December 18, 2006, when Warner Music Group announced a deal to acquire 73.5% of Roadrunner Records for 73.5 million dollars. The acquisition was completed on January 29, 2007, following regulatory approval in Germany. In November 2010, Roadrunner Records was fully acquired by WMG. Cees Wessels served as CEO of Roadrunner until April 2012, when the Dutch office was closed. The U.S. office was subsequently moved to the WMG address.

Instructions regarding Intercord catalog numbers on Roadrunner Records releases (used since 1990):

In the absence of a distribution tag, please use:

-xxx.xxx or IRS xxx.xxx or D IRS xxx.xxx --> Distributed By - Intercord Record Service

-INT xxx.xxx or D INT xxx.xxx --> Distributed By - Intercord