Record Label

WWE Music Group

Record label founded in 1985 as WWE Records by Vince McMahon, Neil Lawi and James A. Johnston. Since its foundation, it was distributed by BMG. After fourteen years, the label changed its name to Smackdown Records, since the premiere of SmackDown and signed a new distribution deal with Koch Records (known today as MNRK Music Group). In 2002, the label, once again, changed its name to WWE Music Group and signed a new distribution deal with Sony Music Entertainment a year later. WWE Music was distributed by Columbia Records until 2013, when distribution moved to the Warner Music Group. The WWE/WMG partnership ended in mid-2024; the ADA provided physical distribution for the label's independent releases, while Atlantic Records distributed the label's major releases. The label is privately doing business as WWE Music Group, LLC. or WWE Music Publishing (for publishing purposes).