Korn, Firm bow label
Multimillion-dollar deal puts band in charge of A&R
Under the terms of the agreement, Korn will be responsible for A&R with signing autonomy, while Kwatinetz, Green and Peter Katsis, the Firm's senior veep of music, will oversee the day-to-day operation of Elementree.
Execs at Reprise will provide back office support (sales, promotion, marketing) for Elementree releases, the first of which will come in July from L.A.-based Orgy.
Elementree will also tap Korn's extensive fan club, e-mail list and Web site to tout its releases. The acts will also tour with Korn to gain added exposure.
"We wanted to go with Reprise because the label believed in us enough to give us the control to guarantee to other artists that this would be an artist-based company," said Korn front man Jonathan Davis.
Kwatinetz, who bowed the Firm with Green after both exited high-profile management firm Gallin-Morey & Associates, believes Korn's members have "already proven themselves as a credible A&R source. Now they can use their expertise to benefit Elementree Records, as well as providing a unique (label) alternative for the artists themselves."
The game plan calls for Korn and the Firm to help start an industry and consumer buzz on its releases, which Reprise execs can use to integrate into their marketing and promotion efforts to advance sales of the albums.
In addition to Korn, the Firm reps Alana Davis, Limp Bizkit, Heavy D and actor/comedians Martin Lawrence and Richard Lewis, among others.
Immortal Entertainment/Epic Records act Korn has set July for release of its third album.
