Record Breaker UK Label Closes

The new owner of Sanctuary Music Group is closing its UK recorded music division, leaving acts such as The Charlatans, Kelly Osbourne and Dolores O'Riordan, formerly of the Cranberries, without a label.

The move follows last month's £44.5m acquisition of the struggling company by Universal Music.

Sanctuary manages acts including Elton John and James Blunt while it owns the merchandising rights to acts including The Who and Oasis.

It also looks after concerts for over 350 artists including Amy Winehouse and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Morrissey is understood to have left the label earlier this year and is rumoured to be planning to sign with Warner Bros.

Sanctuary was founded in the 1970s with Iron Maiden as its first major signing.

Universal said yesterday: "Sanctuary Records UK division will no longer continue as a stand-alone, frontline record label.

Consultations with employees have begun to minimise redundancies as a result of the restructuring."

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

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