Priority Records
| Priority Records | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Bryan Turner Mark Cerami Steve Drath |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Various, with a focus on Hip Hop |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Official website | www |
Priority Records is an American distribution company and record label known for many highly successful artists including Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Ice-T, Jay-Z, Mack 10, Master P, Mia X, Mystikal, N.W.A, Snoop Dogg, Silkk the Shocker, Westside Connection & among others. It also distributed many highly successful hip hop record labels including Death Row Records, Hoo-Bangin' Records, No Limit Records, Posthuman Records, Rap-A-Lot Records, Rawkus Records, Roc-A-Fella Records, Ruthless Records, Wu-Tang Records & among others.
The Los Angeles-based company (with no ties or relations to a previous Priority Records label that was a subsidiary of what was then CBS Records) was formed in 1985 by three former K-tel executives: Bryan Turner, Mark Cerami and Steve Drath. Initial funding was provided by R-tek, a company headed by former K-tel board members: Ray and Harold Kives, and their company took an initial 50% ownership in Priority. Priority bought out the R-tek interest in 1987.
To support early operations, Priority Records licensed repertoire from others and released compilation albums but soon began to develop its own significant artist roster. Priority Records was able to achieve unrivaled success as an independent label by developing a precedent-setting "street-based" formula of underground marketing which bypassed mainstream radio. Their unique approach allowed Priority to sell millions of records without entering into the fiercely competitive major label battles over radio airplay. Priority's strategic marketing team was developed by Vice President Alyssa Pisano, who led Priority's Marketing and Creative Services Department between 1987 and 1996. Priority's roster featured numerous gold, platinum and multi-platinum artists, including N.W.A, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Eazy-E, Master P, Snoop Dogg, Silkk the Shocker, Jay-Z, Paris, Mack 10, 504 Boyz, C-Murder, Mia X, Westside Connection, No Limit and Ice-T.
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