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UPDATED: Roadrunner Records’ International Offices Shut Down

Warner Music Group reportedly has shut down Roadrunner Records’ international offices in a cost cutting move.

The employees at Roadrunner Records’ European, Canadian, and UK offices have been terminated.

Publicist Kirsten Sprinks tweeted, “It’s true – we are all out of a job,” later adding, “No, I have not written a press release about our office closing, for those folks asking.”

No word as to how the US branch of the label is being affected.

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel recently tweeted, “Wow just heard more sad news about US people leaving Roadrunner now.”

Update 4:00pm PSTBillboard is reporting that Roadrunner Records founder/CEO Cees Wessels is stepping down. Today at least 36 staffers were let go worldwide, 16 of which in the US. While it was reported that the label’s international offices were closing, Billboard says only the Netherlands office will shut down, and that some employees will remain in every territory.

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Former Roadrunner Records Employee Faces Embezzlement Charges, Allegedly Stole $421,000 from Label

The Associated Press is reporting that former Roadrunner Records payroll manager, Sharanda Houser, embezzled about $421,000 at the label.

Houser pleaded not guilty to grand larceny and falsifying business records on Friday, and is being held on $25,000 bail.

The Manhattan district attorney says that Houser stole from the label for nearly six years before being fired last year for reasons unrelated.

Prosecutors say she submitted bogus expenses in executives’ names and had the reimbursements wired to her.

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Warner Music Group Acquires Roadrunner Records

Warner Music Group has fully acquired Roadrunner Records.

Roadrunner will still operate as its own brand within WMG, according to reports. 

Cees Wessels, Roadrunner CEO and founder, released the following internal staff memo:
 
“Since joining the Warner Music family, we have enjoyed some of our greatest creative and commercial successes as a label. Most importantly, we have retained our unique identity while also expanding our horizons, thanks in part to the tremendous expertise and experience we can tap into as part of the Warner Music family and the relationships we have built with our Warner Music colleagues around the world. I am very proud that Roadrunner is now a fully-fledged stable mate of such iconic labels as Atlantic , Warner Bros. Records, Elektra, Asylum and Rhino, and I believe that we are in this position thanks to our team’s hard work and consistently original approach over the years. The vast majority of our staff around the world will experience little or no change to their roles. However after carefully reviewing our operations, we have decided to transfer the support functions across to our Warner Music colleagues in some territories. This is not an easy process to undertake, but we believe that, by making these changes, we can take Roadrunner to the next level by focusing our resources on marketing our existing line-up of acclaimed artists as well as discovering the stars of tomorrow.”

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Bleeding Through Sign to Roadrunner International

Roadrunner International has teamed up with Rise Records to release Bleeding Through’s upcoming self-titled album. Rise Records will handle the U.S. and Canada release, while Roadrunner will be handling all other territories.

Bleeding Through’s Brandan Schieppati commented:

“We’re very excited to be teaming back up with Roadrunner, who released ‘The Truth’ and ‘This is Love, This is Murderous’ with us previously. Their team is fantastic and the label is legendary.”