Warner Music Group

History

In the early 1980s, Warner Communications Inc. formed Warner Music Video, initially as a production company. It was a vehicle for home video distribution of titles related to acts on the various labels part of or distributed by Warner, such as Warner Bros. Records, Sire, Elektra and Atlantic. Prior to 1984, all titles produced by Warner Music Video were released by Warner Home Video. In 1984, Warner Music Video was spun off into its own label, with Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Corporation serving as distributor.

Warner expanded its music video business in 1985, when Atlantic Records got its own home video label, Atlantic Video, primarily releasing Atlantic Records content. A year later, Elektra Records formed Elektra Video to release its music video content. Also that year, Warner Music Video became Warner Reprise Video, and became the mass-market distributor for Kidsongs titles.

Although Warner's music video department initially released music-related titles exclusively, it soon began to release titles unrelated to music, particularly after forming three distinct divisions: Warner Reprise Video, Atlantic Video (which was soon renamed to A*Vision Entertainment) and Elektra Video. At first, Elektra secured a deal with MTV Networks for the home video rights to Nickelodeon titles in June 1989. In the meantime, Elektra Records was also renamed to Elektra Entertainment. The first general entertainment videos released in 1989 used the Elektra branding, all subsequent videos used Atlantic's branding.

In 1990, Atlantic Video changed its name to A*Vision Entertainment after hiring Stuart Hersch as president. In 1991, WMG launched a subsidiary, Warner Music Vision to produce music videos. The first of the general entertainment videos with Atlantic's branding were the NASCAR Video magazine series. A*Vision secured the distribution rights to Penthouse Video's releases for the mass-market in 1991. The following year, the company acquired home video rights to the Shining Time Station series, as well as taking the Jane Fonda franchise from Warner Home Video. In mid-1992, WEA became the distributor for Live Home Video, replacing Uni Distribution Corporation.

In late 1992, the A*Vision group was split. The A*Vision name was mostly restricted to general entertainment releases, Penthouse and Jane Fonda titles, KidVision was formed for children's releases, and NightVision was formed for erotic releases. In 1993, it began co-marketing for Rhino Home Video label with its corporate parent label Rhino Records. That year, A*Vision picked up the rights to the Kathy Smith workout videos, taking over from Media Home Entertainment, and started the BodyVision imprint for workout releases. Additionally, A*Vision launched an imprint called Atlantic Group Films for feature films. In 1994, A*Vision began distributing titles from Saban Home Entertainment and Libra Home Entertainment (outbidding PolyGram Records' PolyGram Video), notably Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. Also that year, the company purchased The Maier Group, creators of the Buns of Steel video series.

In 1995, A*Vision became a separate entity from Atlantic and was renamed to WarnerVision Entertainment to reflect this. Coincidentally, the film imprint changed its name to WarnerVision Films. Also that year, the company began handling sell-through distribution for Coliseum Video. Shortly afterwards, the Atlantic Video label was quickly reinstated. Following the move, WarnerVision took over the Kidsongs license. Also, WarnerVision became the marketer for Dualstar Video and Lightyear Entertainment, replacing the Bertelsmann Music Group divisions BMG Kidz and BMG Video, respectively.

Later that year, Time Warner Entertainment announced its plan to spin-off WarnerVision completely to president Stuart Hersch. He planned to revert the label’s name to A*Vision Entertainment had the spin-off been completed. The following year, the plans were cancelled, and sales duties for WarnerVision, including its contracts with Rhino Home Video and Lightyear Entertainment, were shifted to Warner Home Video, and staff were laid off.

WarnerVision would soon lose its contracts for Coliseum and Saban to GoodTimes Home Video and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, respectively, by late 1996, as well as the Kidsongs titles to Sony Music Entertainment in 1997 and the contract for Penthouse to Image Entertainment in 1999. By this point, WarnerVision became an in-name only unit of WMG in order to continue issuing Real Wheels and The Magic School Bus videos and shift most of its focus on music titles only again.

In 1998, WMG purchased Rhino Entertainment, and soon afterwards, WEA reclaimed the home video distribution rights to Rhino's titles within a few years. In 2001, WEA secured a distribution contract with Q Video, including that label's license for Major League Baseball. In 2002, WMG purchased Word Entertainment, and as a result, for two years, before Big Idea was sold to Classic Media, Warner Home Video handled mass-market distribution of Big Idea's titles. Also that year, WEA had picked up distribution of Palm Pictures' titles.

In 2004, Warner Music Group was split from AOL Time Warner. Also that year, the company had secured a deal with Central Park Media in order to distribute that label's titles.

In 2006, Warner Music Vision became Warner Music Entertainment, consolidating together Atlantic and Elektra's labels together, alongside DVD producer The Rights Company. In late 2006, the company secured deals with City Lights Home Entertainment and Hart Sharp Video. In 2007, WEA reentered general entertainment distribution with the distribution of Scripps Networks titles on DVD, mostly the Food Network.

Eventually, WEA stopped distributing general entertainment titles with the folding of Rhino Home Video, as well as combined losses of contracts with Palm Pictures, City Lights Home Entertainment, Hart Sharp Video, and Scripps Networks amidst the financial crisis, and returned to just distributing music titles.

Releases

1989

Catalog number	Title	Country of origin	Original year	Length	Version	MPAA rating	Film format	Tape count	Tape break placement (if applicable)	Color	Released
49001-3	How to Throw a Double Dare Party	USA	1989	34 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	October 17, 1989
49003-3	Don't Just Sit There! Survival Guide	USA	1989	32 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	October 17, 1989
49004-3	The Worst of You Can't Do That on Television	USA	1989	29 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	October 17, 1989

1991

Catalog number	Title	Country of origin	Original year	Length	Version	MPAA rating	Film format	Tape count	Tape break placement (if applicable)	Color	Released	Note(s)
50184-3	NASCAR Video: Volume 1: The Daytona Challenge	USA	1991	60 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	July 1, 1991

1995

Catalog number	Title	Country of origin	Original year	Length	Version	MPAA rating	Film format	Tape count	Tape break placement (if applicable)	Color	Released
53305-3	The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of the Christmas Caper	USA	1995	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	September 12, 1995
53306-3	The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: Fun House Mystery	USA	1995	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	September 5, 1995
53307-3	You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Sleepover Party	USA	1995	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	August 22, 1995

1996

Catalog number	Title	Country of origin	Original year	Length	Version	MPAA rating	Film format	Tape count	Tape break placement (if applicable)	Color	Released
53320-3	The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of the Shark Encounter	USA	1996	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	February 27, 1996
53321-3	The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of the U.S. Space Camp Mission	USA	1996	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	February 27, 1996
53328-3	The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of the Hotel Who-Done-It	USA	1996	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	October 22, 1996
53329-3	You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Hawaiian Beach Party	USA	1996	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	October 22, 1996

1997

Catalog number	Title	Country of origin	Original year	Length	Version	MPAA rating	Film format	Tape count	Tape break placement (if applicable)	Color	Released
53336-3	The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of the Volcano Mystery	USA	1997	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	March 18, 1997
53337-3	The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of the United States Navy Adventure	USA	1997	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	March 18, 1997
53355	You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Birthday Party	USA	1997	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	September 16, 1997
53356	You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Christmas Party	USA	1997	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	September 16, 1997
53357	Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen: Our Music Video	USA	1997	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	September 16, 1997

1998

Catalog number	Title	Country of origin	Original year	Length	Version	MPAA rating	Film format	Tape count	Tape break placement (if applicable)	Color	Released	Note(s)
A53378	You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Ballet Party	USA	1997	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	March 3, 1998
A53379	You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Camp Out Party	USA	1998	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	March 3, 1998

1999

Catalog number	Title	Country of origin	Original year	Length	Version	MPAA rating	Film format	Tape count	Tape break placement (if applicable)	Color	Released
A54304	You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Mall Party	USA	1997	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	February 23, 1999
A54305	You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Costume Party	USA	1998	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	February 23, 1999
A56502	You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Fashion Party	USA	1999	30 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	September 7, 1999

2000

Catalog number	Title	Country of origin	Original year	Length	Version	MPAA rating	Film format	Tape count	Tape break placement (if applicable)	Color	Released	Note(s)
A56501	You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's School Dance Party	USA	2000	60 min	TBD	NR	Academy	1	TBD	Color	July 18, 2000