XO (record label)
XO (record label)
XO | |
---|---|
Parent company | Universal Music Group |
Founded | 2012 (2012) |
Founder |
|
Distributor(s) | Republic Records |
Genre | |
Country of origin | Canada |
XO (also known as XO Records)[1][2] is a Canadian record label founded by singer The Weeknd and his manager Amir "Cash" Esmailian[3]. As of 2012, it operates as a subsidiary of, and is distributed through, Universal Music Group's Republic Records.[4] The label's current acts include The Weeknd, Belly, Nav, 88Glam,[5] and Black Atlass. The label has had four albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200: Beauty Behind The Madness, Starboy, My Dear Melancholy, and Bad Habits.
XO | |
---|---|
Parent company | Universal Music Group |
Founded | 2012 (2012) |
Founder |
|
Distributor(s) | Republic Records |
Genre | |
Country of origin | Canada |
History
XO was created by Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd, as an unofficial imprint to release three mixtapes in 2011. The three releases, House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence, helped grow the singer's profile, and began promoting the "XO" moniker through various on-stage performances and references within songs. The Weeknd also began conducting advertising deals via the label to multiple outlets, namely collaborating with PAX Labs to release a limited edition version of the PAX 2 vaporizer, an electronic cigarette that could be used in shows during The Madness Fall Tour.[6]
Upon securing a major recording contract with Republic Records in 2012, XO was also assumed as a subsidiary of Republic, and also acted as the distributors and manufacturers of any music created by XO. Belly was signed as the label's first artist in 2015, and Derek Wise was signed later that year. Nav was signed by the label in 2016. Upon entering classification as a subsidiary, the label has released seven projects by their artists (discluding The Weeknd).
On February 8, 2018, Montreal-born singer Black Atlass released a new song, "My Life", distributed by XO Records. Black Atlass had previously appeared alongside The Weeknd in his "Secrets" music video and in some ads involving the Puma x XO collections that dropped in 2017.[7]
Roster
Current acts
Act | Year signed | Releases under the label |
---|---|---|
The Weeknd | 2012 | 5 |
Belly | 2015 | 4 |
Nav | 2016 | 4 |
88Glam[5] | 2017 | 2 |
Black Atlass[8] | 2018 | 1 |
Discography
The label has officially released five studio albums, one EP, and one compilation album. Unofficially, the label has released eight mixtapes.
Studio albums
Year | Album details |
---|---|
2013 | The Weeknd – Kiss Land |
2015 | The Weeknd – Beauty Behind the Madness
|
2016 | The Weeknd – Starboy
|
2018 | 88Glam – 88Glam Reloaded
|
Nav – Reckless
| |
Black Atlass – Pain and Pleasure
| |
Belly – Immigrant
| |
88Glam – 88Glam 2
| |
2019 | Nav – Bad Habits
|
EPs
Year | EP details |
---|---|
2018 | The Weeknd – My Dear Melancholy,
|
Compilation albums
Year | Album details |
---|---|
2012 | The Weeknd – Trilogy
|
Mixtapes
Year | Album details |
---|---|
2011 | The Weeknd – House of Balloons
|
The Weeknd – Thursday
| |
The Weeknd – Echoes of Silence
| |
2015 | Belly – Up For Days
|
2016 | Belly – Another Day in Paradise
|
Belly – Inzombia
| |
2017 | Nav – Nav
|
Nav and Metro Boomin – Perfect Timing
| |
Belly – Mumble Rap
|