WMG Distributor LEVEL to Shut Down in 2025
Written by djfrosty on September 26, 2024
LEVEL, a distribution company owned by Warner Music Group, announced on Thursday (Sept. 26) via Instagram that it will be shutting down in 2025. In a letter to its clients, obtained by Billboard, LEVEL notes that it is no longer accepting new songs for distribution or edits as of the date of the announcement and it will cease all operations on July 31, 2025.
The letter also said that all live releases will automatically be taken down on Nov. 18, but artists are “welcome to request a takedown” of their content before then. It also notes that access to the LEVEL Wallet, which is how the company pays out royalties, will be shut down on July 11. “We’re honored to have supported all of the talented people who have used LEVEL to share their music with the world over the years,” the company said.
In a statement provided to Billboard, WMG said: “We’re focusing all of our efforts behind the ADA brand, as we continue to strengthen our global suite of services for artists and label partners across the independent community. We’re taking a truly global approach, and investing in our team and technology, with some exciting announcements in the works.”
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In late 2022, multiple LEVEL artists and former employees told Billboard that the company was experiencing operational issues. This included the random removal of artists’ songs and projects distributed through the company and increasing difficulty in getting in touch with staff to remedy the takedowns and to generally receive service. Two former employees believed at the time that this was due to a reduced headcount at the company. A number of artists also took to the company’s Instagram comment sections to voice their concerns about the company. Those comments have all since been deleted.
In January 2023, the company addressed these complaints in an Instagram post, saying, “when it comes to customer support, we acknowledge we need improvement… we are refining our process for how we approach withdrawals [as well].”
LEVEL was started in 2018 by WMG in an effort to work more closely with young, unsigned artists. During the course of its operations, it released early songs by Remi Wolf, Stephen Sanchez, brakence, Dreamer Isioma, Boyish and more.
News of LEVEL’s shut down comes amid a widespread restructure of WMG’s Atlantic Music Group, which includes Atlantic Records, Elektra Records 300 Entertainment, Fueled by Ramen, Roadrunner and 10K Projects. Over the last few weeks, around 150 employees under the Atlantic Music Group umbrella have been let go, and a number of high-profile executives are also stepping down from the company, including Atlantic Music Group CEO Julie Greenwald, who co-led Atlantic for nearly 20 years; WMG’s CEO of recorded music Max Lousada, who had been at WMG for decades; 300 Elektra Entertainment chairman/CEO Kevin Liles; Atlantic general manager Paul Sinclair; and Atlantic co-president of Black music Michael Kyser, along with several department heads at both Atlantic and Elektra Records.
Atlantic Music Group will now be helmed by 10K Projects founder/CEO Elliot Grainge.