Parent company Jive Records Genre Dance, hip hop Date founded 1994 Country of origin United States of America | Status Defunct Location New York City Distributor BMG | |
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Battery Records was a dance sublabel of Jive Records active for a short time in the mid-1990s unrelated to the current hip hop label also part of the Jive/Zomba family. The label was mostly known for releasing music by the Swedish Eurodance group Rednex in North America, namely its novelty hit "Cotton Eye Joe."
History
Battery was formed when Zomba's Dutch office signed Rednex and created a number-one hit with "Cotton Eye Joe." Newly appointed Jive president Barry Weiss was attempting to broaden the pop-music reach of the label group, and introducing Rednex to American listeners was one of his first steps. Suddenly Jive needed a suitable American outlet for this unique style and didn't feel that any current sub-labels were appropriate. Thus, Battery record's inaugural release was the "Cotton Eye Joe" American import in 1994. Although the song was successful, reaching #25 on the Billboard charts, it remained the group's only US hit.
While the New York City-based label largely focused on pop-oriented electronic music, it also released Insane Clown Posse's third album, Riddle Box. The label continued for a few more years signing at least one more artist but shut its doors in 1996.