Warner Music Spain is celebrating the new and the enduring in a single year. In May 2023, the label celebrated the first year of The Music Station, the multi-use creative space that includes recording studios, a concert hall, as well as the label’s offices. And it also celebrates four decades of the iconic DRO (Organized Radioactive Records) record label, which joined the company’s catalog in 1993.
The fact that these two milestones coincide is very significant for the company, explains its president, William Gonzalezexclusively for Billboard Español: “It is total magic. It is very nice because we are celebrating one year of being here and at the same time we are celebrating 40 years of a local label that has marked the culture of our country so much and, on the other hand, has permeated the culture of Warner so much”.
DRO was founded in 1982. At that time, numerous groups arose that, after years of dictatorship in Spain, showed a rebellious and defiant attitude. However, this landscape made it difficult for them to access the established record companies at the time.
Faced with this situation, two prominent rock groups — El Aviador Dro y Sus Obreros Especializados, and Enclarecidos — decided to take the reins and form their own record company to publish their records and those of their friends.
Little by little, they began to grow, to develop and to give the opportunity to many others. In that first stage of DRO, important groups such as Duncan Dhu, Nacha Pop, Celtas Cortos, Los Secretos and Hombres G arose, to name a few. But financial difficulties led them to sell the company in 1993 to Warner, which acquired not only their catalogue, but also a team of people with an entirely different way of working.
“We sold Warner because we needed to not be concerned about money, but to focus on what we knew how to do, which was develop artists and create long-term products and artist careers. Warner offered us that possibility,” he explains. Paco Gamarraconsultant and former director of specialty products at DRO.
From that point on, the catalog expanded to include other great artists such as Los Rodriguez, Laura Pausini, Alex Ubago, Jarabe de Palo, Fangoria, Compay Segundo, and Fito and Fitipaldis.
“Warner bought DRO for money, but DRO was the one who really invaded Warner with their culture,” says González. “I have been at Warner for 15 years and what I have liked most about DRO is that it has been a pro-artist culture, and long-term careers. Talent has always been trusted”.
To this day, Warner Spain seeks to preserve that DRO gene and transmit to the new generations “that concern for music seen from that perspective that we always had of creativity, passion, perseverance, rebellion in some way, madness, courage. An attitude, a way of doing it differently”, adds Gamarra.
The celebration of its 40 years
To commemorate these four decades of DRO, an event was organized at the Príncipe Pío Theater in Madrid on May 18, where artists, authors, friends and collaborators of Warner Music Group and DRO gathered. As part of the celebration, a concert was held with the participation of Andrés Calamaro, Loquillo, Alaska, Iván Ferreiro, Celtas Cortos, Rulo, Sidecars, Paula Cendejas, Álvaro de Luna and Walls, among others. Together, they performed emblematic songs that have left their mark on musical history, such as “Soldadito sailor”, “Bonito”, “Rey del glam”, “Sin miedo a nada” and “Voy a pasármelo bien”.
A deluxe commemorative box of four LPs and four CDs with 85 songs was also launched in May, including classics such as “Voy a pasármelo bien”, “Sin documentos”, “20 de abril”, “Flaca” and “ Sailor Soldier”.
The commemorative box will only be available in Spain and includes a book that compiles significant and historical anecdotes, covers, and photographs.
The Music Station
While DRO’s deluxe box seeks to “capture a moment in time,” according to Gamarra, The Music Station, which celebrates one year of inauguration, looks to the future.
Located in the historic Estación del Norte building, this space offers music services and an artist experience in one place, including a concert hall, a club, six recording studios, rehearsal rooms, rooms for composing, for listen to music, to relax or to have a coffee or a beer. “It becomes an experience,” Gonzalez says.
The Music Station has been a resounding success with both the employees and the artists that fill the studios. It is common to see Iván Ferreiro delight everyone with his ability on the piano in the middle of the office. It is also common to see Blas Cantó composing a song for his next album or Pablo Alborán rehearsing for his La Cuarta Hoja tour.
The project has a wide variety of facilities that make it truly unique. In addition to the impressive theater with capacity for 1,052 people, and the terraces overlooking the beautiful Sabatini Gardens, it also includes the popular nightclub Carola Morena, which offers a varied entertainment agenda and is available for private events. Even more exciting is the plan to complete the offer with a theme restaurant and a contemporary music museum by the end of 2024.
“It has exceeded my expectations, but in reality what I dreamed it had to be is being done and I would just like it to continue like that,” says González. “May the artists continue to enjoy themselves and be able to continue working the way we are doing with them.”
2023-05-25 14:30:49
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