Arcade Records
Encyclopedia
Arcade Records was a Dutch multimedia concern, which started off as a record label specialized in compilations.
, who followed the example of its UK division. Seeing the huge success of their releases the company grew enormously and gradually spread out over Western Europe. The first step was the opening of a Belgian office in Brussels during the 1980s, which also made the company change name to Arcade Benelux (where Benelux stands for (BE)lgium, The (NE)therlands and (LUX)emburg), and a move of the head office to Nieuwegein instead of Naarden. Other divisions got started in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Even the original U.K. company had been bought in 1984. There was also a division going by the name Arcade International, which releases were distributed by more than one division (often in all available countries) at once.
After a reorganisation and acquisition of more companies (like CNR Music
and Indisc
, which merged to form CNR Indisc) the music division of the Arcade Group was renamed into Arcade Music Company. The Benelux division split up into a Belgian and Dutch division. They both became fully independent of each other, having their own specific releases.
in 2000 as Roadrunner Arcade Music. It released everything from Nu-Metal to Nu-NRG. However, a year later, they could no longer keep the big market share from the past. All divisions (except CNR Music
& Arcade's Belgium division) were sold to Roadrunner Records. The Arcade moniker completely disappeared & CNR Music revived as a fully independent company.
Nowadays, Arcade's Belgium division is known as Mostiko, a sublabel of CNR Music.
History
The label itself was founded in 1972 by Herman HeinsbroekHerman Heinsbroek
Hermanus Philippus Johannes Bernardus Heinsbroek is a Dutch entrepreneur and was Minister of Economic Affairs in the First Balkenende cabinet.-Personal life:...
, who followed the example of its UK division. Seeing the huge success of their releases the company grew enormously and gradually spread out over Western Europe. The first step was the opening of a Belgian office in Brussels during the 1980s, which also made the company change name to Arcade Benelux (where Benelux stands for (BE)lgium, The (NE)therlands and (LUX)emburg), and a move of the head office to Nieuwegein instead of Naarden. Other divisions got started in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Even the original U.K. company had been bought in 1984. There was also a division going by the name Arcade International, which releases were distributed by more than one division (often in all available countries) at once.
Later years
By the mid-1990s the company had become a true multinational, spreading into the market of broadcasting (both radio and T.V.), of audio and of video. In 1998, it was sold to Wegener (publisher of books, newspapers and magazines).After a reorganisation and acquisition of more companies (like CNR Music
CNR Music
CNR is a Dutch record and video/DVD label. It was founded as CNR Records by Cornelis Nicolaas Rood in 1937, who made his fortune as a producer of lampshades and other lighting materials....
and Indisc
Indisc
Indisc was a Belgian Dutch company of Brothers Goemaere & Brothers Brandsteder.It was established in 1957 by ex-employees of the Belgian Fonior and the Dutch Dureco as Inelco .By 1979, most major record companies had their own distribution chanels and only the smaller labels like...
, which merged to form CNR Indisc) the music division of the Arcade Group was renamed into Arcade Music Company. The Benelux division split up into a Belgian and Dutch division. They both became fully independent of each other, having their own specific releases.
Phase out
Eventually, it had a joint venture with Roadrunner RecordsRoadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
in 2000 as Roadrunner Arcade Music. It released everything from Nu-Metal to Nu-NRG. However, a year later, they could no longer keep the big market share from the past. All divisions (except CNR Music
CNR Music
CNR is a Dutch record and video/DVD label. It was founded as CNR Records by Cornelis Nicolaas Rood in 1937, who made his fortune as a producer of lampshades and other lighting materials....
& Arcade's Belgium division) were sold to Roadrunner Records. The Arcade moniker completely disappeared & CNR Music revived as a fully independent company.
Nowadays, Arcade's Belgium division is known as Mostiko, a sublabel of CNR Music.