DV8 Records

In September 1995 Billboard reported that A&M Records and Ric Wake Productions agreed to a three-year deal to start DV8 Records. Ric Wake would be the CEO of DV8 and also produce recordings for its artists. DV8 would be run from New York, NY where Wake had studios. DV8 would also have offices at A&M in Los Angeles. A&M would promote and market DV8 products through A&M Associated Labels and its arrangements with parent company PolyGram. DV8 planned to release about four albums per year. DV8 also had the first right to recordings from A&M's British imprint AM:PM. Raw Stilo, the first act to release on the label, was signed to the label by Shedrick Guy, its VP from May 1994 to November 1997. Wake took DV8 to Sony in January 1999 just as Universal Music took over then closed A&M Records.