Full Moon Records

Full Moon Records was an American record label active primarily from 1974 through 1992. It was established by music executive Irving Azoff as a subsidiary or spin-off imprint of Epic Records, with singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg as its first major artist. The label's first release was Fogelberg's second album, Souvenirs, which established the imprint's early identity around commercially oriented singer-songwriter music and adult contemporary rock. The label became associated with a number of established or commercially prominent performers. Its roster and recorded output included Fogelberg, Chicago, Peter Cetera, Joe Walsh, Grand Funk Railroad, and Johnny Lee. The Full Moon name therefore appeared across a range of mainstream rock, pop-rock, country, and soundtrack-related releases rather than representing a narrowly defined genre label. Fogelberg remained the imprint's central and most consistent artist. His recordings continued to carry the Full Moon branding while being distributed through Epic, even after distribution arrangements for much of the label's broader catalog changed. A significant business change occurred in 1980, when distribution for Full Moon moved from CBS to Warner Bros. The change also affected artists and related releases associated with the label, including Chicago, Grand Funk Railroad, and Johnny Lee. Movie soundtracks were among the releases covered by the Warner Bros. distribution relationship. Fogelberg was treated as an exception: his Full Moon recordings retained the label identity and continued to be distributed by Epic rather than moving to Warner Bros. with the rest of the affected activity. Full Moon Records was ultimately absorbed by Warner Bros. in 1992, ending its principal existence as an independent label imprint. The brand was briefly revived in 2009 for Love in Time, described as Dan Fogelberg's final studio album. That release used the Full Moon name and was distributed through Universal Music Enterprises, giving the label a limited posthumous-era continuation more than a decade after its absorption. The revival appears to have been a release-specific use of the brand rather than a restoration of the label's earlier operations. The label is historically notable for linking Azoff's management and label activities with Fogelberg's recording career, while also operating within the changing distribution structures of the American record business. Its history illustrates how record imprints could function as artist-centered subsidiaries, change distribution partners without necessarily changing their creative identity, and later be absorbed into a larger corporate music organization.

Full Moon Records emerged in 1974 as a subsidiary imprint spun off from Epic Records by music executive Irving Azoff. The label's creation was closely connected with Dan Fogelberg, who became its defining recording artist. Its first release was Fogelberg's second album, Souvenirs, establishing the imprint through a prominent singer-songwriter project rather than through a large initial roster. During its active period, the label expanded beyond Fogelberg and became associated with several recognized American recording acts. Artists connected with Full Moon included Chicago, Peter Cetera, Joe Walsh, Grand Funk Railroad, and Johnny Lee. The catalog consequently covered mainstream rock, pop-rock, country, and soundtrack material. Although the label carried multiple artists, Fogelberg remained especially important to its identity and catalog continuity. In 1980, Full Moon's distribution arrangements changed from CBS to Warner Bros. The change affected releases involving artists such as Chicago, Grand Funk Railroad, and Johnny Lee, and also extended to movie soundtracks. Fogelberg's position was different: his Full Moon recordings continued to display the Full Moon logo but remained distributed by Epic. This distinction preserved the connection between the artist and the original Epic-based structure even as other label activity moved into Warner Bros.' distribution system. The label existed as a recognizable imprint until 1992, when it was absorbed by Warner Bros. That absorption brought its principal operating history to a close. Full Moon did not resume its earlier broad label activities, but the name was used again in 2009 for Love in Time, Dan Fogelberg's final studio album. Universal Music Enterprises handled distribution for that release. The 2009 use represented a brief revival of the imprint for a specific Fogelberg release rather than evidence of a fully restored independent label. Full Moon Records' historical significance rests on the combination of an artist-centered origin, a roster of established mainstream performers, and a distribution history that crossed major American music companies. It also demonstrates the fluidity of record-label identities: an imprint could originate within one major-label system, shift distribution to another, be absorbed corporately, and later reappear as a catalog or artist-release brand.

• 2009

  Brand revived for Love in Time

  [1]Full Moon Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Full Moon imprint was briefly revived for Dan Fogelberg's final studio album, Love in Time, distributed by Universal Music Enterprises.

• 1992

  Label absorbed by Warner Bros.

  [1]Full Moon Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Warner Bros. absorbed Full Moon Records, ending its main period as a separate label.

• 1980

  Distribution moves to Warner Bros.

  [1]Full Moon Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Distribution for much of the label's activity moved from CBS to Warner Bros., with Fogelberg's recordings remaining distributed through Epic.

• 1974

  Label founded as an Epic Records spin-off

  [1]Full Moon Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Irving Azoff established Full Moon Records as a subsidiary or spin-off label from Epic Records.

• 1974

  Souvenirs becomes the first Full Moon release

  [1]Full Moon Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Dan Fogelberg's second album, Souvenirs, was the first album released under the Full Moon Records name.

A mainstream American record-label imprint centered initially on Dan Fogelberg and later associated with established rock, pop-rock, country, and soundtrack artists.

• Studio album · 1974

  Souvenirs

  Dan Fogelberg's second album and the first album released under the Full Moon Records imprint. It established the label's initial association with Fogelberg and its singer-songwriter-oriented catalog.

• Recorded-music catalog · 1974

  Dan Fogelberg catalog

  The Fogelberg recordings associated with Full Moon form the label's most persistent artist-centered catalog. His releases retained the Full Moon branding while continuing to be distributed through Epic, including during the label's later distribution transition.

• Recorded-music catalog

  Full Moon artist and soundtrack releases

  The imprint was also connected with releases by artists including Chicago, Peter Cetera, Joe Walsh, Grand Funk Railroad, and Johnny Lee, as well as movie soundtracks. These releases broadened Full Moon beyond its original Fogelberg-centered profile.

• Studio album · 2009

  Love in Time

  Dan Fogelberg's final studio album and the release for which the Full Moon name was briefly revived in 2009. Universal Music Enterprises handled its distribution.

• 2009

  Revive the imprint for Love in TimeProduct launch

  Background

  The Full Moon name had ceased to operate as a separate label after its absorption by Warner Bros., but remained associated with Dan Fogelberg.

  Action taken

  The imprint was briefly revived for Fogelberg's final studio album, Love in Time, with Universal Music Enterprises distributing the release.

  Aftermath

  The revival was limited to the specific album and did not restore the label's earlier general operations.

  Source

• 1992

  Absorption by Warner Bros.M&A

  Background

  After operating as a distinct imprint for roughly eighteen years, Full Moon Records was incorporated into Warner Bros.

  Action taken

  Warner Bros. absorbed the label rather than continuing it as an independent operating entity.

  Aftermath

  Full Moon's main operating period ended, although the name later appeared again for a 2009 Dan Fogelberg release.

  Source

• 1980

  Shift distribution from CBS to Warner Bros.Strategy

  Background

  Full Moon's business relationships changed as distribution for much of its activity moved away from CBS. The transition affected several associated artists and soundtrack releases.

  Action taken

  Warner Bros. took over distribution for the affected Full Moon releases, while Dan Fogelberg's Full Moon recordings remained with Epic.

  Aftermath

  The change placed much of the label's activity within Warner Bros.' distribution structure but preserved a separate Epic distribution path for Fogelberg.

  Source

1. 1Full Moon Recordsen.wikipedia.org