Piano Prodigy Jude Kofie to Headline Project Harmony’s 30th Anniversary Gala
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United States R.E.M. is an American rock group recognized for pioneering college rock and alternative music, achieving mainstream success while maintaining artistic integrity throughout their three-decade career.
In 1996, R.E.M. re-signed with Warner Bros. for a reported US$80 million, which was at the time the most expensive recording contract ever. This extensive deal secured their releases for future years.
R.E.M. signed a worldwide multi-year licensing agreement with Concord Bicycle Music for the subsequent phase of curating and extending R.E.M.'s catalog.
A limited-edition collaboration between designer Paul Smith and R.E.M., celebrated at an event in Soho.
In March 2016, R.E.M. signed a publishing administration deal with Universal Music Publishing Group for their global catalog.
In March 2017, R.E.M. joined SESAC, a performing rights organization, after previously being represented by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).
R.E.M. was formed in 1980 in Athens, Georgia, by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, all students at the University of Georgia. The band’s musical style drew from various influences, including The Byrds, The Velvet Underground, and The Rolling Stones, resulting in unpredictable blends of nonmetal rock and impressionistic folk. Their signature sound was defined by Peter Buck’s arpeggiated “jangle” guitar playing, Michael Stipe’s unique vocal style and often cryptic lyrics, Mike Mills’s countermelodic bass lines, and Bill Berry’s precise drumming. Initially gaining local recognition, the band quickly garnered critical acclaim, with their debut single, “Radio Free Europe,” released in 1981, attracting national attention.
After signing with I.R.S. Records, R.E.M. released their acclaimed debut album, “Murmur,” in 1983, which received widespread critical praise and was named Album of the Year by Rolling Stone. Consistently releasing albums throughout the 1980s, including “Reckoning” (1984), “Fables of the Reconstruction” (1985), “Lifes Rich Pageant” (1986), and “Document” (1987), they cultivated a strong following through college radio and constant touring. A significant turning point occurred when they signed with Warner Bros. Records in 1988, followed by the album “Green” (1988). Their mainstream breakthrough came with the Grammy Award-winning album “Out of Time” (1991) and its hit single “Losing My Religion,” which topped charts worldwide and earned them multiple Grammy Awards. This success continued with “Automatic for the People” (1992) and “Monster” (1994).
In 1997, drummer Bill Berry departed due to health reasons, and the band continued as a trio. They experimented with their sound on albums like “Up” (1998) and “Reveal” (2001), with global sales exceeding four million for the latter. R.E.M. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, marking a significant recognition of their influence. They released their final studio albums, “Accelerate” (2008) and “Collapse into Now” (2011), before announcing their amicable disbandment in 2011 after more than three decades. In 2024, the band was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, where all four original members performed together for the first time in many years.
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