Are Wilco Done With Nonesuch Records?

It was one of the biggest music stories of the turn of the century: Wilco gets “kicked off” Reprise Records (a subsidiary of Warner Bros.) for making Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, an album that the label deemed not commercial enough. It turned out to be the biggest selling and most acclaimed album of their career, and, after converting new fans as a free stream on Wilco’s website, was ultimately released by Nonesuch…another Warner Bros. owned label.

But after three (incredible) followups with Nonesuch and a live album, Wilco look to be ready to strike out on their own. The band’s guitarist, Nels Cline tells the website Express Night Out: “Jeff [Tweedy] was basically not wanting to be on a record label for a while—he didn’t renew his contract with Nonesuch—so we’re striking out on our own, our own label. There might be a 7-inch or something, a little souvenir when we do this Mass MoCA [Solid Sound Festival in North Adams, Ma.] I’m not sure, really. Basically, Jeff and [Wilco manager] Tony Margherita are the masterminds, so I’m just cruising with what they want to do.”

Wilco’s publicist, Deb Bernardini, tells Paste: “I can confirm that Wilco’s deal is indeed up with Nonesuch Records. It has not yet been determined who will release the next Wilco record, but forming their own label and releasing future albums through it is definitely a potential scenario.”