Hotels Are Record Labels Now

The newest record label in the music business is an operation called W Records — run not by moguls or artists, but the Marriott-owned, millennial-focused luxury hotel chain W Hotels.

W debuted its label on Tuesday, noting that the company will sign four rising artists over the next year and provide them with recording space, video shoot locations, mixing/mastering support and distribution of their music via live performances, streaming services and limited-edition vinyl production. W Records’ first signed artist is New York-based R&B singer-songwriter Amber Mark, who recorded two songs earlier this summer in the W Sound Suite at W Hollywood and is releasing them this fall.