Republic Records

According to Avery Lipman, he and his brother Monte Lipman first conceived of Cheese Factory Records at the kitchen table of their apartment:

"My brother and I had been working at record companies. He was in between jobs and we started putting records out as a hobby. We had a grassroots approach to the business. The first record we put out happened to work really well. That was the Bloodhound Gang."

Frustrated by the limitations of being an independent with a very small staff, the Lipman brothers accepted an offer from Universal. One of several labels that comprise Universal Motown Republic Group, the newly named Republic Records was formed in 1995 as a sub-label of MCA's Geffen Records. Avery Lipman told HitQuarters that the pairing was a "complete disaster", saying: "Our ideas and vision didn’t fit with the label. We didn’t trust our own instincts. We let others decide what was right for the project."

Today, the label is responsible for numerous breakthrough and mainstream chart topping artists, including a diverse array of groundbreaking imprints and ventures encompassing new and established platinum and multi-platinum acts.

Its artists include Amy Winehouse, Anberlin, Chamillionaire, Colbie Caillat, Jay Sean, 3 Doors Down, Alter Bridge, Mika, Florence & The Machine, Godsmack, Rehab, Jack Johnson, Owl City and Lil Jon among others. Also Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester, signed onto them recently.

In the early days, Republic Records released the Bloodhound Gang's EP, Dingleberry Haze, as well as their first LP, Use Your Fingers.

In 2006, Universal Republic released The Who's comeback, Endless Wire in the US.

In October 2008, Republic announced Lil Jon as the "Urban Music Czar" in a multi-facted deal which includes a label, a recording contract, a production arm, a digital presence and an A&R consultancy role.