Roadrunner Records Downsize: Australian Office Under Threat?

A massive restructure from the iconic Roadrunner Records will reportedly see the closure of a number of offices around the world, resulting in major layoffs.

The downsizing comes with the resignation of founder and CEO Cees Wessels.

Billboard reports that approximately 36 staff members from around the world were let go yesterday and today, including 16 in the United States which could be the only region where the label, a seminal name in successful rock and metal releases, will continue as a standalone.

Staff who survived the chop are likely to become part of parent label Warner's staff and carry on functions for the label there.

As a result, Roadrunner will continue to have staff working on the label in every territory except the Netherlands, where Wessels founded the label in 1980.

However Rock Sins are reporting that the majority of staff in the UK office have been retrenched, and that they've heard the Canadian office will be shut.

A representative from Roadrunner's Australian office, located in Melbourne, declined to comment to theMusic.com.au on the matter today and Warner are yet to respond to our request.

UPDATE: Artists have taken to social media to react to the Roadrunner re-structure.

Dez Fafara of Devildriver tweeted to fans: "For you RR closing offices may be about your favorite BAND but in reality it's about the PEOPLE WHO MADE YOU AWARE OF YOUR FAVORITE BAND that worked at RR !

"So while you want to worry and it's alright to do so for YOUR FAVORITE RR BAND / you should stop and take a moment to think about all the jobs lost , families out of work and band that will be getting dropped .

"You should TAKE THE TIME TO THANK IN WRITING ALL THE HARD WORKING PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT BELIEVED IN YOUR FAVORITE BAND BEFORE YOU EVEN HEARD THEIR NAMES ...."

Trivium's Matt Heafy wrote on Twitter: “I wish I knew who or what to blame specifically, and chew off it's heads – but Roadrunner records just fired some of their best employees.

“I don't know if it's corporate greed or it's due to the fact that no one puts value in physical art and that piracy created a domino effect, but our friends who are being tossed away so quickly by the label are now out of jobs. These people helped bands get where they are today.

"...The times are changing. Yes. Completely true. But the main thing is that we need to treat people like we want to be treated… Of course I'll be emotional when it has to do with people I love and care and respect for helping me. If I blew up on the wrong parties… Then I apologize. But. The main point is that people need to remember,Internet aside-we are dealing with human beings. I feel for my friends. It wasn't ROADRUNNER canning people. It's the "company" who "owns" it. Long live ROADRUNNER (the memory of something that once was great).”