Madison Gate Records
Sony-owned label specializing in film and TV soundtracks.
Madison Gate Records, Inc. is a U.S. record label under Sony Pictures Entertainment. It focuses on soundtracks and recordings tied to movies, TV shows, and other entertainment projects.
The label is the latest in a series of record companies linked to Columbia Pictures (now part of Sony Pictures Entertainment). This lineage started with Colpix Records in 1958 and continued through Colgems Records, Bell Records, and Arista Records. Its name comes from the Madison Avenue gated entrance to Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California. In 2013, Madison Gate Records won Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media at the Grammy Awards for *The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo*, while the Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media award went to *The Hunger Games*.
The a cappella group Pentatonix, winner of Season 3 of NBC's *The Sing-Off*, had early releases distributed by Madison Gate Records but was not exclusively signed as a long-term artist before moving to RCA Records in May 2014.
- notable_achievement
- Won Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 2013 Grammy Awards
Lore & Background
Madison Gate Records takes its name from the Madison Avenue gated entrance to Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California. It is the most recent in a long line of record companies affiliated with Columbia Pictures, which began with Colpix Records in 1958 and later included Colgems Records, Bell Records, and Arista Records. In 2013, the label won Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media at the Grammy Awards for the soundtrack from *The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo*; the Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media award that year went to *The Hunger Games*.
Reader's Guide
Madison Gate Records is significant as the current in-house soundtrack label for Sony Pictures Entertainment, continuing a legacy of Columbia Pictures-affiliated record companies that dates back to 1958. Its 2013 Grammy sweep highlighted its role in producing award-winning soundtracks for major films. The label also signed the a cappella group Pentatonix, which won Season 3 of NBC's The Sing-Off, before the group moved to RCA Records in May 2014. By focusing exclusively on soundtracks and other media-derived recordings, Madison Gate Records serves as a specialized outlet for film and television music, bridging the entertainment and music industries.
Did You Know?
- Madison Gate Records is named after the Madison Avenue gated entrance to Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California.
- In 2013, the label won Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media at the Grammy Awards for *The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo*.
- The a cappella group Pentatonix had early releases distributed by Madison Gate Records but was not exclusively signed as a long-term artist before moving to RCA Records in May 2014.
- Madison Gate Records is the most recent in a line of Columbia Pictures-affiliated labels that began with Colpix Records in 1958.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Madison Gate Records?
Madison Gate Records is a U.S.-based record label operated under Sony Pictures Entertainment. It specializes in releasing soundtrack albums and music recordings connected to films, television series, and other entertainment properties.
Where does the name Madison Gate Records come from?
The label is named after the gated entrance on Madison Avenue that leads into Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California.
What is Madison Gate Records's place in Sony's label history?
It is the most recent iteration in a long chain of Columbia Pictures–affiliated record companies that began with Colpix Records in 1958 and ran through Colgems, Bell, and Arista before Madison Gate took over the role.
What major award has Madison Gate Records won?
In 2013, the label took home the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media, marking a significant milestone in its relatively brief tenure.
Why is Madison Gate Records important to the film-music world?
As Sony Pictures' dedicated soundtrack imprint, it serves as the primary vehicle for distributing the musical scores and songs from the studio's movie and TV output to the wider recording market.
More in Soundtrack record labels 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record