April 07, 2008

By By Ed Christman, N.Y.

Victory Records, a leading punk rock brand, has re-upped with RED for two more years, sources tell Billboard.biz.

The Chicago-based Victory, which has been with RED since the label's early days, consistently is among the distributor?s top billing labels and is the most hotly pursued by competing indie distributors. Billboard estimates Victory?s annual revenue in the $15 million to $20 million range.

In another move, sources say Hawthorne Heights' next album will be the first record released under the RED deal. It's unclear if the band and label have settled their differences, or if the record was required under the band?s original contract.

Hawthorne Height?s management company, The Firm, didn?t return a call for comment.

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