XO (also known as XO Records)[1][2] is a Canadian record label founded by Amir "Cash" Esmailian and singer The Weeknd in 2012. It operates as a subsidiary of, and it is distributed through, Universal Music Group's Republic Records. The label's current acts include The Weeknd, Belly, Nav, Derek Wise, and Black Atlass; and have earned platinum certifications on all studio releases distributed by the label.
History
XO was created by Canadian singer-songwriterThe Weeknd, as an unofficial imprint to release three mixtapes in 2011. The three releases, House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence, helped grow the singer's profile, and began promoting the "XO" moniker through various on-stage performances and references within songs. The Weeknd also began conducting advertising deals via the label to multiple outlets, namely collaborating with PAX Labs to release a limited edition version of the PAX 2 vaporizer, an electronic cigarette that could be used in shows during The Madness Fall Tour.[3]
Upon securing a major recording contract with Republic Records in 2012, XO was also assumed as a subsidiary of Republic, and also acted as the distributors and manufacturers of any music created by XO. Belly was signed as the label's first artist in 2015, and Derek Wise was signed later that year. Nav was then signed by the label in 2016. Upon entering classification as a subsidiary, the label has released seven projects by their artists (discluding The Weeknd).
On February 8, 2018, Montreal-born singer Black Atlass released a new song "My Life" distributed by XO Records. Black Atlass had previously appeared alongside The Weeknd in his "Secrets" music video and in some ads involving the Puma x XO collections that dropped in 2017.[4]
