Warner Records Partners With Tony Berg on New JV Label

Record producer Tony Berg has launched a joint venture label, Crime & Punishment Records, with Warner Records.

The mission:

• The venture will focus on developing new artists.

• Its first signing is singer-songwriter Elle Bramhall.

Backstory:

• Berg has worked as a producer, musician and A&R executive for more than 50 years.

• Recent production credits include Phoebe Bridgers’ 2026 album Lost Weekend; Sarah McLachlan’s Better Broken; Bruce Hornsby’s Indigo Park; and co-producing SOMBR’s 2025 debut album, I Barely Know Her.

• Other studio credits include Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel and Fiona Apple.

• As an A&R executive at Geffen and Virgin Berg helped sign At The Drive-In, Beck, A Perfect Circle, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

• Earlier in his career he served as Bette Midler’s musical director.

• He co-runs Sound City Studios in Los Angeles with producer Blake Mills.

What they said:

• Tony Berg: “Crime & Punishment Records is intended to champion young, ambitious artists. Right now, I’m seeing a return to lyric content, harmonic ambition, and musical curiosity. It’s as exciting a time as I can remember, and I hope we can be at the forefront of discovering the best new music.”

• Aaron Bay-Schuck, Warner Records Group Chairman and CEO: “Bringing Tony’s JV to Warner Records was an easy decision. He’s already signed an incredibly promising young singer-songwriter, Elle Bramhall, and we’re so excited about what he’s building and what’s to come.”