They named the record company after the band's song "Sanctuary," which was released as a single in 1980, and later included on American pressings as well as the reissued CD version of their 1980 eponymous debut album.

Sanctuary Records has historically signed artists with long-term appeal that have had a long career and steady fan base.

Amongst the new media interests included a joint venture with screenwriter and producer, Raymond Thompson, which evolved into the Cloud9 Screen Entertainment Group.

[9] The company partly blamed the loss increase on record release delays, while announcing, in early 2006, a £110m rescue deal.

In April 2007, Billboard reported that Sanctuary Records would cease to exist as a new release label in the US that summer, though catalogue, licensing, and new media operations would continue.

On 15 June 2007 Universal Music Group announced it had reached an agreement to buy Sanctuary Records for £44.5 million.

[15] In March 2017, BMG transferred the distribution rights of select Sanctuary artists to Warner Music Group's ADA division.

[1] Iron Maiden was one of the last artists signed to Sanctuary, which released their album, The Book of Souls in North America, on 4 September 2015.