Drowned in sound
Interesting cutting-edge artistes have always gone for independent record labels, which allow them greater freedom. We take a look at some of the bigger independent labels.
Independent record labels have been around for as long as commercial popular music has been. Down the years, there have been many successful Indie labels, like the legendary Motown Records in the US in the Sixties—home to such artistes as Smokey Robinson, The Supremes and The Jackson Five.
Over the last decade, more and more cutting edge musicians have been associating themselves with small independent labels, which allow them greater creative freedom. We take a look at three popular genres and some of the biggest independent labels publishing the music.
Rock/Pop
Rough Trade Recordings: An iconic label, Rough Trade was started by American entrepreneur Geoff Travis in 1978, after he enjoyed huge success selling his massive collection of LPs through his Rough Trade shop. Born at the cusp of the Punk revolution in rock-’n’roll, Rough Trade soon acquired such cult acts as The Raincoats and The Smiths.
Maintaining success at small labels—especially without financial muscle—is tough and the label went bankrupt and folded up in 1991. After a decade of silence, it was relaunched in 2000 as a part of BMG. The label became independent again last year. Over this decade, Rough Trade has enjoyed huge success, with popular acts like The Strokes, Belle and Sebastian, Super Furry Animals and Arcade Fire, all part of its roster.
Artistes: The Strokes, Arcade Fire, British Sea Power, The Fall
Website: www.roughtraderecords.com
XL Records: XL began life as an independent label publishing rave and dance records in the early nineties. However, with the alternative music scene booming in the US and the UK, the label soon branched out into rock-’n’roll and pop music.
While many other labels like Rough Trade have taken risks by signing recording artistes who were musically brilliant but commercial duds, XL has managed to be more cutting edge than most, signing inventive musicians against the grain of conventional wisdom. It is now widely seen as an influential taste-making record label.
Artistes: The White Stripes, Radiohead, Devendra Banhart, Adele.
Website: www.xlrecordings.com
Hip Hop/Rap
Death Row Records: There is no bigger label publishing modern black music than Death Row. Started in 1991 by producer and entrepreneur Suge Knight, it has been home to such cutting edge rap and hip hop artistes as Tupac Shakur, Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dr Dre.
The world of hip hop is often as stormy as the subject matter of Gangsta Rap, and the label was known as much for producing irresistible beats as it was for financial bickering and gunfights. Recently, the label has struggled to recapture its past glory, but its influence on the genre cannot be overlooked.
Artistes: Dr Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Warlord
Website: www.thenewdeathrowrecords. com
Electronica/Dance
Bedrock Records: One of the pioneers of publishing independent underground dance and techno music, this UK-based label was founded by legendary DJ and producer John Digweed in association with Nick Muir in the early Nineties.
Many successful albums and 12-inch discs (most dance songs are released in this format to help DJs) later, Bedrock continues to unearth underground talent and is one of the trendsetters in the club, dance and rave music scenes.
Artistes: John Digweed, Steve Lawler, Shmuel Flash.
Website: www.bedrock.uk.net
The White Stripes
Rock/Pop
Rough Trade Recordings: An iconic label, Rough Trade was started by American entrepreneur Geoff Travis in 1978, after he enjoyed huge success selling his massive collection of LPs through his Rough Trade shop. Born at the cusp of the Punk revolution in rock-’n’roll, Rough Trade soon acquired such cult acts as The Raincoats and The Smiths.
Maintaining success at small labels—especially without financial muscle—is tough and the label went bankrupt and folded up in 1991. After a decade of silence, it was relaunched in 2000 as a part of BMG. The label became independent again last year. Over this decade, Rough Trade has enjoyed huge success, with popular acts like The Strokes, Belle and Sebastian, Super Furry Animals and Arcade Fire, all part of its roster.
Artistes: The Strokes, Arcade Fire, British Sea Power, The Fall
Website: www.roughtraderecords.com
XL Records: XL began life as an independent label publishing rave and dance records in the early nineties. However, with the alternative music scene booming in the US and the UK, the label soon branched out into rock-’n’roll and pop music.
While many other labels like Rough Trade have taken risks by signing recording artistes who were musically brilliant but commercial duds, XL has managed to be more cutting edge than most, signing inventive musicians against the grain of conventional wisdom. It is now widely seen as an influential taste-making record label.
Artistes: The White Stripes, Radiohead, Devendra Banhart, Adele.
Website: www.xlrecordings.com
Hip Hop/Rap
Death Row Records: There is no bigger label publishing modern black music than Death Row. Started in 1991 by producer and entrepreneur Suge Knight, it has been home to such cutting edge rap and hip hop artistes as Tupac Shakur, Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dr Dre.
The world of hip hop is often as stormy as the subject matter of Gangsta Rap, and the label was known as much for producing irresistible beats as it was for financial bickering and gunfights. Recently, the label has struggled to recapture its past glory, but its influence on the genre cannot be overlooked.
Artistes: Dr Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Warlord
Website: www.thenewdeathrowrecords. com
Electronica/Dance
Bedrock Records: One of the pioneers of publishing independent underground dance and techno music, this UK-based label was founded by legendary DJ and producer John Digweed in association with Nick Muir in the early Nineties.
Many successful albums and 12-inch discs (most dance songs are released in this format to help DJs) later, Bedrock continues to unearth underground talent and is one of the trendsetters in the club, dance and rave music scenes.
Artistes: John Digweed, Steve Lawler, Shmuel Flash.
Website: www.bedrock.uk.net
