In the very earliest days of the music recording industry a vintage record label, which still operates today, was born. Perhaps the most iconic of all record labels – certainly the oldest record label operating today. This is, of course, Columbia Records. On 28 March 1887, the American Graphophone Company was founded to commercialize the … Read more
I bet that you are wondering what all the fuss is about Rough Trade Records? Well, for those of a certain age, Rough Trade Records was synonymous with the birth and blossoming of the independent music scene. Championing punk, post-punk, and alternative music genres, Rough Trade fostered a community of artists and fans dedicated to … Read more
Stiff Records, one of the most famous independent record labels, was short-lived in its first, independent incarnation. There can be little doubt that it was a genuine game-changer in the music industry. Established in 1976 by Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera, carved a niche in the independent music landscape, but was destined to fade away … Read more
In its first incarnation, EMI Records was a British record label and one of the most famous record labels in the world. It was synonymous with assisting the careers of iconic musicians, such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Queen, and shaping the landscape of popular music worldwide. It is also a byword for bad … Read more
In 1893, Carl Lindström, a Swedish inventor living in Berlin, Germany founded a company to produce, phonographs (or gramophones). It soon diversified into producing shellac records and soon it had a suite of record labels, one of which, Parlophon was founded in 1896. The British Branch of Parlophon was established as Parlophone in August 1923 … Read more
A relatively short-lived record label in its original incarnation, I.R.S. Records was formed only in 1979 and folded in 1996. It was, therefore, very much an icon of the 1980s, blazing a trail through the music industry in that decade. A beacon for artists who trafficked in the avant-garde – those who preferred college rock, … Read more
Potentially the most iconic record label in the world and certainly one of the most famous record labels in the world, Capitol Records was founded in Los Angeles, in 1942 by Johnny Mercer as Liberty Records. Within weeks, the label’s name was changed to Capitol. Mercer was a Tin Pan Alley lyricist, songwriter, singer, and … Read more
In the beginning: The Origins of Atlantic Records In the bustling post-war America of 1947, a narrative began that would have a great impact on the landscape of music. I refer to the creation of Atlantic Records, an entity that would become a cornerstone in the recording industry. Founded by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson … Read more
With an HQ nestled on Fourth Avenue in Belltown, Seattle, Sub Pop Records stands as a testament to the city’s vibrant music culture. The label’s inception in 1986 marked a pivotal moment for the Pacific Northwest’s burgeoning musical landscape. It’s fair to say that Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman, the minds behind Sub Pop, didn’t … Read more
It’s 1957. It’s Memphis, Tennessee and a small record label specializing in country and pop music, but which would become a giant in the world of soul music, is born. This was Stax Records, established by country fiddler Jim Stewart. Originally called Satellite Records, it was soon to attract interest from Stewart’s sister Estelle Axton, … Read more