Choosing a record label for my track
- 1. Choosing a record label for my track.
- 2. Criteria for a record labelAs there are so many different sub-genres of reggae I need to pick a label with it’s roots firmly in classic reggae.The label has to have good American/British connections for distribution.
- 3. Beverly’sBeverly’s launched the careers of reggae legends Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley.Through the 1960’s it produced many reggae artists and was essential in transforming ska and rocksteady into Reggae.Experience and pioneering this would be the perfect record label, sadly the label folded with the death of it’s founder Leslie Kong in 1971
- 4. Blood and FireBlood and Fire is a British based company and this would be good for distributing on my home territorySet up the artist Max Romeo and re issues a lot of reggae roots albumsOnce again this company is effectively a walking corpse, it’s American distributor went out of business and though it hasn’t declared bankruptcy it is effectively dead.
- 5. Greensleeves records and publishingGreensleeves has the largest reggae catalog in the world with over 20,000 copyrights of reggae songs.Published Eek a mouse and other well known dancehall/reggae artistsI think this company fits with my track, isn’t bankrupt and is still very prolific
- 6. Heartbeat recordsAn independent record label based in Massachusetts, it specialises in Jamaican reggae.Produces compilation albums that include Sly and Robby and Lee “scratch” PerryThey’ve won multiple awards for their compilation albums and is an incredibly prestigious record labelHas good connections with Studio One
- 7. Studio OneStudio One is THE Jamaican reggae album and has released track from every major jamaican reggae artist including Bob Marley and Lee PerryDescribed as the Motown of reggae and has lots of experience in the industry and has great American connections with Heartbeat records.
- 8. Culling the listThe most obvious way to slim down the list is to take away the record labels that are bankrupt, so goodbye Beverly’s and Blood and FireAlthough Greensleeves has the largest reggae archive in the world it mainly deals in re releases and compilation albums so it has to go as I need a company that is known for releasing debut albums.
- 9. And then there was two…So this leaves me with two labels, Hearbeat and Studio OneBoth are very well known and have lots of experience in releasing reggae albums
- 10. And the winner is…
- 11. Studio One!With it’s experience and prestige Studio One is the obvious choice for my record label, it has great connections with hearbeat in America allowing for distribution over there and the brand name is recognised all across the world. It has launched the careers of some of the most famous reggae artists and this is why it’s my record label of choice.