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Record Labels

Most of the record labels listed here are ones I've played on my radio show and/or in my club DJ sets. I've included a sampling of artists from each label's roster, and in some cases some additional information.

Websites are in English unless otherwise indicated. (For Japanese-language sites, see the note below.)

For artist-related links, see the Artists page or the label websites.

For labels not listed here, and/or to see label discographies, try the discogs.com website.

  • 0101 Music (France) - Home to Variety Lab and others.
  • 2020 D Vision (UK) - Downtempo sublabel of the more house-oriented 2020 Vision. The onetime home of Deadbeats.
  • 679 Recordings (UK) - Sublabel of Warner Bros.
  • A&M - Major label associated with Geffen and Interscope.
  • Acid Jazz (UK) - Has released material by Snowboy, the Brand New Heavies, Manasseh, Corduroy, Erobique, and others.
  • Afro Art (UK) - Launched by Ashley Beedle and his (now ex-) wife Simone, this label is home to such artists as Paul Murphy and has released material by Spiritual South, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Souldrummers, Unitedeye, and others.
  • Afro Sambas - Discogs.com page on the label that put out Smokey and Miho's Brazilian covers. See also this link.
  • Airdrops (Germany) - A subdivision of Sonar Kollektiv.
  • Alias (U.S.) - The onetime home of Chapel Hill band Archers of Loaf.
  • Alternate Take (U.S.) - Home to Hydroponic Sound System and others.
  • Angel (U.S.) - Part of the EMI Group.
  • L'Appareil-Photo Bis (Japan) - See below under the letter L.
  • April (Denmark) - Home to Alex Puddu, DJ 360°, Hakon Lidbo, and others.
  • Arista (U.S.) - Major label; part of BMG.
  • Artefact (France) - Discogs.com page on the label that released records by Ollano, Daphreephunkateerz, and more.
  • Astralwerks - The U.S. home of Röyksopp, Fatboy Slim, Air, and Sia.
  • ATIC (UK) - The post-Grand Central home of Aim, Niko, and others.
  • Atlantic (U.S.) - Major label.
  • Audiopharm (Germany) - Releases compilations of Latin- and African-influenced music such as the Brazilectro series.
  • Avex Japan - Japanese major label; home of Fantastic Plastic Machine. Website in Japanese.
  • Azuli (UK) - Releases the Another Late Night series of compilations, distributed in the U.S. by Kinetic.
  • Bar de Lune (UK) - Discogs.com page on the label that was home to Al-pha X, Fragile State, and Radar.
  • Bar/None (U.S.) - Home to a wide range of artists, among them Puffy AmiYumi (a.k.a. Puffy) and Arto Linsday.
  • Basta (Netherlands) - Has released material by Arling and Cameron, Fay Lovsky, Gurdjieff, and others.
  • Bastard Jazz (U.S.) - This Brooklyn-based label has released material by Mawglee, Jugoe, DRM, and others.
  • BBE (UK) (a.k.a. Barely Breaking Even) - Focuses on funk, souk, and hip-hop.
  • Beatservice (Norway) - Home to Athome Project, Flunk, and others. Former home of Howard Maple and Xploding Plastix.
  • Beechwood (UK) - Compilation-oriented label; part of the same family as Bar de Lune.
  • Beggars Group - Includes the labels Beggars Banquet, Beggars Group USA, 4AD, Mantra, MoWax, Nation, Too Pure, Wiiija, and XL.
  • Best Seven (Germany) - A subdivision of Sonar Kollektiv launched by Daniel Best.
  • Blue Juice (U.S.) - Home to DJ Spooky and others.
  • Blue Note (U.S.) - Legendary jazz label.
  • BMG (U.S.) - Major label that distributes Arista and other labels.
  • Bocajito (UK) - Home to Secret Stealth, a project involving members of Fug and Crazy Penis (a.k.a. Crazy P).
  • Bolshi (UK) [a.k.a. Bolshi Blue, Bolshi Red] - Discogs.com page on the now-defunct label.
  • Bonjour (Japan) - Home to such artists as Chari Chari.
  • Boucherie (France) - Now-defunct French independent label. Page on the Lycos RockFrançais site. In French.
  • Breakin' Bread (UK) - Funk and hip-hop label home to Natural Self and others.
  • Brooklyn Music (U.S.) - Discogs.com page on the label that released material by Freddy Fresh, among others.
  • Bungalow (Germany) - The onetime European center of Happy Charm Fool Dance Music. Run by Le Hammond Inferno; licensed tunes and albums by such Japanese artists as Fantastic Plastic Machine, Laila France, and Yoshinori Sunahara.
  • C2 - Now-defunct sublabel of Columbia.
  • Capitol (U.S.) - Major label.
  • Care in the Community (UK) - Releases the series The Discerning Dancefloor.
  • Caroline (U.S.) - Distributes releases from Astralwerks and other labels, and is home to such artists as Placebo.
  • Catskills (UK) - Home to Hardkandy, Husky Rescue, Aldo Vanucci, Bushy, Pepe Deluxé, and others.
  • Certificate 18 (UK) - Drawing its name from the UK equivalent of an R rating, this label is home to Pilote, Polar, and others.
  • Chameleon (Hungary) - Home to such atists as Vono Box and Pluto Project.
  • Cheap (Austria) - Home to Louie Austen, Christopher Just, and others.
  • Cheeky (UK) - Discogs.com page on the BMG sublabel founded by Faithless mainman Rollo.
  • Cherry Red (UK) - Associated with (and represents on its site) such labels as él and the now-defunct Analog Baroque.
  • Chicooligan (U.S.) - A division of Milan.
  • Chillifunk (UK) - Has released records by T-Kolai, Ultra Naté, François K, and others.
  • China (UK) - Part of the Warner Music Group (WEA).
  • Chocolate Fireguard (UK) - Home to the Bluefoot Project and La Cedille.
  • Citrona (U.S.) - Florida-based label that is home to Canton (a.k.a. Greg Long), First Floor Brothers, Monta, and others.
  • City Centre Offices (Germany) - Hole.
  • City of Angels (U.S.) - Discogs.com page for the now-defunct L.A.-based electronic music label.
  • Codek (U.S./Switzerland) - Home to Organic Grooves, Track and Field, and Zeb.
  • Columbia (U.S.) - This major label is part of Sony Music.
  • Compost (Germany) - Releases works by Jazzanova and their circle. Includes the sublabels JCR (Jazzanova-Compost Recordings) and Compose.
  • Concrete Grooves (U.S.) - Home to such artists as Presto.
  • Cookshop (UK) - Brighton-based experimental-tinged downtempo label. Home to Lost Idol, La Femme, and others.
  • Couch (Austria) - Home to Dzihan and Kamien, Menu B, and others.
  • Crammed Discs (Belgium) - The parent label of SSR and Ziriguiboom.
  • Crippled Dick Hot Wax (Germany) - Released Popshopping and Popshopping Mixed Up.
  • Crunchy Frog (Denmark) - Home to Junior Senior (licensed in the U.S. to Atlantic), the Mopeds, and others.
  • Cup of Tea (UK) - Discogs.com page on the now-defunct Bristol-based downtempo label. See also the Archive.org record of the Cup of Tea page on the informative Bristol Sound website.
  • Darla (U.S.) - Indie label that releases the Little Darla Has a Treat for You compilations.
  • Dcide (U.S.) - Home to Dex Dubious, the now-disbanded DBC, and other Washington, D.C.-area acts.
  • Deeplay (Sweden) - Home to such artists as Hakan Lidbo.
  • Deep Water (UK) - Home to such artists as Sofalofa and Bathysphere; the onetime home of Hint.
  • Defected (UK) - Mostly house-oriented label.
  • Deft (UK) - Nottingham, UK-based house-oriented label.
  • Derailed - Released Turf Wars Vol. 3: DJ Cam vs. Tommy Hools.
  • Different Drummer (UK) - Home to Groove Corporation, a.k.a. G Corp.
  • Dis-Joint (U.S.) - Home to Dub Diablo.
  • Discovery (U.S.) - This sublabel of Warner Bros. released albums by William Orbit's project Strange Cargo.
  • Disorient (UK) - A sublabel of Mr. Bongo.
  • Disques Solid (France) - Home to Alex Gopher.
  • DMI (UK) [a.k.a. Danmass Industries] - Discogs.com page on the Danmass-run label.
  • Domino USA - Home to such artists as Four Tet, Ulrich Schnauss, and Caribou. The U.S. branch of the British Domino Recordings Ltd.
  • Dope Noir (Austria) - Home to Waldeck.
  • Dorado (UK) - Home to Cities of Foam (formerly Blueflame) and Outside.
  • Do Right! (Canada) - Home to Ivana Santilli, Keb Darge, Elizabeth Shepherd, and others.
  • Downsall Plastics (Belgium) - The dance-oriented subdivison of Lowlands. Home to Buscemi, Briskey, Kretek, and others.
  • Drag City (U.S.) - Home to such artists as Broadcast and Pavement, and the U.S. home of Stereolab.
  • DreamWorks (U.S.) - This major label is the U.S. home of the Propellerheads.
  • Drive-In (Netherlands) - This page for this Amsterdam-based label (co-headed by Richard Cameron of Arling and Cameron) is part of the Dutch duo's website.
  • Drop Music (UK) - Home to such artists as Inland Knights.
  • Dust 2 Dust (UK) - Discogs.com page on the label run by Danmass.
  • East West UK - Part of the Warner Music Group (WEA).
  • Edizioni Ishtar (Italy) - The parent label of Schema and Milano 2000.
  • Eighteenth Street Lounge Music (a.k.a. ESL Music) (U.S.) - Home to Thievery Corporation, Ursula 1000, Thunderball, and Federico Aubele, and the U.S. home of Sofa Surfers, and the Karminsky Experience.
  • Eighth Dimension (U.S.) - Run by Q-Burns Abstract Message. Home to Pimp Daddy Nash.
  • Elefant (Spain) - Home to such artists as Ana D, Le Mans, and Telefilme.
  • Elektra (U.S.) - Home to Towa Tei and others.
  • E-Magine (U.S.) - Released Waldeck's "This Isn't Maybe" in conjunction with the label Dope Noir.
  • EMI Group (U.S.) - Major music conglomerate; parent company of Virgin, Caroline, and more.
  • Emperor Norton (U.S.) - Home to Pepe Deluxé, Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band, and Ugly Duckling.
  • Emunity
  • Epic (U.S.) - Part of the Sony group, this major label is home to Hooverphonic and a host of others.
  • Erkrankung Durch Musique (Germany) - Home to such artists as Cube and Sphere.
  • Escalator (Japan) - Perhaps the epicenter of Happy Charm Fool Dance Music, Escalator is home to Cubismo Grafico, Montparnasse, and others. The site has information on the label's releases and on the Escalator DJ team's "Escape" DJ event. Navigation mostly in English, text mostly in Japanese.
  • Essential Therapy (Netherlands) - Apparently related to Therapy, and has also released material by Praful.
  • ESL Music (U.S.) - a.k.a. Eighteenth Street Lounge Music. See above.
  • Estereo (UK) - Discogs.com page on the label that was home to Bah Samba.
  • Etage Noir (Austria) - Home to Parov Stelar and others.
  • Exceptional (UK) - Home to United Future Organization, Fat Jon the Ample Soul Physician, Plej, Takkyu Ishino, and others.
  • Eye Q (UK) - Has released material by Freddy Fresh.
  • 1500 Records (U.S.) - Now-defunct label that was home to such artists as David Holmes and Ugly Duckling.
  • F Communications (France) - Home to Llorca.
  • Fabrique (Austria) - Home to Paloma and others.
  • Fair Deal (Netherlands) - Home to Kid Sundance and others.
  • Faith and Hope (UK) - Manchester label that is home to Mint Royale and Alpinestars.
  • Family (UK) - Sublabel of Universal. Releases the compilation series The Trip.
  • Far Out (UK) - Home to Marcos Valle, Joyce, Troubleman, and others.
  • Fat Cat (UK) - Home to such artists as the Icelandic projects Múm and Sigur Rós.
  • Fat City (UK)
  • Fearless (Japan) - Sublabel of Sony Japan; launched by Shinichi Osawa of Mondo Grosso.
  • Fenetik (UK) - Home to downtempo project Sidewinder. Part of Soma Records.
  • FFRR (UK) - Discogs.com page on the label founded and run by Pete Tong. A sublabel of London. See also FFRR U.S.
  • Filter (UK) - Discogs.home page on this sublabel of the now-revived Dorado.
  • Fingerlickin' (UK) - The home of A Skillz and Krafty Kuts, Plump DJs, Soul of Man, and other breaks artists.
  • Fluid Ounce (UK) - Home to the Vogado Projects.
  • Food (UK) - Home to Blur, Dubstar (now defunct), and others.
  • Foodchain (U.S.) - Home to the Januaries and Iffy, artists catchily remixed by Thievery Corporation and Mint Royale respectively.
  • Fort Knox (U.S.) - Home to Fort Knox Five, a side project of Thunderball.
  • 4AD (UK) - Longtime independent label; now part of the Beggars Group.
  • Freestyle (UK) - Home to Sleeve and others.
  • Fuego (UK) - Compilation-oriented label.
  • Funky Juice (Italy) - Home to Barrio Jazz Gang, LED, Panaphonic, and others.
  • Freskanova (UK) - Home to the Freestylers. (This page is a profile on the discogs.com site.)
  • FRW (Austria) - Home to Mama Oliver.
  • Fused and Bruised (UK) - The former home of Surreal Madrid.
  • Future Primitive Sound (U.S.) - San Francisco-based art collective and hip-hop music label.
  • G.A.M.M. (Sweden) [a.k.a. GAMM] - Discogs.com page on the secretive Swedish label specializing in bootleg remixes.
  • Gee Street (U.S.) - This sublabel of V2 is home to such artists as the Jungle Brothers and RZA.
  • Geffen [a.k.a. DGC] (U.S.) - Major label associated with A&M and Interscope.
  • Genuine (UK) - Discogs.com page on the label that is home to Amp Fiddler. Sublabel of PIAS.
  • Giant Step (U.S.) - Home to Nickodemus and Osiris.
  • Glasgow Underground (UK) - Home to such artists as Rose Smith and Neon Heights.
  • Go Beat (UK) (a.k.a. Go Discs, Go! Beat, Go! Discs) - Home to Portishead, Dusted, and others.
  • Good Looking (UK) - Home to LTJ Bukem and other atmospheric drum'n'bass artists.
  • GPS (UK) - Home to Dr. Rubberfunk.
  • Grand Central (UK) - Discogs.com page on the now-defunct label, once home to Aim, Rae & Christian, and others.
          You may be interested in Christine's homage to the label, the radio special Grand Central Is the Spice of Life.
  • Le Grand Magistery (U.S.) - See below under the letter L.
  • Grand Royal (U.S.) - Now defunct. Formerly home to the Beastie Boys, Luscious Jackson, Ben Lee, and others.
  • Grimsey (U.S.) - The U.S. home of such artists as Spain's Ana D and Le Mans.
  • Groove Gravy (U.S.) - Compilation-oriented label.
  • G-Stone (Austria) - Releases works by Kruder & Dorfmeister and similar downtempo artists.
  • Guidance (U.S.) - Now-defunct Chicago-based label that released the Hi-Fidelity Lounge and Hi-Fidelity Dub compilation series and which was the U.S. home of Caia, Troublemakers, and the Dining Rooms. Part of the 33rpm group of labels.
  • Gut (UK) - Home to Plantlife.
  • Happy Few (Norway) - Home to Barabass and the Happy Few and others.
  • Heavenly (UK) - Home to Beth Orton and former home of Dot Allison.
  • Hed Kandi (UK) - Compilation-oriented label; home to the "Serve Chilled" and "Winter Chill" series.
  • Holistic (UK) - Home to Pnu Riff and others.
  • Hollywood (U.S.) - Released the sondtrack to the film Austin Powers.
  • Homebrew (Denmark) - Home to B&B International and others.
  • Hombre (UK) - The new home of Hint, in conjunction with Ninja Tune.
  • Hospital
  • Howlin' (U.S.) - Label run by funky-breaks mastermind Freddy Fresh.
  • Ideal (UK)
  • Illicit (UK) - Home to Deadly Avenger, Jadell, and others.
  • Impulse (U.S.) - Sublabel of Verve.
  • Inertia (UK) - Home to Hefner.
  • Infectious (UK) - Released Elevator Suite's "Backaround."
  • Inferno (UK) - Home to the Three Amigos and their catchy reworking of "Louie Louie."
  • Inflamable (France) - Home to DJ Cam.
  • Infracom (Germany) [a.k.a. INFRACom!] - Home to Aromabar, Kosma, Marschmellows, and others.
  • Instinct (U.S.) - Acid-jazz/downtempo-oriented label.
  • Interscope (U.S.) - Major label associated with Geffen and A&M.
  • Irma (Italy) - Home to Zeb, Monsieur Blumenberg, Montefiori Cocktail, and others.
  • I.R.S. (U.S.) - Sublabel of A&M that released William Orbit's Strange Cargo and R.E.M.'s pre-Green albums.
  • Ishtar (Italy) - a.k.a. Edizioni Ishtar. See above.
  • Island - This major label is home to Tricky and many others, and distributes the sublabel Quango.
  • Jack to Phono (UK/Denmark) - Alter ego of Jacques Laverne. Home to Beatphreak.
  • Jacques Laverne (UK/Denmark) - Released the "Jack to Phono" single featuring Mr. Scruff and others.
  • Jalapeno (UK) - Home to such artists as Skeewiff, Ikon, and Kraak and Smaak.
  • Jazzanova-Compost (Germany) [a.k.a. JCR] - Sublabel of Compost.
  • Jazz Fudge (UK)
  • Jazzman (UK) - Specializes in jazz, funk, and soul reissues.
  • Jive [a.k.a. Jive Electro] - The U.S. home of Groove Armada.
  • Just Music (UK) - Home to Laroca, Jon Hopkins, and others.
  • K Records (U.S.) - Home to Marine Research, the Make-Up, and others.
  • K7 (Germany/U.S.) [a.k.a. Studio K7, Stud!o K7, !K7] - Home to such artists as Smith & Mighty, Kruder & Dorfmeister, and A Guy Called Gerald.
  • Kartel (UK) (a.k.a. Kartel Creative) - The UK home of Fat Freddy's Drop, Border Crossing, Tubbs, and more.
  • Keep Diggin' (UK) - Released Tim "Love" Lee's compilation It's All Good.
  • Kinetic (U.S.) - Releases the Another Late Night compilation series in conjunction with the British label Azuli.
  • Kingsize (UK) - Breaks label.
  • Klein (Austria) - Home to MUM (not to be confused with the Icelandic Múm) and Sofa Surfers.
  • Koch (U.S.) - Home to Afu-Ra and others.
  • Kriztal (U.S.) - Miami-based downtempo-oriented label that has released a number of compilations.
  • Lacerba (UK) - A profile (on the Discogs.com site) of the London-based label that has released material by DJ Trax and compilations.
  • Ladomat (Germany) - Home to Commercial Breakup and affiliated with the German label L'Age d'Or.
  • L'Age d'Or (Germany) - Home to Stella.
  • L'Appareil-Photo Bis (Japan) - Released Laila France and the Maxwell Implosion's Lailove: L'Amour, Sese Formidable and Fantastic Plastic Machine's Beautiful and Why Not. Distributes Toog, Etienne Charry, Bertrand Burgalat, and others in Japan. Navigation in French; text in French, English, and Japanese.
  • Laws of Motion (UK) - Home to Modaji, Agent K, and others.
  • Leaf (UK) - Home to Caribour, Efterklang, and others.
  • Le Grand Magistery (U.S.) - This Ann Arbor pop label is the U.S. home of Momus, Louis Philippe, and others.
  • Leisure (UK) - Home to Mr. Benn and others.
  • Libra (Greece) - Home to the sublabel Octoberon, which released the downtempo compilation Backroom Sessions.
  • Life Enhancing Audio (Belgium) - A sublabel of N.E.W.S. Released the Transatlantik Lounging compilation series.
  • Lifted House (Denmark)
  • Light in the Attic (U.S.) - Seattle-based reissue-oriented label.
  • London - Associated with Sire, and part of the Warner Music Group.
  • Loungin' (UK) - Home to Solid Groove.
  • Lovemonk (Spain) - Home to Gecko Turner and Txarly Brown. Also the Spanish home of Fat Freddy's Drop and Quantic.
  • Low Blow (Japan) - Part of Media Craft; home to Akakage, a.k.a. Yoichiro Ito (and sometimes Go! Sato).
  • Lowlife (UK)
  • Lowlands (Belgium) - Through its sublabel Downsall Plastics, home to such artists as Buscemi and Briskey.
  • Luaka Bop (U.S.) - David Byrne's label. Home to Si*Se and others.
  • Lumenessence (UK) - Home to Backini, Leon Nine, and Sketchie.
  • Luv N Haight (U.S.) - Sublabel of Ubiquity.
  • Mammoth (U.S.) - Home to artists ranging from the Freestylers to Squirrel Nut Zippers to the Teletubbies.
  • Mantra (UK) - Home to Dot Allison, Natacha Atlas, Saint Etienne, and others.
  • March (U.S.) - This pop-oriented label is home to such artists as 800 Cherries, Club 8, and Valerie Lemercier.
  • Marina (Germany) - Home to the Pearlfishers, Adventures in Stereo, and other retro-pop bands.
  • Matador (U.S.) - Home to a variety of indie artists, including Solex, Pizzicato Five, Bettie Serveert, and Cornelius.
  • Maverick (U.S.) - Launched by Madonna, this label is home to the Rentals, the Lucy Nation, and others.
  • Maxelect (Germany) - Home to Max Melvin and others.
  • MCA (U.S.) - This major label is the U.S. home of Mint Royale, Modjo, and many others.
  • Media Craft (Japan) - Includes the sublabel Low Blow, which is home to Akakage, a.k.a. Yoichiro Ito.
  • Melankolic (UK) - Label affiliated with Massive Attack. Home to Alpha and others.
  • Memphis Industries Ltd. (UK) - Home to Blue States and others.
  • Mercury - Part of the major label Island.
  • Merge (U.S.) - Chapel Hill-based label run by Superchunk. Home to Superchunk, the Magnetic Fields, and others.
  • Milan (U.S.) - Specializing in film soundtracks and compilations.
  • Milano 2000 (Italy) - This sublabel of Edizioni Ishtar is home to the Dining Rooms.
  • Ministry of Sound - Site for the British superclub whose U.S. imprint has released works by Bent and Fatboy Slim.
  • Mint Source (UK) - Released the compilation Flowers in the Attic.
  • Minty Fresh (U.S.) - Indie-pop label. Home to the Aluminum Group, Kahimi Karie, Komeda, and others.
  • Modular (U.S.) - Home to the Avalanches.
  • Mole Listening Pearls (Germany) - The home of De-Phazz, Yonderboi, Lemongrass, and others.
  • Moonboutique (Germany) - Has released works by Moonbootica, Moston and Malente, and others.
  • Moonshine (U.S.) - This dance-music label has released a number of compilations.
  • Motown (U.S.) - Legendary R&B/soul label.
  • MoWax (UK) - Home to UNKLE, Money Mark, Andrea Parker, and others.
  • Mr. Bongo (UK) - London-based label and record store.
  • Multiply (UK) - Home to the Weekend Players.
  • Murena (UK/Denmark) - The home of funky-breakbeat project Puddu Varano.
  • Mush (U.S.) - Home to Fat Jon the Ample Soul Physician, Aesop Rock, and others.
  • Music for Dreams (Denmark) - Home to such artists as Cantoma, Banzai Republic, and Varano.
  • Music for Freaks (UK) - Discogs.com page on the label run by the Freaks (Luke Solomon and Justin Harris).
  • Mute - Home to Goldfrapp and many others.
  • Naked Music (U.S.) - With Astralwerks, releases the Carte Blanche and Bare Essentials downtempo series.
  • Nettwerk (U.S.) - Electronica-oriented label; home to Delerium [sic] and others.
  • Never (U.S.) - Released a 12" split between DJ Cam and Tommy Hools.
  • N.E.W.S. (Belgium) - Home to Sven van Hees. Parent label of Life Enhancing Audio.
  • Nine2Five (Finland) - Released an EP by Robbyn Rhodes.
  • Ninja Tune (UK/Canada) - Home to Coldcut, Kid Koala, Mr. Scruff, Bonobo, and others.
  • Nippon Columbia (Japan) - Large Japanese label. Home to the Readymade Records sublabel.
  • Nonesuch (U.S.) - This world-music label is home to such artists as Caetano Veloso.
  • Normal (Germany) - Home to Low-Fi Generator, among others.
  • Novophonic (Spain) - Discogs.com page on the wacky label that is home to Txarly Brown, Digi Onze, and others.
  • Nuphonic (UK) - Home to Faze Action, Andrew Weatherall, Ashley Beedle, Justin Robertson, and others.
  • Nylon (Portugal) - Home to Massi and others.
  • ObliqSound (U.S. / Germany) - Home to such artists as Grand Pianoramax and Tama Waipara.
  • Octoberon (Greece) - Sublabel of Libra. Released the downtempo compilation Backroom Sessions.
  • Om (U.S.) - Label focusing on downtempo, house, and underground hip-hop.
  • One Little Indian (UK) - Influential British label. Home to Björk, Emiliana Torrini, and others.
  • Outcaste (UK) - Specializing in the Asian-British sound, this label is home to such artists as Badmarsh and Shri.
  • Outer (UK) - Home the the Funky Lowlives and Electracoustic.
  • Out of the Loop (UK) - Home to Fumi, Russ Gabriel, and others.
  • Pagan (U.S.) - Released I Love Serge: ElectronicaGainsbourg and the Sunset downtempo compilation series.
  • Palm Pictures (U.S.) - Home to such artists as the Supreme Beings of Leisure and Jacknife Lee.
  • Paper (UK) - Home to Crazy Penis, Truant, Schmoov, Hakan Lidbo, and others.
  • Parlophone (UK) - Home to Radiohead, Bentley Rhythm Ace, the Beastie Boys, and the Pet Shop Boys.
  • Patterns of Behaviour (UK) - Home to the Karminsky Experience.
  • Peacefrog (UK) - Home to such artists as Recloose, Nouvelle Vague, and José González.
  • Pepper - The dance imprint of Jive.
  • Peppermint Jam (Germany) - Home to Can 7 and others. Released a Freddy Fresh single.
  • Peski (UK) - Home to the Welsh project Jakokoyak.
  • PIAS (Belgium) [a.k.a. Play It Again Sam] - Home to Llorca and others.
  • Planet Groove (Japan) - Home to DJ Mitsu the Beats.
  • Platinum (France) - Home to Zimpala and others. Website in French.
  • Players (UK) - Home to RSL and DJ Ole.
  • Playhouse (Germany) - Home to Benny Blanko. Part of the Ongaku group of labels.
  • Plein Gaz (France) - Discogs.com page on the label launched by DJ Spider and Philgood.
  • Pleasure Music (UK) - Discogs.com page on the Manchester label that released records by J-Walk, Mr. Scruff, and more.
  • Poets Club (Germany) - Home to Slop Shop, Eastenders, Digital Jockey, and Atomhockey.
  • Pop Biz (Japan) - Distributes the Pearlfishers, the Merricks, Stella, and others. Navigation is in English. About a third of the text is in English, with the rest in Japanese.
  • Polydor UK - Home to Ian Brown, Portishead, and a motley crew of others.
  • PolyGram - Media empire that includes Polydor UK, Universal Music France, and Universal Music Group.
  • Polystar (Japan) - Home to Takako Minekawa and former home of Cornelius's old project Flipper's Guitar.
  • Pork (UK) - The former home of Fila Brazillia; now home to Baby Mammoth, Leggo Beast, and others.
  • Pride of Europe (UK) - Home to Truant.
  • Pschent (France) - Releases the Hotel Costes downtempo compilation series.
  • Pulver (Germany) - Stuttgart-based label that is home to Dublex Inc., Erik Sumo, Inverse Cinematics, and others.
  • Puma Strut (U.S.) - Has released records by Presto and others.
  • Pussyfoot (UK) - Breaks-oriented label home to such artists as Howie B, Jacknife Lee, and Roudoudou.
  • Q-Tape Records
  • Quango (U.S.) - This sublabel of Island has released a number of downtempo compilations.
  • Quannum (U.S.) - Home to Curumin, Blackalicious, Lyrics Born, and others.
  • R&S (Belgium) - The European home of the Boom Boom Satellites.
  • Rapster (Germany)
  • Raw Fusion (Sweden) - Has released material by Beatfanatic, A Bossa Electrica, and others.
  • Rawkus
  • RCA - Major label. Part of Sony BMG.
  • Recall (France) - Home to Tommy Hools, Terranova, and others.
  • Record Makers (France) - Founded by Air. Home to Sébastien Tellier.
  • Red Bud (U.S.) - New York-based label; home to Apeanaut, Down to Earth, and others.
  • Readymade Records (Japan) - Home to Pizzicato Five, Mansfield, Comoestas, and others. Part of the site for Nippon Columbia, which distributes Readymade. Navigation in English, text mostly in Japanese.
  • Readymade Entertainment, Tokyo (Japan) - Includes information on selected Readymade Records releases, recent remixes by Yasuharu Konishi of Pizzicato Five, and the "Readymade" DJ event (featuring Konishi, Masanori Ikeda, and Comoestas). Navigation in English, text mostly in Japanese.
  • Rephlex (UK) - Run by Aphex Twin.
  • Reprise (U.S.) - The former home of Primal Scream.
  • Rhino (U.S.) - Distributes the vinyl version of Zero 7's When It Falls in the U.S.
  • Rhythm and Culture (U.S.) - D.C.-based label that is home to the Browntempo project.
  • RhythmLove (U.S.) - Released the first three Turntables on the Hudson series of compilations.
  • Riverman (UK) - Released Alpinestars' summer 2002 album White Noise.
  • Rockface (UK) - Home to Marden Hill, Sugarman, and others.
  • Ronin (UK) - British hip-hop label. Home to such artists as Deckwrecka.
  • Ropeadope (U.S.) - Jazzy sublabel of Atlantic.
  • Ryko [a.k.a. Rykodisc] (U.S.) - Home to numerous artists, mostly in a classic-sounding vein.
  • Scenario (UK) - Home to Unsung Heroes and the Nextmen.
  • Schema (Italy) - This sublabel of Edizioni Ishtar is home to Nicola Conte.
  • Second Skin (UK) - Discogs.com page on the downtempo label.
  • Setanta (UK) - This pop-oriented label is home to Brian, the Frank and Walters, and others.
  • S.H.A.D.O. (Italy) - Home to Die Moulinettes.
  • Shadow (U.S.) - New York-based label that specializes in downtempo.
  • Shiva (UK) - Home to Neon Heights, Amillionsons, Fug, and Crazy P.
  • Shout Factory (U.S.) - Released the Herb Alpert remix album Whipped Cream & Other Delights Re-Whipped.
  • Siesta (Spain) - The Spanish home of Eggstone, Louis Philippe, Free Design, and others. In English and Castilian Spanish.
  • Sing Sing - Home to Speechless.
  • Sire - Major label; part of the Warner Music Group.
  • Six Degrees (U.S.) - This world-music label is home to Bebel Gilberto and others.
  • Skint (UK) - Home to Fatboy Slim, the Lo-Fidelity Allstars, Cut La Roc, and other breaks artists.
  • Sm:)e [Smile] - Home to Fatboy Slim's old project the Mighty Dub Katz as well other dance-music artists.
  • Soap/MNW (Sweden) - This is the site for MNW Records, the parent company of Soap Records, which is home to Cinnamon and other Swedish power-pop artists. In Swedish.
  • Soma (UK) - Glasgow-based label and home to Slam. Soma is the parent label of Fenetik, home to the downtempo project Sidewinder.
  • Son
  • Sonar Kollektiv (Germany) - Home to Jazzanova, Dixon, Lightning Head, and others. Includes sublabels such as Best Seven and Airdrops.
  • Sonic 360 (UK) - Released the Beautiful Sunset Airport 12" series.
  • Sony - Music conglomerate that includes Epic, Columbia, and numerous regional Sonys.
  • Sony Japan - Home to Chara, Aco, Yoshinori Sunahara, Puffy, DJ Krush, Chappie, and numerous others. (This link goes to a gateway page with links to English- and Japanese-language pages for Sony Japan.)
  • Sound (UK) - Home to Border Crossing.
  • Soundboy (UK) - Discogs.com page on the label that released works by the Ballistic Brothers.
  • Soundly Beaten (UK) - Discogs.com page on the label specializing in mash-ups.
  • Southern Fried (UK) - Label run by Norman Cook (a.k.a. Fatboy Slim) and home to Scanty Sandwich. Released the Fatboy live mix album Live on Brighton Beach in the U.K.
  • Source (France) - This page on the Astralwerks site is a gateway to pages on Air and other Source artists whom Astralwerks distributes in the U.S.
  • Sport (UK) - Sublabel of Ministry of Sound. Home to Bent.
  • SPV (Germany) - Distributes Audiopharm releases such as the Brazilectro series.
  • SSR (Belgium) - Focusing on techno, house, and hip-hop, this sublabel of Crammed is home to Snooze.
  • SST (U.S.) - Bankrupted by U2's lawsuit against SST artist Negativland, the label has re-emerged.
  • Stalwart (France) - Home to Mustafá and others.
  • Stax (U.S.) - Discogs.com page on the now-defunct legendary soul label.
  • Stereo Deluxe (Germany) - Home to Trio Elétrico, Mo' Horizons, the Funky Lowlives, Jaffa, and others.
  • Stones Throw (U.S.) - Home to J Rocc, Quasimoto, Peanut Butter Wolf, and others.
  • Strut (UK)
  • Studio K7 (Germany/U.S.) [a.k.a. K7, Stud!o K7, !K7] - See above under the letter K.
  • Subatomic (UK) - Home to such downtempo artists as Lux and Afterlife.
  • Sublime (Japan) - Home to Susumu Yokota and Ken Ishii. Sublime's sublabel Reel Musiq released three Captain Funk singles and one full-length. The BBC One website has an interesting profile of the label.
  • Sub Pop (U.S.) - This seminal indie label is home to such artists as Sebadoh and Combustible Edison.
  • Subtitled (U.S.) - Part of the 33rpm group of labels.
  • Sunday Best (UK) - Label run by Rob da Bank. Home to Boomclick, Max Sedgley, and others.
  • Sunshine (Austria) - Home to such artists as Karuan.
  • Swedish Brandy (Sweden) - Discogs.com page on the label that has released items by Freddie Cruger and others.
  • Switchstance (Germany) - Home to Protassov and others.
  • Talkin' Loud (UK) - Discogs.com page on the now-defunct label launched by Gilles Peterson and Norman Jay.
  • Tee Pee (UK) - Released Scottish HCFDM artist Motormark's single "Let's Go."
  • Terraform (U.S.) - Home to Le Pimp and others.
  • Therapy (Netherlands) - Home to Praful and others.
  • Thirsty Ear (U.S.) - Home to Ruby and others.
  • Three Sixty (U.S.) - The U.S. home of the Runaways UK and Tim "Love" Lee.
  • Thrill Jockey (U.S.) - Home to such artists as Sam Prekop, the Sea and Cake, and Tortoise.
  • Time Bomb (U.S.) - The former U.S. home of Lionrock.
  • Tokyo Dawn (Germany) - Online-only label.
  • Tommy Boy (U.S.) - Seminal hip-hop label that has since branched out
  • Too Pure (UK) - Home to Scottish HCFDM project Motormark and others.
  • Toshiba EMI Japan - Releases the Style series of DJ mix CDs. No. 8 is by Captain Funk, a.k.a. Tatsuya Oe; No. 9 is by Tomoyuki Tanaka, a.k.a. Fantastic Plastic Machine; and No. 10 is by Akakage, a.k.a. Yoichiro Ito.
  • Toy's Factory (Japan) - Has released material by the Silent Poets, Natural Calamity, Nigo, and many more.
  • Tramp (Germany) - Specializing in jazz, funk, and soul reissues and current releases of a similar flavor.
  • Transistor (U.S.) - Home to Aubergine 3, George Sarah, and others.
  • Trattoria (Japan) - Home to Cornelius, Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her, Hideki Kaji, and others. Most text is in Japanese, but all navigation is in English and there's a section of reviews in English.
  • Treacle Music Ltd. (UK) - Releases the Another Late Night mix series in the UK.
  • Tricatel (France) - Home to April March, Valerie Lemercier, label founder Bertrand Burgalat, and others.
  • Tru Thoughts (UK) - Downtempo label; home to Quantic, Flevans, Alice Russell, Diesler, and others.
  • TrueGrooves (U.S.) - Label launched by Washington, DC's Kidgusto.
  • Tummy Touch (UK) - Downtempo/acid-jazz label, home to Tim "Love" Lee, Los Chicharrons, and others.
  • TVT (U.S.) - Released the 1995 Nightmares on Wax full-length Smokers Delight.
  • Twentysomething Tunes (Austria) - Downtempo label. Home to Menu B and others.
  • Twentythree (UK) - Founded by, and home to, Fila Brazillia.
  • Ubiquity (U.S.) - Home to Platinum Pied Pipers, Greyboy, and others; U.S. home of Quantic and the Quantic Soul Orchestra.
  • Ultimate Dilemma (UK) - Home to the Runaways (a.k.a. the Runaways UK) and Zero 7, and the former home of Jadell.
  • Ultra (U.S.) - This dance-music label releases the Back to Mine compilation series.
  • Unique (Germany) - Home to the Metrophonics, NOHA, and others.
  • Universal - Major label affiliated with MCA. Part of the huge Universal Music Group.
  • Universal Contenders [a.k.a. U.C. Records, All U.C. Records] - Home to Dub Diablo.
  • Up (U.S.) - Home to the Pastels, Land of the Loops, Quasi, and others.
  • Upstairs (Canada) - Home to the Verbrilli Sound and others.
  • V2 - A subsidiary of Virgin, V2 is home to such artists as Underworld, Rinôçérôse, and Moby.
  • V2 Japan - Releases Masanori Ikeda's Spinout series of mix CDs.
  • Versatile (France) - Home to I:Cube, Chateau Flight, and others.
  • Verve - Legendary jazz-oriented label. Includes the sublabels Impulse, Verve Forecast, and GRP.
  • Vienna Scientists (Austria) - Home to an eponymous DJ collective, Freedom Satellite, and the Menheads..
  • Viktor (UK) - Home to the Big Bossa.
  • Virgin - This mega-label is home to Massive Attack and many others.
  • Wagram (France) - Licensing and distribution-oriented company.
  • Wah Wah (UK) [a.k.a.Wah Wah 45s] - Has released 12-inches by such artists as Alison Crockett.
  • Wall of Sound (UK) - Breaks-oriented label. Home to the Propellerheads, the Wiseguys, Röyksopp, and others.
  • Warner Bros. - Major label that distributes the Discovery sublabel.
  • Warner Music Group - See WEA below.
  • Warp (UK) - Home to the downtempo/acid-jazz project Nightmares on Wax and other electronic projects.
  • Wax Trax (U.S.) - Chicago-based electronic music label; puts out releases in conjunction with TVT.
  • WEA (UK) [a.k.a. Warner Music Group] - Controls the labels Atlantic, China, East West UK, Elektra, London, Rhino, Sire, and Warner Bros.
  • Wichita (UK) - Home to Ruby and others.
  • Wiiija (UK) - Home to Cornershop and others.
  • Wonderwheel (U.S.) - Brooklyn-based label headed by Nickodemus.
  • Worship (U.S.) - Philadelphia-based label focusing on dub/reggae-influenced house music.
  • Wrong (U.S.) - Home to Cottonbelly and others.
  • XL (UK) - Home to such artists as Basement Jaxx and Lemon Jelly, and the U.K. home of Ugly Duckling and the Avalanches.
  • Xtravaganza (UK) - Home to Chicane and others.
  • Ya Basta (France) - Discogs.com page on the home of Gotan Project, the Boyz from Brazil, and others.
  • Yes King (U.S.) - Home to the project of the same name, a collaboration between former Grand Central head Mark Rae and Rhys Adams.
  • Yo Mama (Germany) - The onetime home of Cunnie Williams. In German.
  • Yellow (France) - Home to Kid Loco, Bob Sinclar, Dimitri from Paris, and the Silent Poets. In French.
  • Zebra Traffic (UK) - Hip-hop sister label of Tru Thoughts.
  • Ziriguiboom (Belgium) - Dedicated to Brazilian sounds, this sublabel of Crammed is home to Bebel Gilberto, Zuco 103, and the late Suba.

Note on Japanese-language sites:
Most of the Japanese-language sites listed here are easily navigable in English. Beyond that, however, they have varying amounts of Japanese text. Ordinary Japanese text (as opposed to GIFs, etc.) will appear on your screen as gibberish characters unless you have special software to support Japanese text for your browser. If you want to get such software, check out the free download site for NJStar Communicator at NJStar.


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This page created November 1999 - Last modified February 13, 2008

 

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