Label Spotlights

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Label SpotlightsMusic

Paper Bag Records on Rdio

Toronto-based Paper Bag Records started nearly 10 years ago as a hyper-local venture, focusing on Toronto’s vibrant music community. Soon enough their roster expanded to include bands from across Canada such as The Acorn and You Say Party! We Say Die!—then they jumped the ocean, releasing albums from Sally Shapiro and Under Byen. Paper Bag Records has a history of releasing critically-recognized music, such as the 2011 Long List Polaris Music Prize-nominated PS I Love You album, Meet Me At The Muster Station, and Young Galaxy’s Shapeshifting.

Paper Bag Artists

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on Paper Bag Records, check Wikipedia or PaperBagRecords.com. Follow @PaperBagRecords and Like them on Facebook for immediate updates on their new artists, albums, news and touring information. You can also browse their albums on their Rdio label page.

∞  July 15, 2011 — 3:23PM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: !K7

Short for Kaiserdamm 7, the original address of their Berlin office, Germany’s !K7 and !K7 Records have been at the forefront of independent electronic music for over 25 years.

First known for !K7 Records’ innovative DJ Kicks albums, this was one of the first compilation series that asked well-known underground DJs to create mixes emphasizing their signature sound while sharing their unique musical influences. Dozens of artists, including Kruder & Dorfmeister, Carl Craig and Chromeo stepped up to the challenge, blending and showcasing tracks that were often rare, previously unavailable, or only released on limited vinyl pressing. Simultaneously, the label championed individual artist releases, including critically acclaimed acts such as Matthew Herbert, Tosca, A Guy Called Gerald, Swayzak and Jimmy Edgar.

!K7 also distributes an acclaimed roster of artist-driven international labels including Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels, Dixon’s Innervisions, Tiga’s Turbo Records, and Wagon Repair from artists Graham Boothby, Mathew Jonson, Konrad Black and Loose Change.

Discover and listen to tracks from !K7 Records and its specialty imprints. If you need a primer, we put together a playlist featuring a selected discography:

!K7 Distributed Labels

Search the complete !K7 discography of artists and releases on their website, k7.com and stay up-to-date on new artists, albums, news and touring information, by liking K7Records on Facebook.

Previous label features include: Warp Records, Death Row Records, Get Physical, Sub Pop Records, Hydra Head, Pschent, Righteous Babe Records, Kill Rock Stars, Saddle Creek, Yep Roc, Hyperdub, Bella Union, XL Recordings, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  July 8, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Warp

A few record store clerks and a producer set out to create a music label of their own. Over twenty years later, their creation, Warp Records, not only left an indelible impression on electronic music but also brought about the creation of BAFTA-winning Warp Films and bleep.com, an online music and merch store. If you’d like to learn more about the label, read about Warp in the Labels Unlimited series. Listen to and add these classic Warp artists to your Collection, Queue and playlists.

Not sure where to start? Try the Warp10+2 Classics 89-92 or Warp20 (Unheard) compilations.

Newer Warp Artists

Classic Warp Artists

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on Warp Records, check Wikipedia or Warp.net. Follow @Warpbot and Like them on Facebook for immediate updates on their new artists, albums, news and touring information.

Previous label features include: Death Row Records, Get Physical, Sub Pop Records, Hydra Head, Pschent, Righteous Babe Records, Kill Rock Stars, Saddle Creek, Yep Roc, Hyperdub, Bella Union, XL Recordings, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  July 5, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Death Row Records

Young Andre “Dr. Dre” Young teamed up with Marion “Suge” Knight Jr. in the early 90’s to form Death Row Records. Together, they released early albums from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog and 2pac—and the rest of the Death Row Records’ story is long and involved. Although it went through some turbulent times, Death Row remains influential and iconic in its shaping of rap and west coast hip-hop.

Notable Death Row Rappers

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on Death Row Records, check Wikipedia or DeathRowMusic.com. Follow @deathrowmusic and Like them on Facebook for immediate updates on their new artists, albums, news and touring information.

Previous label features include: Get Physical, Sub Pop Records, Hydra Head, Pschent, Righteous Babe Records, Kill Rock Stars, Saddle Creek, Yep Roc, Hyperdub, Bella Union, XL Recordings, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  June 24, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Get Physical

Get Physical’s founders have seen the music industry’s inner workings from every angle. Of its founders, Booka Shade, M.A.N.D.Y and DJ T. are accomplished in an impressive list of roles: DJ, Producer, club operator and Label owner, to name a few. It’s not difficult to see how this team was able to put together a collective of artists known for their impact on electronic music, and their passion for creating tracks to “hit the nerve of the boiling dance floor.” Designed to get you dancing, dive into Get Physical’s catalog.

Get Physical Featured Artists

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on Get Physical, check Wikipedia or physical-music.com. Follow @GetPhysical and Like them on Facebook for immediate updates on their new artists, albums, news and touring information.

Previous label features include: Sub Pop Records, Hydra Head Pschent Righteous Babe Records Kill Rock Stars Saddle Creek Yep Roc Hyperdub, ]Bella Union, XL Recordings, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  June 17, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

Sub Pop Records on Rdio

Subterranean Pop, a fanzine started by college student Bruce Pavitt in 1986, was Sub Pop Records’ first incarnation. The zine’s written word gave way to bits of music as Pavitt created and sent compilation tapes between issues. Eventually Sub Pop released its first compilation LP, and an album from Green River. Next, Pavitt teamed up with Jonathan Poneman, who financed the first Soundgarden single and EP.

The two dedicated themselves to making Sub Pop a working label, shrewdly studying the success of other legendary labels and focusing on building the Seattle music scene (and Sub Pop’a brand). Then came releases from Mudhoney and Nirvana, and the Sub Pop Singles Club, which rewarded subscribers with a new single every month, ensuring they’d get one of the limited-release singles that frequently sold out in stores.

If you’d like to read more, Sub Pop’s rise is well documented, starting with a lengthy label history celebrating their 20th birthday, an exhaustive Wikipedia page, and a Pitchfork interview with founders Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman.

Twenty years later, Sub Pop has seen quite a bit of change, from the graduation of Seattle grunge to the adoption of bands like The Postal Service, Flight of the Conchords, The Shins and Fleet Foxes. They also weathered the switch from vinyl to cassettes and CDs to newer ways of listening to music, like Rdio. That’s why you’ll find Sub Pop Records’ music on Rdio, as well as their presence.

Follow Sub Pop on Rdio to see what they’re listening to right now. Plus, you won’t miss any of their great playlists, like Please Enjoy This Music, a playlist of bands Sub Pop is working with—some with records already out, and some from bands with new records coming soon.

Some of the Sub Pop staff’s Favorite Albums

Active Sub Pop Artists

(*Indicates the band has an upcoming new release)

Inactive Sub Pop Artists

For an impressively long list of artists who are or have been on Sub Pop Records, check SubPop.com or see what Wikipedia has to say. Follow @SubPop and Like them on Facebook for news about Sub Pop artists, albums, and touring information.

Previous label features include: Hydra Head, Pschent, Righteous Babe Records, Saddle Creek, Yep Roc Hyperdub, Bella Union, XL Recordings, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  June 10, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Hydra Head

Most people don’t think about how music makes its way from musicians to the general public, for listening and enjoyment. High-schooler Aaron Turner, however, gave it some thought and decided to start Hydra Head Records. 18 years later, the Label is still representing heavy metal, and Turner added Isis frontman to his list of accomplishments. Keep reading for a primer on Hydra Head’s bands and musicians, which we have here on Rdio.

Hydra Head Artists

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on Hydra Head, check Wikipedia or hydrahead.com. Follow @HydraHead and Like them on Facebook for immediate updates on their new artists, albums, news and touring information.

Previous label features include: Pschent, Righteous Babe Records, Saddle Creek, Yep Roc Hyperdub, Bella Union, XL Recordings, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  June 3, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Pschent

French independent label Pschent takes music very seriously. They’re best known for their Hôtel Costes music series—a selection curated by DJ Stéphane Pompougnac representing the Parisian hotel of the same name. Synonymous with chic, listen to a selection of their artists and albums here on Rdio—it may transport you to another world.

Pschent Artists

Notable Pschent Albums

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on Pschent, check Pschent.com. Follow @pschent and Like them on Facebook for immediate updates on their new artists, albums, news and touring information.

Previous label features include: Righteous Babe Records, Saddle Creek, Yep Roc Hyperdub, Bella Union, XL Recordings, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  May 27, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Righteous Babe Records

Beyond putting out the works of unique and talented musicians, Righteous Babe Records can also say that they saved a New York landmark, the Asbury Delaware Methodist Church. Grammy-winning artist Ani DiFranco (and Righteous Babe Records’ Founder) wanted the Label to support her hometown’s growth and development. When that meant preserving this historic structure, they fought to rescue it from destruction, and have since turned it into a multi-purpose venue and headquarters for artists, musicians, and the people of Buffalo, NY. Check out their amazing story on the Babeville website, and enjoy their musical catalog on Rdio.

Righteous Babe Records Artists

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on Righteous Babe Records, check Wikipedia or RighteousBabe.com. Like them on Facebook for immediate updates on their new artists, albums, news and touring information.

Previous label features include: Kill Rock Stars Saddle Creek Yep Roc Hyperdub, Bella Union, XL Recordings, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  May 20, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Kill Rock Stars

Slim Moon wanted a way to put out music and spoken-word works, of both his and his friends’ creation, so he founded Kill Rock Stars. The unassuming beginnings of this artist-driven project have grown into the female-run Indie Label that carries the likes of influential singer-songwriter Elliot Smith, The Decemberists’ early albums, and Thao & Mirah’s just-released debut. You can read all about their evolution (including the origin of the Label’s name) on the Kill Rock Stars timeline while checking out their expansive list of artists on Rdio.

Kill Rock Stars Featured Artists

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on Kill Rock Stars, check Wikipedia or Kill Rock Stars. Follow @KRSStaff and Like them on Facebook for immediate updates on their new artists, albums, news and touring information.

Previous label features include: Saddle Creek, Yep Roc Hyperdub, Bella Union, XL Recordings, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  May 13, 2011 — 12:00AM

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