Label Spotlights

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Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Saddle Creek

Entrepreneurship isn’t often mentioned outside the context of technology, but from entrepreneurship (or at least a college class about it), Saddle Creek Records was born. Undergoing personnel and even a name change, the label grew to be known and respected for both its small-town, earthy “Omaha Sound” and for its roster of loosely-related bands and musicians. Originally releasing Conor Oberst’s (Bright Eyes) music, they also signed other bands from Omaha, Nebraska and in 2001, started signing musicians regardless of their location.

Check out the documentary Spend an Evening with Saddle Creek for a closer look at the creation and evolution of the Label’s first 10 years of existence.

Saddle Creek Artists

Saddle Creek Alumni

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on Saddle Creek, check Wikipedia or saddle-creek.com.com. Follow @saddlecreek and Like them on Facebook for immediate updates on their new artists, albums, news and touring information.

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

∞  May 6, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Yep Roc

Glenn Dicker and Tor Hansen, friends since kindergarten, took their passion for music and transformed it from a basement project to a successful international Label. Since 1996, the duo has remained dedicated to putting out the best music they can find. Their impressive roster of artists isn’t bound by genre or style—queue up any of their artists, from guitar-strumming soloists like Loudon Wainwright III to electronic indie pop like The Apples in Stereo. Check out their website to get a taste of what this soulful label has to offer.

Current Yep Roc Arists

Past Yep Roc Artists

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on Yep Roc, check Wikipedia or yeproc.com. Follow the Yep Roc Music Group on Rdio or @yeproc on Twitter and like them on Facebook for immediate updates on their new artists, albums, news and touring information.

Previous label features include: Blood & Fire, Hyperdub, Bella Union, XL Recordings, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  April 22, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Blood & Fire

We’ve got big news today for dub and roots reggae connoisseurs—Rdio now has the reissue catalog from Blood & Fire, a British Label featuring some of best Jamaican archival material ever recorded.

Blood & Fire Artists

Unfamiliar with Blood & Fire? Influencer XLR8R Magazine picked some of their favorite catalog tracks to make a great playlist—the perfect introduction to these roots reggae and dub advocates.

Previous label features include: Rounder Records, Hyperdub, ]Bella Union, XL Recordings, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  April 15, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Rounder Records

Started over 40 years ago by three college friends, Rounder Records has a long heritage of supporting historically important music and recordings. Broadly covering Americana—blues, jazz, folk and beyond—they’re also known for releasing the work of Alan Lomax, an ethnomusicologist who did field recordings all over the country and the world. If you really want the long read on Rounder’s storied history, there’s a 2008 book about the Label called, The Never-Ending Revival: Rounder Records and the Folk Alliance.”

Rounder Artists—Past and Present

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

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

∞  April 8, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Hyperdub

It makes sense that Hyperdub is one of the premiere Labels dedicated to dubstep and its sister genres. Behind the wheel is Founder and creator Steve Goodman, better known as musician and DJ Kode9. Within their catalog you’ll find music from the popular (and anonymous) Burial, and producer Zomby. For a quick taste of Hyperdub’s best, queue up 5: Five Years of Hyperdub.

Musicians in the Hyperdub Catalog

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on Hyperdub, check Wikipedia. For updates on their new artists, albums, news and touring information, check their website, hyperdub.net, follow @hyperdub on Twitter and Like them on Facebook.

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

∞  March 25, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Bella Union

Truly an artist-run label, Bella Union began as an outlet for the Cocteau Twin’s own music. Helping to bring the world artists like Fleet Foxes, Mercury Prize-winning Fionn Regan and The Low Anthem, Bella Union’s reputation for great music and creative freedom is part of the reason they won 2010 Independent Record Company of the Year at the Music Week Awards.

US Bella Union Artists, Past and Present

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

Previous label features include: XL Recordings, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  March 4, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: XL Recordings

Rooted in the early days of techno, rave, drum and bass (they call it Acid House), XL Recordings has grown into a bastion of musicians and artists with a strong, original vision and voice. Much like their sister Labels under Beggars Group, XL Recordings sprung from a record store and other music projects coupled with a keen ear and some fortunate breaks.

Following their early projects, which can be heard in their First Chapters compilation, XL scored big with The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, and later with Mercury Prize-winning Badly Drawn Boy and Dizzee Rascal. Today, they maintain their reputation for one-of-a-kind projects.

Current XL Recordings Artists

XL Recordings Alumni

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on XL Recordings, check Wikipedia or XLRecordings.com, where you’ll also find their tumblelog and lifestream. Follow @XLRECORDINGS and Like them on Facebook for immediate updates on their new releases and touring information.

Previous label features include: Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  February 25, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Rough Trade Records

As we continue to highlight the artists and Labels that recently joined the Rdio catalog, we’re on to the next Label from the Beggars Group umbrella. Joining 4AD and Matador Records, Rough Trade Records is a London-based testament to music industry’s rich history.

Much like its sister label 4AD, Rough Trade Records sprung from a record store. Building off the early success of bands like The Smiths, Scritti Politti and Stiff Little Fingers, their subsequent years saw enormous growth and belief in a DIY-ethos. Although their business side is complex, we’ll let their catalog of past and present artists speak for itself. Among their roster are Mercury Prize-winning (and nominated) bands like Antony & The Johnsons, Arcade Fire and British Sea Power.

If you crave more background from this storied Label, check out their 2006-published history, Rough Trade: Labels Unlimited. You can also find a shorter version of their history on the Rough Trade website.

Old School Rough Trade Artists

Second Generation Rough Trade Artists

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on Rough Trade Records, check Wikipedia or RoughTradeRecords.com, where you’ll also find news and their blog. Follow @roughtraderecs for immediate updates on their new releases and touring information.

Previous label features include: Matador Records, 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  February 18, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: Matador Records

Celebrating 21 years since its creation, Matador Records has die-hard fans, a large catalog of classic albums and a healthy roster of both upcoming and accomplished musicians alike. We’re pleased to have their music on Rdio so check out our guide to Matador Records, past and present.

Active Matador Artists

Matador Alumni

More recently Matador acquired True Panther Records, which adds to their numbers these next-wave musicians:

For a complete list of artists who are or have been on Matador Records, check Wikipedia or MatadorRecords.com, where you’ll also find news and the frequently-hilarious Matablog. Follow @matadorrecords for immediate updates on their new releases and touring information.

Previous label features include: 4AD, Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  February 11, 2011 — 12:00AM

Label SpotlightsMusic

New on Rdio: 4AD

Stemming from a record store turned music label, two employees of the chain Beggars Banquet took a chance and created what we now know as 4AD Records. With a more experimental flair than their parent company, they found enough success with the release of Bauhaus and Rema-Rema’s music to make a go of it. Thirty years later, 4AD is still part of Beggars Group alongside sister labels Matador, Rough Trade, and XL Recordings, who we’ll be highlighting in the coming weeks.

If you’d like to read more about 4AD’s tremendous history, their website does a great job of telling their story.

Classic 4AD Artists

More Recent 4AD Artists

A few years ago, 4AD created a video series, 4AD Sessions, to showcase some of their artists in a beautiful, intimate HD recording. Participating artists included Stornoway, Tune-Yards, Efterklang, Twin Shadows. It just may change how you feel about watching music videos on your computer.

For a complete list of artists who’ve been or are on 4AD, read up on Wikipedia or 4ad.com where you’ll also find more news, and 4AD’s journal. Follow @4ad_official for immediate updates on their new releases and touring information.

Previous label features include: Epitaph Records, Merge Records, Domino Records and Nettwerk

∞  February 4, 2011 — 12:00AM

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