thecitizen
thecitizen
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What separates a great record label from the chaff?

Posted over 5 years ago
Is it the unique passion of the founder, who broke down social barriers to get a certain kind of music heard?Is it the founder's ability to hear sounds that would stnad the test of time?Is it an uncanny sense of right time right place?Is it an A&R policy built on finding great music no matter what 'genre' or is it a microscopic focus on a type of music?Was A&M more of a great label than Fontana? Is Island the ultimate label or is that Tamla Motown? Does Deutsche Grammophon sit alongside Sun? Is Factory up there with Columbia? Do Black Jazz, Blue Note or Fania mean more than Apple?No anwers, just lots of questions really...
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Comments (4)

  1. CrashPryor
    CrashPryor says ...yes...and no...does that clear anything up?
    Permalink posted 02/16/2007
  2. ivylander
    ivylander says Certainly there have been record labels that started out with a vision and a commitment to quality. Many of the names you've mentioned (plus probably the ultimate artist-centric label - at least initially - Atlantic) fit this description. Beyond that, it's a little dangerous to set visions in competition with each other. I wouldn't want to be the one to say that Fania trumps Factory (although that's what I believe).
    Permalink posted 02/16/2007
  3. Cody B
    Cody B says Damn. i'm late to the party, but still lurking around while I "convert" to itunes. I work with labels all the time in my job and it is hard to have anything like a vision, these days. In those days though there was a lot more easy money and lots of people bought music with money. That was the only way you could get music. Stax was pretty damn cool while it lasted, but even when it was alive (in its first life) the forces of corporate greed (including atlantic) were eating away at the core. Bottom line..Vision, taste, and talent aren't enough to survive. It is a business and you have to know how to run it, or as my boss said, you are roadkill.
    Permalink posted 02/28/2007
  4. thecitizen
    thecitizen says Cody B Check out Type Records in the UK. The guy who set this up has put together podcasts chatting about the music he loves. I have become a fan of the label purely through these simple podcasts. citizen watt put me on to this label. Mind you, I love the name Roadkill as the name of a record label...Roadkill Records has a certain ring to it...
    Permalink posted 02/28/2007

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