Copenhagen Records
| Copenhagen Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | Universal Music Group |
| Founded | 5 January 2004 |
| Founder |
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| Genre | Various |
| Country of origin |
 Denmark |
| Location | Copenhagen |
| Official website |
cphrec |
Copenhagen Records is a Danish record label formed on 5 January 2004[1] by former EMI Recorded Music Denmark staff members to give artists more artistic autonomy.[2] It houses artists spread over a wide range of genres, from rock to rap, and from pop artists to comedians.
In September 2011, Universal Music Group acquires Copenhagen Records, along with the rest of MBO Group.[3] The label operates as one of UMG's standalone labels.
History
In 2003, EMI-Medley had a 40% share on the Danish music market.[4] Days after Medley-founder Michael Ritto announced he would depart in February 2004, other senior staff members also left. Among them were former EMI Denmark head of A&R Nick Foss and former Capitol/Medley GM Mik Christensen, who had both worked at EMI for 19 years and long wanted to start a company of their own, but who had been persuaded by Ritto to hold off those plans.[4] Former Medley marketing manager Jakob Sørensen and former A&R manager Christian Backman set up operations; Foss and Christensen joined on 1 April 2004.[4] Christensen explained that Copenhagen Records had the aim "to recruit and develop quality Danish musicians. Sales of Danish artists have not dipped nearly as much as international acts [in Denmark]."[4] The label also had the direct intention to create a strong local competitor against the established multinational labels.[1]
In 2008, Christensen and Foss left Copenhagen Records and started Mermaid Records, which is largely owned by Sony Music Entertainment Denmark.[5][6] After Sørensen and Backman left the company in 2013, the position of CEO was taken over by Torben Ravn, who was a product manager at Copenhagen Records since 2007.[7]
Copenhagen Records is market leader in Denmark on local repertoire and runs as a 360 label. Copenhagen Records also includes Copenhagen Music, a booking agency which primarily facilitates bookings for the artists on the label, and Copenhagen Publishing.
Artists
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Former artists
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References
- 1 2 Copenhagen Records (2011). Info & Kontakt. Retrieved 26 April 2011. (Danish)
- ↑ Svidt, O. R. (17 December 2003). EMI-Medley står over for sprængning (EMI-Medley about to blow up). GAFFA. (Danish)
- ↑ Smirke, Richard (6 September 2011). "Universal Music Acquires Denmark's MBO Group". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Charles Ferro (2004-01-24). "Danish execs form label: Former EMI Denmark staffers to run Copenhagen Records". Billboard: 42. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
- ↑ Sony Music Entertainment (Denmark) A/S. (2011). Mermaid Records. Retrieved 26 April 2011. (Danish)
- ↑ Rustrup, S. (27 November 2008). Sony Music køber sig ind i Mermaid Records (Sony Music buys into Mermaid Records). GAFFA. (Danish)
- ↑ "Chefer forlader Copenhagen Records". GAFFA.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2016-01-30.