2. Criteria for a record label As there are so many different sub-genres of reggae I need to pick a label with it’s roots firmly in classic reggae. The label has to have good American/British connections for distribution.
3. Beverly’s Beverly’s launched the careers of reggae legends Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley. Through the 1960’s it produced many reggae artists and was essential in transforming ska and rocksteady into Reggae. Experience and pioneering this would be the perfect record label, sadly the label folded with the death of it’s founder Leslie Kong in 1971
4. Blood and Fire Blood and Fire is a British based company and this would be good for distributing on my home territory Set up the artist Max Romeo and re issues a lot of reggae roots albums Once again this company is effectively a walking corpse, it’s American distributor went out of business and though it hasn’t declared bankruptcy it is effectively dead.
5. Greensleeves records and publishing Greensleeves has the largest reggae catalog in the world with over 20,000 copyrights of reggae songs. Published Eek a mouse and other well known dancehall/reggae artists I think this company fits with my track, isn’t bankrupt and is still very prolific
6. Heartbeat records An independent record label based in Massachusetts, it specialises in Jamaican reggae. Produces compilation albums that include Sly and Robby and Lee “scratch” Perry They’ve won multiple awards for their compilation albums and is an incredibly prestigious record label Has good connections with Studio One
7. Studio One Studio One is THE Jamaican reggae album and has released track from every major jamaican reggae artist including Bob Marley and Lee Perry Described as the Motown of reggae and has lots of experience in the industry and has great American connections with Heartbeat records.
8. Culling the list The most obvious way to slim down the list is to take away the record labels that are bankrupt, so goodbye Beverly’s and Blood and Fire Although Greensleeves has the largest reggae archive in the world it mainly deals in re releases and compilation albums so it has to go as I need a company that is known for releasing debut albums.
9. And then there was two… So this leaves me with two labels, Hearbeat and Studio One Both are very well known and have lots of experience in releasing reggae albums
11. Studio One! With it’s experience and prestige Studio One is the obvious choice for my record label, it has great connections with hearbeat in America allowing for distribution over there and the brand name is recognised all across the world. It has launched the careers of some of the most famous reggae artists and this is why it’s my record label of choice.
