Record label research

1. Record Label Research by David Edmunds
Domino Records was founded in 1993, by LaurenceBell and his partner Jacqui
Rice, the label's first release was the Sebadoh EP Rocking the Forest, licensed
fromSub Pop records for release in the UK. Many of the early releases were by
American artists who in the USA weresigned to Drag City a relationship which
continues to this day. Success was notimmediate, as labels such as Domino,
who were releasing moreestablished American rock and unusualBritish music,
were marginalised during the Britpop era, but a steady stream of new signings
gave the label increasing credibility. Recent high-profile releases from Anna
Calvi, Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, and The Killers have only acted as a
catalyst to this, and Domino is now one of the longest running and most
successfulindependentrecord labels in the UK.
As Domino Records celebrated it tenth anniversary thatwould see the label
enter the international mainstream. Franz Ferdinand's self-titled debut was
released at the beginning of 2004 and wenton to sell severalmillion albums
worldwide. While the restof the industry was trying to catch its breath over
the fact a small independent company was able to compete so forcefully by
engaging in 'pop terrorism'Domino quickly repeated Franz Ferdinand's
multiplatinum success on an even bigger scale. Through a series of down-to
the-wire negotiations Bell signed Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys an indie rock band,
and the label quickly released the band's debut Whatever People Say I Am,
That's What I'mNot to an expectant audience. Itwas a high water mark and
unplanned for moment in the label's history that saw the band break the
record for the fastestselling debut album of all time.