Downtown Records has signed an exclusive distribution and label services deal with Interscope Records and parent company Universal Music Group.
The agreement comes as Downtown, founded by Josh Deutsch (pictured) and Terence Lam, celebrates ten years in business.
Downtown’s catalogue, which includes Cold War Kids, Mos Def and Major Lazer, among others, will move to Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) for distribution.
“This agreement allows us to offer the bespoke experience and personal connection of an independent label with the reach, resources and relationships of the most entrepreneurial company in the business.”
josh deutsch, downtown records
“This agreement is really unique in that it allows us to offer the bespoke experience and personal connection of an independent label with the reach, resources and relationships of the most entrepreneurial company in the business,” said Deutsch.
“Depending on the needs of the artist, we have the freedom to integrate our operations with Interscope and UMe completely, not at all, or on an à la carte basis to create a more robust level of service for our artist partners.
“I want to thank [Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman/CEO] John [Janick], [UMG EVP] Michele [Anthony] and UMe President Bruce Resnikoff for creating a unique architecture for implementing our new venture.”
“Over the past 10 years, Josh and Terence have continued to demonstrate that they have incredible insight with regard to signing and breaking talented artists that exist a little outside the mainstream, which makes what they’ve accomplished all the more impressive.”
john janick, interscope geffen A&M
Janick said: “Over the past 10 years, Josh and Terence have continued to demonstrate that they have incredible insight with regard to signing and breaking talented artists that exist a little outside the mainstream, which makes what they’ve accomplished all the more impressive.
“It’s exciting to welcome Downtown to the family. I’m looking forward to working with them.”
After working in A&R at major labels, holding senior positions at Capitol Records, Elektra and Virgin, Deutsch partnered with Lam (who has history at VH1, EMI Music Publishing and Arista) and launched Downtown Records in 2006.
Their first signing was Crazy by Gnarls Barkley, which went on to multi-platinum success.
The label also shepherded Cold War Kids to their first No.1 and has helped further the careers of Mos Def, Major Lazer, Chet Faker, Eagles Of Death Metal and Santigold.
Deutsch and Lam created a number of businesses complementary to the label’s core asset of recorded music, spanning publishing, licensing and online music-discovery platforms.
“UMG Chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge is the ultimate entrepreneur, reshaping the business itself in the most progressive way. When we first met with the UMG team, we recognised kindred spirits.”
Terence lam, downtown records
Said Lam: “UMG is the gold standard of this approach and UMG Chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge is the ultimate entrepreneur, reshaping the business itself in the most progressive way.
“When we first met with the UMG team, we recognised kindred spirits.
“We saw this very focused, forward-looking group of people – an amazing combination of experience, energy and a mandate to innovate in this rapidly changing music climate.”
The first artist to benefit from Downtown’s UMG arrangement is St. Louis rapper Smino.
Additional projects for this year include recordings from emerging artists Goldroom, singer/rapper/instrumentalist Tkay Maidza, avant-pop singer Tei Shi, and English alt rock act The Hours, as well as new material from Chet Faker and Electric Guest.
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