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music, unlimited
As one of the UK's most innovative independent records labels, we're not genre-centric. Our diverse catalogue of hits is unified through quality & passion. -
united colours of sound
From Beijing to Boston, from Reykjavik to Rio de Janeiro - and everywhere in between - we'd be nothing without the music lovers around the globe who dig our sounds. We're proud of the community we're a part of. We listen, we learn - and we love to share. You'll never find 30 second samples on our site. You'll ony find full tracks and full albums to listen to, enjoy and share through our widgets. -
Promoting Cornwall
Why base an international record label in Cornwall? Why not? Cornwall's natural beauty inspires us daily. Proud, quirky, distinctive and fiercely independent - the Duchy of Cornwall is a natural home for us. As a green label and a Fair Trade record label...there's no other place in the UK where our HQ would fit in so easily or so well.
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New signings!
Our latest releases
Aardvark Records - home page
A respected & trusted digital music & video provider
Our digital content services include, but are not limited to: on-line digital download sales, ringtone sales, in-store entertainment, in-flight entertainment (including first class, business class & club class lounges) and music licensing to third parties.
Our core activity is about delivering our artists’ music to the public. Our entrepreneurial drive is the foundation for this core activity. It enables us to identify, develop and pursue traditional and new avenues to achieve this. Increasingly, this means not only selling our music direct to the public...but striking deals with businesses who provide music and video entertainment and/or content to the public. And this we do very, very well.
The traditional record label business model is broken. We think the model we've come up is pretty darn good. It certainly works for us. So while major labels try to fix something that they broke (or at the very least they try to dress an old dinosaur in new outfits) – we’re created something that’s bold and different.
That’s the benefit of being an independent label. We’re quick. We know how to manoeuvre. And we know how to quickly adapt to an ever-changing music buying landscape. Size does indeed matter. But not in quite the way major labels think. We listen (we really do!), we learn, we adapt and we grow from strength to strength. We've built relationships with many of the top digital content business companies around the globe as a result; relationships that are transparent, open, honest and long lasting.
We won't treat you like you're lucky to have our music. We won’t treat you or your business like we’re doing you a favour. We’ll treat you with respect. That’s how we roll.
In the early Noughties, we knew just how big the digital content market was going to be. That was back in the days when most thought the concept 'madness'.
Instead of wondering what the size of the royalty cheques or licensing fees were going to be, or worrying about trying to control the burgeoning digital market, we realised the global reach of wireless media...and the markets this technology would open up for new music.
We're as enthusiastic about wireless media now as when the digital arena came into being. We're always happy speaking with wireless content managers about providing our extensive catalogues of music for your wireless services.
If you think we're a good fit for your business, please get in touch:
News feed
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How to approach a record label & music publisher with your demo - Part 2
This post is an update on our very popular “How not to approach a record label about your demo” post http://aardvarkrecords.blogspot.co.uk/2007/08/how-not-to-approach-record-label-about.html This post concentrates more on aspiring artists and songwriters and how to approach record labels and music publishers via social networking sites. Record labels and music publishers have created a solid presence on social networking sites. We’re active on approximately 200 of them all around the globe since the very early days of social networking. And in that time, we've noticed a few things: 1. Recording artists and songwriters in Southeast Asia and the Far East approach labels and music publishers in a very professional manner. Aspiring artists and acts understand that how they approach a label or publisher online speaks volumes about the level of their seriousness and professionalism. 2. Recording artists and songwriters in Latin America, Central Europe, Eastern Europe and Southern Europe also approach labels and publishers online in a professional manner. 3. Recording artists and songwriters in Western Europe (excluding Germany) and North America, on the whole, create a negative professional impression when contacting labels and publishers. Click the link to read more...
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Modernizing the music industry: royalty collection societies
I've said it before and I’ll say it again. The music industry sorely needs modernization You’d be forgiven for thinking it already has. Music is available everywhere in every conceivable format. Surely that’s an indication of a thoroughly modern industry. Music formats may be modern, however, the industry governing those releases is anything but. And nowhere is this more apparent than in the collection of performance and mechanical royalties. There are music royalty collection societies spread around the globe. Each was established to collect royalties in their respective country or region. BMI, ASCAP, GEMA, MCPS, PPL, SESAC, VPL and Sound Exchange are a handful of such societies you might be familiar with. Or at the very least these are a handful of agencies that any professional in the industry should be familiar with. The collection of royalties really hasn't changed since the 1920s. And it shows. But more about that in a minute. Let’s start with the basics first. click the link to read more...
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How indie labels can maximise their revenues in a Zombie Economy
As soon as we heard the British economy described as a Zombie Economy by Channel 4, Aardvark’s execs looked at one another and nodded in agreement. It is a perfect description. In 2006 we lost roughly 30% of our bottom line profits. It wasn't due to bad sales - we were actually selling more tracks and albums than we’d ever done in the label’s history. It wasn't due to bad management. It also wasn't due to fiscal irresponsibility. It had everything to do with the economy tanking and the British Pound being bitch-slapped into near oblivion by just about every currency on the planet. The reason why Aardvark took such a kicking with UK currency conversion rates was down to the fact that 85% of our sales revenue comes from overseas. The UK counts for a small percentage of our business activities and sales. Simply put, it’s always been easier for us to get business done outside of the UK. So our exposure to foreign currency conversion rates is immense. click the link to read more...
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Why you should manage international royalty collection in-house
As the old saying goes, look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves. And in the music business, every pence counts. I still find it incredible to believe the staggering amount of royalties which go uncollected every year either because music company owners don’t know how to collect them, can’t be asked to collect them or rely on third parties to collect international royalties on their behalf. Regardless of size, record labels and music publishers have a responsibility to their business and their artists to ensure royalties from every source is collected. Whether it’s mechanical or performance royalties – independent labels and music publishing companies should manage the collection of royalties in-house. The process may be tedious, it may be confusing at first and it’s certainly far from glamorous…however, in the end you’ll be glad you did it. click the link to read more
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Win a free Benny Tetteh-Lartey "See The Wonder" CD
To celebrate Benny Tetteh-Lartey being played every 15 minutes in a UK Caffe Nero....we're running a little competition. Win a free Benny Tetteh-Lartey "See The Wonder" CD. Answer the following question (please post your answer on Twitter!!!): "What Benny Tetteh-Lartey song goes perfectly with your favorite Caffe Nero cuppa...and why?" You must include the hash tag #BennyTetteh in your answer. The competition closes Midnight tonight (GMT). We'll print out all the answers, put them in the ole goldfish bowl, and pick one. Have fun! http://www.aardvarkrecords.co.uk/index.php/folk-music-downloads/218-benny-tetteh-lartey