Independent Label- Matador Records

An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding of outside major record labels. 

Background Information  

Where: Main offices in New York City, USA with Matador Europe offices in London, UK

Label Founder: Chris Lombardi, joined by Gerard Cosley within the first year - these two run the label to this day

Founded: 1989
Matador's first taste of life as part of a major label came in 1993 when they formed an alliance with Atlantic Records.
Under this deal, Matador's most profitable artists were released as joint Matador/Atlantic releases, and profits from Matador's smaller, "Matador only" releases were split 50% with Atlantic. In exchange, Atlantic paid Matador's bills. The reaction of indie music fans was not pretty, and many musicians on the label were none too pleased to be at the mercy of a major label after signing to an indie.
The deal collapsed in disaster for both labels within three years.
In 1996, Capitol Records scooped up a 49% share of Matador. The three-year relationship between these labels didn't end much better than the Atlantic arrangement, and in 1999, when Capitol was facing bankruptcy, Matador bought the shares of the label back.
Matador is now part of the Beggar's Group alliance of indie labels.

Artists

Some of there artists are: Teenage Fanclub, Belle and Sebastian, Yo La Tengo, Arab Strap, Cornelius, Liz Phair.

 Here is a link to their website which tells you all of them: http://www.matadorrecords.com

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