I R.S. Records Was a Groundbreaking Record Label
The show eventually paved the way for MTV’s own 120 Minutes music video program. The label also released a compilation of music videos called The Beast of I.R.S. Video Volume 1 (and only as it turned out). The first release on I.R.S. was a collection of singles by punk band The Buzzcocks. The label’s other early signings included The Beat (known as the English Beat in the U.S. and Canada), The Cramps, The Stranglers, Wall of Voodoo, Oingo Boingo, and the Fleshtones. Though the latter were from New York, many of the labels acts would come mostly out of the L.A. Whether or not you’re able to land a record label apprenticeship or enrol onto a music business course, you can always make sure that you’re ticking every other box and building up your transferable skill set.
How to Get Noticed by an A&R Record Label
- The head of influential dance label R&S Records discriminated against black and female artists, according to a former employee.
- This film explores that story while examining how many things that start rebellious, with success…become the very establishment against which they were rebelling.
- Through bootstrapping and guerrilla marketing, I.R.S. became the coolest label of the 1980s.
- I.R.S. No Speak, also known as No Speak Records, was set up as an all-instrumental imprint of I.R.S. in January 1988.
- The label folded in May 1996, with its last release being All Set by Buzzcocks, issued two weeks before the closure.
- In 1979 the music industry was poised to undergo a change of seismic proportions.
No strangers to promoting music outside of the pop mainstream, they agreed to distribute the new label with Copeland and Boberg maintaining ownership. Tribal America was a label run by Rob DiStefano that was distributed by I.R.S. from 1991 until IRS folded in 1996. It concentrated on house music, a type of electronic dance music. Moved its distribution from A&M to MCA, and ultimately EMI, which led to a more stringent corporate environment.
Cassette is brand new, and professionally produced. Used sparingly as a grade, should be free of even the slightest blemishes and/or defects. Though no signings have yet been announced, the label is expected to have new releases available by the end of the year. Several attempts have been made to relaunch the label, but today it remains dormant, a memory of an important time in the history of pop music. Notable artists on the I.R.S. Records label included The Animals, the Buzzcocks, R.E.M. and Squeeze, as well as Miles’ brother Stewart Copeland on I.R.S. No Speak, an instrumental-only imprint. I.R.S. No Speak, also known as No Speak Records, was set up as an all-instrumental imprint of I.R.S. in January 1988.
What should you include when you submit music to record labels?
They influence the kind of music we listen to by identifying what could be the next big thing. Whether it’s a new genre, a fusion of styles, or a completely fresh approach to storytelling through music, A&R teams are often the ones pushing boundaries. Nowadays, having a strong brand image is arguably just as important as the quality of your music.
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
In today’s music industry, many record labels stray from building artists from the ground up, instead treating artists and their music as an investment, working with those who they see profit from. This results in fewer 360 deals and more distribution, publishing, and licensing agreements. Working with a record label can be advantageous to artists at all stages in their careers. I R.s. Records Label But before you get a contract or signed to a record label, you need to get your music heard by them. To do this, you need to send your music to their A&Rs.
The label had some early chart success, particularly in the U.K., where several of its artists posted top-40 singles. However, it was an all-girl group from Los Angeles that would land the label near the top of the charts in the U.S. The kids already knew all about punk, new wave and all of the other variations of weirdly unique bands that would eventually come to be called Alternative Music. And the Record companies, mired in the old styles of arena rock and disco…were about to get a clue.
Why Apple Music Matters for Independent Artists
Landing a spot on a popular is a sure-fire way to get yourself noticed by anyone who’s anyone within the music industry. Put simply, this is the division of a record label or publishing company that is responsible for the discovery of talent as well as the creative and commercial development of an artist or band. The A&R department will also often act as a liaison between the artist and the record label or company themselves. Once an artist is signed to an A&R record label, the real work begins. It’s not just about recording songs; it’s about crafting a complete package. A&R teams work with artists to refine their sound, improve their skills, and create a signature style.
Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound. Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time.
- I.R.S. Records releases were distributed by A&M Records until 1985, by MCA Records until 1990, and finally by EMI (who bought the label in 1994), until the label folded in 1996.
- Mr Chaudhuri also alleged that Mr Vandepapeliere refused to sever ties with a recording artist who had placed anti-Semitic messages on Facebook.
- The record is cracked, badly warped, and won’t play through without skipping or repeating.
- In 1981, the Go-Gos released Beauty and the Beat on I.R.S. The album featured the hits “Our Lips Are Sealed (U.S. #20) and “We Got the Beat” (U.S. #2).
From 1983 to 1987, I.R.S. Records sponsored a weekly MTV show called The Cutting Edge, hosted by Peter Zaremba of The Fleshtones. The series focused heavily on bands that recorded for the label. Although A&R has had to adapt to the age of streaming platforms and social media, it remains the gateway into the music industry and has a major hand in developing musical trends and culture. Most A&R professionals fall into their roles after previously being musicians or somehow or another involved in the live music industry. They also connect artists with the right producers, songwriters, and studio engineers.
Likewise, tape will be heavily damaged, showing complete fading on the face, crinkled tape, missing screws or teeth, staining, and other heavy wear. However it will still play through without problems. Sleeve should be totally crisp and clean with only the slightest evidence of handling. Certainly never been played, possibly even still sealed. The Wrong shirt was sent, it was not the logo that was ordered. There was no way to contact the company to have the return made.
Get some music industry experience
One of the most exciting parts of an A&R record label’s job is talent scouting. They’re always on the lookout for fresh, unique voices. They scour music festivals, attend gigs, and even keep an eye on social media. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have become treasure troves for discovering hidden talent. I.R.S., which stands for International Record Syndicate, was launched in 1979 by Miles Copeland III, brother of the Police drummer Stewart Copeland and music promoter Ian Copeland.
From 1983 to 1987, I.R.S. Records sponsored a monthly MTV show called I.R.S. Records Presents The Cutting Edge, hosted by Peter Zaremba of The Fleshtones. The series concentrated on bands that recorded for the label. The show concept would later evolve into the alternative rock program 120 Minutes, which was launched in 1986 and co-existed with Cutting Edge for about a year and a half. Pre-COVID, the vast majority of A&R work was carried out in the field at gigs and festivals.
The influential label was home to many acts that defined indie and college rock throughout the 1980s and into the early 90s while also spawning many international hits. Though based primarily in London, Miles approached A&M Records in Los Angeles about forming a subsidiary label of sorts that would become the International Record Syndicate or I.R.S. Records. A&M, who had The Police on their roster, had been founded in 1962 by jazz musician and bandleader Herb Alpert and record executive Jerry Moss.