Copenhagen Records
Copenhagen Records is a Danish record label formed on 5 January 2004[1] by former EMI Recorded Music Denmark staff members to give artists more artistic autonomy.[2] It houses artists spread over a wide range of genres, from rock to rap, and from pop artists to comedians.
| Copenhagen Records | |
|---|---|
![]()  | |
| Parent company | Universal Music Group | 
| Founded | 5 January 2004 | 
| Founder | 
  | 
| Genre | Various | 
| Country of origin | |
| Location | Copenhagen | 
| Official website | copenhagenrecords | 
In September 2011, Universal Music Group acquires Copenhagen Records, along with the rest of MBO Group.[3] The label operates as one of UMG's standalone labels.
History
    
In 2003, EMI-Medley had a 40% share on the Danish music market.[4] Days after Medley-founder Michael Ritto announced he would depart in February 2004, other senior staff members also left. Among them were former EMI Denmark head of A&R Nick Foss and former Capitol/Medley GM Mik Christensen, who had both worked at EMI for 19 years and long wanted to start a company of their own, but who had been persuaded by Ritto to hold off those plans.[4] Former Medley marketing manager Jakob Sørensen and former A&R manager Christian Backman set up operations; Foss and Christensen joined on 1 April 2004.[4] Christensen explained that Copenhagen Records had the aim "to recruit and develop quality Danish musicians. Sales of Danish artists have not dipped nearly as much as international acts [in Denmark]."[4] The label also had the direct intention to create a strong local competitor against the established multinational labels.[1]
In 2008, Christensen and Foss left Copenhagen Records and started Mermaid Records, which is largely owned by Sony Music Entertainment Denmark.[5][6] After Sørensen and Backman left the company in 2013, the position of CEO was taken over by Torben Ravn, who was a product manager at Copenhagen Records since 2007.[7]
Copenhagen Records is market leader in Denmark on local repertoire and runs as a 360 label. Copenhagen Records also includes Copenhagen Music, a booking agency which primarily facilitates bookings for the artists on the label, and Copenhagen Publishing.
Artists
    
- Agnes
 - Alex Vargas
 - Alexander Brown
 - Alphabeat
 - Apollo
 - BOY
 - Burhan G
 - Caroline Henderson
 - Carpark North
 - Celina Ree
 - De Eneste To (D.E.T.)
 - Eivør
 - Eric Gadd
 - Hedegaard
 - Fabian Mazur
 - Freddy Wexler
 - Jasmin
 - Joey Moe
 - Le Kid
 - Lightwave Empire
 - Lukas Graham
 - Nephew
 - Nexus Music
 - Nik & Jay
 - Noah
 - Patrick Dorgan
 - Rune Klan
 - Saveus
 - Selvmord
 - Scarlet Pleasure
 - Sebastian Øberg
 - Spleen United
 - Stine Bramsen
 - Studio Killers
 - Thanks
 - Veronica Maggio
 - Years & Years
 
Former artists
    
- Cæcilie Nordby
 - Flødeklinikken
 - Hanne Boel
 - Jinks
 - Johnny Deluxe
 - Laust Sonne
 - Mads Langer
 - Niarn
 - Rock Hard Power Spray
 - Sarah Hepburn
 - Sanne Salomonsen
 - Silja
 - Siná
 - Thomas Dybdahl
 - Thomas Holm
 - Tim Christensen
 - Turboweekend
 
References
    
- Copenhagen Records (2011). Info & Kontakt Archived 2011-02-08 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 April 2011. (in Danish)
 - Svidt, O. R. (17 December 2003). EMI-Medley står over for sprængning (EMI-Medley about to blow up). GAFFA. (in Danish)
 - Smirke, Richard (6 September 2011). "Universal Music Acquires Denmark's MBO Group". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
 - Charles Ferro (2004-01-24). "Danish execs form label: Former EMI Denmark staffers to run Copenhagen Records". Billboard: 42. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
 - Sony Music Entertainment (Denmark) A/S. (2011). Mermaid Records Archived 2011-04-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 April 2011. (in Danish)
 - Rustrup, S. (27 November 2008). Sony Music køber sig ind i Mermaid Records (Sony Music buys into Mermaid Records). GAFFA. (in Danish)
 - "Chefer forlader Copenhagen Records". GAFFA.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2016-01-30.
 
