[PIAS] Expands Label Division - Seminal ‘Play It Again Sam’ Imprint Reborn
- Wall Of Sound, Different Recordings And Relaunched Play It Again Sam To Sit Within Expanded [PIAS] Recordings Umbrella
- Mark Jones Appointed A&R Director For Whole Division
Embargoed until 9am, Monday 10th January, London/Brussels - [PIAS] Entertainment Group, Europe's leading music and comedy company, has relaunched the Play It Again Sam label as part of the group's plans to develop its label division, [PIAS] Recordings.Play It Again Sam was the original name of the label and distribution company started by Kenny Gates and Michel Lambot in 1983, before later renaming the company [PIAS], now Europe's largest artist and label services provider with offices in every major European market.The newly re-launched Play It Again Sam label will be one of three frontline labels that will operate under the umbrella of the group's new, UK based label division [PIAS] Recordings; working alongside the eclectic pop label Wall of Sound and the cutting edge electronic label Different Recordings.The re-organization sees Wall of Sound label boss Mark Jones take on the role of Director of A&R for the whole label division, reporting to Group Repertoire and [PIAS] Recordings MD, Edwin Schroter. Jo Horton, who previously worked for Warner Records and Bella Union, has been appointed as Label Manager for Play It Again Sam.Play It Again Sam, Wall of Sound and Different Recordings will be plugging into the services of [PIAS]' recently launched Global Project Management division and use the group's international network of local offices and partners to market and promote their artists.Play It Again Sam Records was part of a wave of influential labels that emerged during a fertile generation of European independents in the early eighties along with peers like Factory, Mute, Rough Trade and 4AD. The label was initially known for being one of the drivers behind the emergence of EBM and Industrial music with artists like Front 242, Meatbeat Manifesto and Young Gods. The label later broadened its musical horizon with releases by artists including The Sound, Soulwax/2ManyDJ's, Sigur Rós and Mogwai.The new Play It Again Sam roster will include Editors, whose next two studio albums will be coming out on the label in Europe and dEUS who recently signed to Play It Again Sam to join artists such as Joan As Police Woman, I Am Kloot, Drive By Truckers, Agnes Obel, Jim Jones Revue and Harper Simon.The label is also expecting to announce additional new signings early in 2011.Said Edwin Schroter, MD of [PIAS] Recordings: "[PIAS] has always been committed to artist and repertoire development, whether through our own labels or those of others. Play It Again Sam has such a rich history having represented so many amazing and influential artists. I'm extremely excited and determined to create a new and exciting chapter for the Play It Again Sam label which, together with our other two other in-house labels, provides us with an important artist development opportunity in these dynamic times."Said Mark Jones, Director of A&R, [PIAS] Recordings: "It's with great pride and passion that I'm taking on the new role of overseeing the Play It Again Sam and Different labels in addition to Wall of Sound. My label experience has brought me in touch with all kinds of amazing and talented artists and I'm very excited to be opening up a new musical treasure chest. There's only two types of music for me......good......and bad."
-Ends -
Press ContactKayleigh Watson, Name PRkayleigh@namemusic.net+44 (0) 208 357 7305