Login
Login

AWAL

{{short description|British music distribution subsidiary of Sony Music}}

{{distinguish|Awal|AWOL}}

{{Promotional |date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox record label

| bgcolor = #000000

| name = {{color|white|AWAL}}

| image = File:AWAL Logo.svg

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| caption =

| parent = Kobalt Music Group (2012–2021)
Sony Music Entertainment (SME) (2021–present)

| founded = {{start date|1997}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2010/sep/02/behind-music-awal-digital-royalties|title=Behind the music: Awal keeps digital royalties from going awol|last1=Lindvall|first1=Helienne|website=Theguardian.com|date=2 September 2010|access-date=2018-03-31}}

| founder = Denzyl Feigelson{{cite web|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/denzyl-feigelson-once-you-help-an-artist-build-a-robust-business-a-lot-starts-to-happen-for-them/|title=Denzyl Feigelson: Once you help an artist build a robust business, a lot starts to happen for them|last1=Ingham|first1=Tim|website=Musicbusinessworldwide.com|date=31 March 2020|access-date=2021-03-03}}
Kevin Bacon
Jonathan Quarmby

| defunct =

| status = Active

| distributor = The Orchard
Proper Music Distribution (physical, ROW){{cite web|url=https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2019/06/05/awal-proper-music-group-deal/|title=AWAL Signs Global Physical Distribution Agreement with Proper Music Group|date=5 June 2019 |publisher=Digital Music News}}

| genre = {{hlist|Pop|electronic|alternative rock|hip hop}}

| country = United Kingdom

| location = London

| website = {{URL|http://www.awal.com/}}

}}

AWAL (shortened from Artists Without A Label) is a global recording business that claims to serve as an alternative to the traditional record label, offering deal structures that provide artists with the resources and expertise of a global label while allowing them to retain ownership and control of their music.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/8482434/kobalt-awal-anti-record-label|title=Can Kobalt Disrupt the Label Game With AWAL?|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-12-20}} In 2021, Sony Music Entertainment purchased AWAL from Kobalt Music Group for $430 million.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/sony-music-acquires-kobalt-label-neighboring-rights-1234897177/|title=Sony Music Acquires Kobalt's Label and Neighboring Rights for $430 Million|first1=Jem|last1=Aswad|website=Variety.com|date=February 1, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/sony-music-completes-acquisition-awal-085139596.html|title=Sony Music Completes Acquisition of AWAL and Kobalt Neighboring Rights; U.K. Initiates Post-Mortem Probe|first1=Patrick|last1=Frater|website=News.yahoo.com|date=May 20, 2021}}

Services

AWAL's services include global marketing and creative services, A&R, playlist & radio promotion, publicity, synch, and brand partnerships, and access to real-time comprehensive music data and insights.{{Cite web|url=https://www.awal.com/how-it-works|title=How it works - AWAL|website=Awal.com}} In November 2018, Billboard wrote an article titled, "Can Kobalt Disrupt the Label Game With AWAL," outlining the company's approach and how it pays out as much as 80 percent of streaming revenue to its artists. In March 2017, AWAL introduced its music analytics app designed to collect and display data from an artist's Spotify and Apple Music presence.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7736747/kobalt-label-awal-new-app-simplifies-streaming-data|title=Kobalt's AWAL Releases New App That Simplifies Streaming Data for Artists|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-12-20}}

History

AWAL US was originally founded in 1997 by Denzyl Feigelson in Ojai, California, with mentorship help from founding member Andrew Ungerleider, and then joined forces in 2004 with record producers Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quarmby. {{better source needed|date=July 2023}} In December 2012, AWAL UK was acquired by the Kobalt Music Group and operated as the company's digital music distribution arm.{{Cite web |url=https://musicrow.com/2012/01/kobalt-expands-into-label-services-with-major-acquisition|title=Kobalt Expands Into Label Services With Major Acquisition|website=Music Row|date=23 January 2012 }}

In January 2018, Lonny Olinick was named CEO of Kobalt's recording division.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8092919/kobalt-appoints-lonny-olinick-to-recording-division-ceo|title=Kobalt Appoints Lonny Olinick to Recording Division CEO|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-12-20}} By March 2018, Kobalt announced it was investing $150 million into AWAL and that all of Kobalt's recording business would be combined under the AWAL brand.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8237264/kobalt-awal-artist-services-150-million-investment-staff-tech|title=Kobalt Boosts Its AWAL Brand With $150M Investment, Seeks 100 New Hires|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-12-20}} AWAL acquired In2une Music in June 2018, which provides multi-format radio promotion to independent labels and artists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/kobalts-awal-acquires-chance-the-rappers-radio-promo-company/|title=Kobalt's AWAL acquires radio promo company in2une|date=2018-06-07|website=Music Business Worldwide|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-20}} AWAL announced a strategic partnership with independent label Glassnote Records in November 2018.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8485528/glassnote-kobalt-music-awal-partnership-distribution|title=Glassnote Music Announces Partnership With Kobalt Music's AWAL|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-12-20}} Other notable announcements from the company include signing artists such as Tomer Aaron, Steve Lacy,{{Cite web |title=The Internet's Steve Lacy signs to Kobalt's AWAL |url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/the-internet-s-steve-lacy-signs-to-kobalt-s-awal/076338 |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Musicweek.com |language=en}} Finneas, Little Simz,{{Cite web |title="There's huge opportunity for her globally": AWAL announces worldwide partnership deal with Little Simz |url=http://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/there-s-huge-opportunity-for-her-globally-awal-announces-worldwide-partnership-deal-with-little-simz/073718 |access-date=2018-12-20 |website=Musicweek.com |language=en}} Girl in Red,{{Cite web |date=2019-12-03 |title=AWAL signs worldwide recordings deal with girl in red |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/awal-signs-worldwide-recordings-deal-with-girl-in-red/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}} deadmau5,{{Cite magazine |last=Mercuri |first=Monica |date=2018-07-26 |title=deadmau5 Signs New Worldwide Deal With AWAL: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/deadmau5-awal-mau5ville-worldwide-record-deal-8467115/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} JVKE, Jungle,{{Cite web |date=2021-03-24 |title=AWAL signs British electronic duo Jungle to global recordings deal |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/awal-signs-british-electronic-duo-jungle-to-global-recordings-deal/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}} Disclosure,{{Cite magazine |last=Bain |first=Katie |date=2023-07-12 |title=Disclosure to Release New Album This Week |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/disclosure-announce-new-album-alchemy-1235370441/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} Rex Orange County,{{Cite web |date=2019-09-19 |title=Rex Orange County's new album, Pony, to arrive next month via Sony Music |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/rex-orange-countys-new-album-pony-to-arrive-next-month-via-sony-music/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}} Tom Misch,{{Cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=AWAL extends deal with Tom Misch for forthcoming album |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/awal-extends-deal-with-tom-misch-for-forthcoming-album/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}} and Laufey.

In November 2018, AWAL was named on Billboard's 2018 Digital Power Players - Music Groups list.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8483843/billboard-2018-digital-power-players-list|title=Revealed: Billboard's 2018 Digital Power Players|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-12-20}} In April 2023, AWAL was named on Billboard's 2023 International Power Players list.{{Cite magazine |last=Duffy |first=Thom |date=2023-04-25 |title=Billboard's 2023 International Power Players Revealed |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/billboard-international-power-players-2023-list/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} Later that year, Billboard named AWAL's Lonny Olinick, Pete Giberga, and Paul Hitchman to their 2023 Indie Power Players list.{{Cite magazine |last=Rys |first=Dan |date=2023-06-12 |title=Billboard's 2023 Indie Power Players Revealed |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/billboard-indie-power-players-list-2023-executives/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}

AWAL has offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, Stockholm, Mexico City, Madrid, Mumbai,{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/awal-launches-in-india-and-south-asia/088122|title=AWAL launches in India and South Asia|website=Music Week|access-date=2023-09-14}} Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, Paris{{Cite web|url=https://www.awal.com/company/?lang=fr|title=AWAL - Company|website=AWAL|access-date=2023-10-08}} and Toronto.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/awal-expands-into-canada-with-new-toronto-office/|title=AWAL expands into Canada with new Toronto office|date=2018-12-11|website=Music Business Worldwide|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-20}}

On September 7, 2021, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the United Kingdom's antitrust regulator raised concerns that Sony's purchase of AWAL would reduce competition from other distributors. The CMA gave Sony and AWAL five days to address the CMA's concerns and offer legally binding remedies, or else the CMA would enter a Phase 2 investigation.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/sony-music-Awal-deal-competition-concerns-UK-CMA-watchdog/|title=U.K. Watchdog Finds Sony's AWAL Deal Raises 'Significant Competition Concerns'|first=Richard|last=Smirke|magazine=Billboard|date=September 7, 2021}} The phase two investigation was launched on September 16, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/cma-launches-in-depth-phase-two-investigation-of-sony-music-s-awal-acquisition/084163|title=CMA launches in-depth phase two investigation of Sony Music's AWAL acquisition|website=Musicweek.com}} Following a consultation that ended on March 4, 2022, the CMA officially cleared the deal on March 16, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sony-musics-430m-acquisition-of-awal-officially-cleared-by-uk-competition-watchdog|title=SONY MUSIC'S $430M ACQUISITION OF AWAL OFFICIALLY CLEARED BY UK COMPETITION WATCHDOG|website=Musicbusinessworldwide.com|date=16 March 2022 }}

Notable artists

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

Record labels

  • Glassnote Records{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8485528/glassnote-kobalt-music-awal-partnership-distribution|title=Glassnote Music Announces Partnership With Kobalt Music's AWAL|date=November 16, 2018|magazine=Billboard}}
  • mau5trap
  • Good Soldier Songs
  • Nickelodeon Records
  • B-Unique Records{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/awal-signs-worldwide-deal-with-uk-based-independent-label-b-unique/|title=AWAL signs worldwide deal with UK-based independent label B-Unique|date=April 2, 2019|website=Music Business Worldwide}}
  • SideOneDummy Records{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8508980/sideonedummy-records-awal-distribution-deal|title=SideOneDummy Records Signs Worldwide Distribution Deal With AWAL|date=April 29, 2019|magazine=Billboard}}
  • World in Red (personal label for Girl in Red){{Cite web |date=2019-12-03 |title=AWAL signs worldwide recordings deal with girl in red |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/awal-signs-worldwide-recordings-deal-with-girl-in-red/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}}
  • Chess Club Records {{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/chess-club-records-coran-capshaw-international-distribution-awal|title=Chess Club Records Gets Investment From Coran Capshaw, International Distribution From AWAL|date=March 14, 2019|website=Billboard Pro}}
  • Bright Antenna Records

Albums released

{{See also|Category:AWAL albums|Category:AWAL EPs}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website}}

{{Sony Music}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Online music stores of the United Kingdom

Category:Record label distributors

Category:Companies based in London

Category:British independent record labels

Category:Record labels established in 1997

Category:2011 mergers and acquisitions

Category:2021 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Sony Music

Category:1997 establishments in California