Planet Mu
{{short description|British record label}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox record label
| name = Planet Mu
| image = Mulogo.jpg
| image_bg =
| parent = Virgin Records (until 1998)
| founded = 1995
| founder = Mike Paradinas
| status =
| distributor = Cargo (Europe + R.O.W), Redeye USA (North America and Canada)
| genre = IDM, dubstep, breakcore, footwork, grime
| country = England
| location = England
| url = http://www.planet.mu
}}
Planet Mu is an English electronic music record label created and run by Mike Paradinas. The label started out as a subsidiary of Virgin Records then Paradinas set up the label independent of Virgin. After releasing intelligent dance music, the label moved to jungle and breakcore, and then grime and dubstep and later footwork. The label also releases the music of Paradinas under various aliases such as μ-Ziq, Kid Spatula, and Tusken Raiders. It celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025.
Beginning
When Mike Paradinas signed as a musician to Virgin Records in the mid-1990s, Paradinas was asked for suggestions for the new dance subsidiary and suggested Planet Mu as a play on Carl Craig's label Planet E. When Virgin lost interest in the project, Paradinas took it over. He quickly drew critical acclaim for releasing a string of important IDM (intelligent dance music) records, from artists such as Jega, Leafcutter John, Luke Vibert and Venetian Snares.{{cite news |last1=Finlayson |first1=Angus |title=Mike Paradinas on Planet Mu's Past, Present, and Future |url=https://www.electronicbeats.net/planet-mu-25th-anniversary-mike-paradinas-conversation/ |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=Electronic Beats |date=3 December 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Madden |first1=Joe |title=Planet Mu label profile |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A13241819 |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=BBC |date=20 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203102445/www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A13241819 |archive-date=3 December 2007}} The label also releases Paradinas's music under a range of aliases including Kid Spatula, Tusken Raiders, and Mu-Ziq, establishing itself as an electronic music label to rival Skam Records and Warp records.
Progression
As the new decade began, Planet Mu began to release jungle and breakcore records from artists such as 0=0, Tim Exile and Shitmat.{{cite web |title=Henry Collins |url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/mixprofile/henry-collins/ |website=Crack Magazine |access-date=25 January 2021}} Later in the decade, Paradinas moved towards grime and dubstep, signing artists such as Boxcutter, Milanese, Mr. Mitch, Pinch, Vex'd, and Virus Syndicate.{{cite news |last1=Pearl |first1=Max |title=Planet Mu announces new Mr. Mitch album, Devout |url=https://ra.co/news/38179 |access-date=26 January 2021 |work=Resident Advisor |date=15 February 2017 |language=en}} In 2006, the label released three Warrior Dubz compilations curated by Mary Anne Hobbs.{{cite web |title=Planet Mu biography |url=http://www.imorecords.co.uk/dubstep-3/dubsteplabels/planet-mu-biography/ |website=IMO Records |access-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502181118/http://www.imorecords.co.uk/dubstep-3/dubsteplabels/planet-mu-biography/ |archive-date=2 May 2012}} In the 2010s, Planet Mu changed direction again, releasing the footwork compilation Bangs & Works Vol. 1 which featured DJ Rashad and brought the Chicago genre to wider attention. Bangs & Works Vol. 2 came out the following year and launched the career of Jlin.{{cite news |last1=Beta |first1=Andy |title=Never Scared: The Fearless Footwork of Jlin |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/rising/9627-never-scared-the-fearless-footwork-of-jlin/ |access-date=26 January 2021 |work=Pitchfork |date=15 April 2015 |language=en}}
In 2020, the label celebrated its 25th birthday. In 2019 it had not made a profit but in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, sales went up. It released the compilation PlanetMμ25 which featured grime from East Man & Streema, pop from RUI-HO, IDM from Bogdan Raczynski and jazz from Jana Rush.{{cite news |last1=Cardew |first1=Ben |title=Various Artists: PlanetMμ25 |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/various-artists-planetmu25/ |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=Pitchfork |date=22 December 2020 |language=en}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.planet-mu.com Official website]
- [http://www.discogs.com/label/Planet+Mu Discogs Planet-Mu]
{{Authority control}}
Category:English record labels
Category:Record labels established in 1995
Category:Electronic music record labels
Category:Drum and bass record labels