| Cantora Records | |
| Founder: | Will Griggs, Jesse Israel, Nick Panama |
| Genre: | Indie rock, alternative rock, psychedelic pop |
| Country: | U.S. |
| Location: | New York City |
Cantora Records is a Brooklyn-based independent record label, most notable for signing the psychedelic pop band MGMT and issuing the band's first commercial release, Time to Pretend.
Cantora Records was formed in 2005 by Jesse Israel and Will Griggs, then sophomores and roommates at NYU, and Nick Panama. Will Griggs is the son of former executive editor of The New York Times Jill Abramson.[1] Prior to the creation of the label, Jesse Israel and Will Griggs approached Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden and offered to manage their band, then known as The Management. Nick Panama, having heard The Management's music through a mutual friend of the band, contacted Jesse Israel and Will Griggs and shortly thereafter the three music enthusiasts formed Cantora Records, each contributing $800 in starting capital.[2] The Management changed their name to MGMT to avoid conflict with a U.K.-based band of the same name, and MGMT's Time to Pretend was issued under the Cantora Records name in order to coincide with their '05 tour with fellow psychedelic -pop band Of Montreal.[3]
Since 2005, Cantora Records has expanded their roster to include artists such as Francis and the Lights, Bear Hands and Savoir Adore.[4]
In 2010, Cantora Records launched Cantora Creative, a consulting division providing music-centric online video content and marketing strategies for various clients.[5]