Downtown Records Explained

Downtown Records
Country:	U.S.
Location:	New York City

Downtown Records is an American record label based in New York City with offices in Los Angeles. Owned and operated by Josh Deutsch and Terence Lam, the label is distributed by Geffen Records (formerly Interscope Records and The Orchard) in the US and in the UK distributed by Polydor Records.

The roster includes artists such as Nick Murphy, Brett Dennen, Electric Guest, Tei Shi, Goldroom and Tommy Genesis.

History

The label was co-founded by Josh Deutsch and Terence Lam in 2006 and grew to become Downtown Music with publishing, licensing, music services and Songtrust. In 2013 Downtown Records was purchased outright by its original co-founders^[1] and now operates fully independent. The label's music was distributed by Sony Music's RED Distribution and Cooperative Music.^[2] It is now distributed by Interscope Records/Universal Music Group (now Geffen Records).^[3]

In addition to the sister label, Mercer Street Records, Downtown has label partnerships with Dim Mak Records, Fool's Gold Records and Mad Decent.^[4]

Downtown Records also operates Downtown Events^[5] – a festival and concert promotion company that produces The Downtown Music Festival.^{[6] [7]}

Roster

• The Academic
• Ant Beale
• Autre Ne Veut
• Bop English
• Brett Dennen
• Dawn Golden
• Devin Di Dakta^[8]
• Electric Guest
• Ex Cops
• Goldroom
• Houses
• Lawrence Rothman^[9]
• Lola Kirke
• Lorde Fredd33
• Mapei
• Miike Snow
• Nick Murphy (aka Chet Faker)
• Sammi Sanchez
• San Fermin
• Santigold
• Slow Magic
• Smino
• Tei Shi
• Tkay Maidza
• Tommy Genesis
• Vacationer

Past roster

• Andrew Wyatt
• Amanda Blank
• Art Brut
• Big Time Rush
• Butter the Children
• Carla Bruni
• Chloē Laing
• Cold War Kids
• The Cranberries
• Crookers
• Cyndi Lauper
• Die Antwoord
• The Drums
• Duck Sauce
• Duke Dumont
• Eagles of Death Metal
• Gnarls Barkley
• Jonathan Wilson
• Justice
• Kid Sister
• Kate Earl
• Katie Herzig
• Lissy Trullie
• Major Lazer
• Marilyn Manson
• Mura Masa
• Mas Ysa
• Mos Def
• MSTRKRFT
• Neon Trees
• Penguin Prison
• Port St. Willow
• Say Lou Lou
• Scissor Sisters
• SomeKindaWonderful
• Spank Rock
  • Wildcat! Wildcat! William Fitzsimmons
• White Denim
• YACHT

Mercer Street Records

• • Aṣa David Gray
  • Femi Kuti Jessie Harris
    • • Kitty, Daisy & Lewis Meshell Ndegeocello Ozomatli William Fitzsimmons

External links

• • • The Changing Role Of A&R, Billboard
• Interview with Josh Deutsch, HitQuarters Sep 06

Notes and References

1. Web site: Downtown Music's Josh Deutsch Talks 'Harlem Shake' Success, Future Business Plans at SXSW . Billboard . 2013-03-13 . 2016-07-02.
2. Web site: Loud & Proud . RED Music . 2016-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140427172958/http://www.redmusic.com/?page_id=277 . 2014-04-27 . dead .
3. Web site: UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP AND INTERSCOPE RECORDS FORGE MULTITIERED PACT WITH DOWNTOWN RECORDS AS ICONIC LABEL CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY. www.universalmusic.com. 20 July 2016. 1 September 2017.
4. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044261/downtown-links-with-fontana-interscope "Downtown Links with Fontana, Interscope"
5. Web site: The Downtown Music Festival | 2 Nights. Big Music. Small Stages . September 24, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130927092028/http://www.thedowntownfestival.com/ . September 27, 2013 .
6. Web site: Evan Minsker . Kendrick Lamar, Earl Sweatshirt, Purity Ring, DIIV, Schoolboy Q to Play Downtown Music Festival . Pitchfork . 2013-03-28 . 2016-07-02.
7. News: Downtown Festival on the Lower East Side. The New York Times. 12 May 2013 . 2016-07-02. Caramanica . Jon .
8. Web site: Grizzle. Shereita. Devin puts pause on dancehall - Deejay targets international market. The Star. 25 October 2017. 23 January 2018.
9. Exclusive: Downtown Records Launches Immortal Music Publishing. Billboard. 2017-03-23.