| Parent: | Fontana |
| Founded: | 2005 |
| Founder: | Stu Pflaum |
| Distributor: | Fontana (US) |
| Genre: | Hip hop, R&B |
| Country: | US |
| Url: | http://www.element9muzik.com/ |
Element 9 is a music company founded by Stu Pflaum in 2005. The company is based in Cleveland, Ohio and has three divisions with specializations in music publishing, digital marketing and a record label.
The Element 9 music company was launched in 2005 as a promotional outlet for aspiring hip hop artists. The company was founded by Stu Pflaum while he was a senior at Ohio University.[1] Pflaum formerly performed as a DJ on college radio before launching the company. Upon graduation from Ohio University, Pflaum moved the company to New York City where he split the company into two divisions, Element 9 Recordings, specializing in music publishing and Element 9.0, specializing in digital marketing.
Element 9 Recordings was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2008 in the category of Best Rap Song for their role as music publisher for Crank That (Soulja Boy) by Soulja Boy.[2]
In November 2009, the record label division, Element 9 Muzik, was formed. Shortly after, the company announced a partnership with Fontana Distribution, the independent distribution arm of Universal Music Group, for international distribution for artists signed to the label.[3] The label division is headed by music industry veteran Tony Franklin. Stu Pflaum serves as Vice President for the label.[4]
The first release from the Element 9 record label was Arms & Hammers by West Coast rap group Strong Arm Steady.[5] The album was released in February 2011.[6]
In November 2011, the company released Habits of the Heart by Idle Warship, which is composed of rapper Talib Kweli and singer Res.[7] Prior to the album's official street date, the label released the album through the Spotify music service.[8] The advance release was the first instance in which a United States based music company debuted a project far in advance using the Spotify service.[9] The move was viewed as bold by music and technology critics and a counterweight to the release strategies of artists such as Coldplay and Adele, who had refused to make their music available through Spotify.[9]