AWAL

AWAL (an initialism of Artists Without a Label) is a British music distribution company owned by Sony Music Entertainment. The company serves as an alternative to the traditional music label deal, offering deal structures to artists and independent labels without them giving up ownership or control.[4] In 2021, Sony Music Entertainment purchased AWAL from Kobalt Music Group for $430m.[5][6]

Not to be confused with Awal or AWOL.
AWAL
Parent companySony Music Entertainment
Founded1997 (1997)[1]
FounderDenzyl Feigelson[2]
Kevin Bacon[1]
Jonathan Quarmby[1]
StatusActive
Distributor(s)The Orchard
Proper Music Distribution (physical, ROW)[3]
Genre
Country of originUnited Kingdom
LocationLondon
Official websitewww.awal.com

Services

AWAL's main service is digital music distribution, but also includes marketing, physical distribution, data analytics, radio, and synchronization licensing. AWAL's artists keep their music and creative rights, unlike the traditional record label.[7][8] 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.[4] In March 2017, AWAL introduced its music analytics app designed to collect and display data from an artist's presence on Spotify and Apple Music.[9]

History

AWAL was originally founded in 1997 by record producers Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quarmby.[1] In December 2011, AWAL was acquired by the Kobalt Music Group and operated as the company's digital music distribution arm.[10]

In January 2018, Lonny Olinick was named CEO of Kobalt's recording division.[11] By March 2018, Kobalt announced it was investing $150 million into AWAL and that all of Kobalt's recording business will be combined under the AWAL brand.[12] AWAL acquired In2une Music in June 2018, which provides multi-format radio promotion to independent labels and artists.[13] AWAL announced a strategic partnership with independent label, Glassnote Records, in November 2018.[14] Other notable announcements from the company include signing artists such as You Me At Six,[15] Austin Burke,[16] deadmau5,[17] Little Simz,[18] The Night Cafe,[19] Kevin Garrett,[20] Gabrielle Aplin,[21] Gus Dapperton,[22] and Ella Vos.[23]

In November 2018, AWAL was named to Billboard's 2018 Digital Power Players - Music Groups list.[24]

AWAL has offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Berlin, Hong Kong, Miami, Nashville, Stockholm, and Sydney. In December 2018, AWAL announced it was opening an office in Toronto.[25]

On September 7, 2021, the Competition and Markets Authority, 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.[26] The phase two investigation was launched on September 16, 2021.[27]

Artists

Record labels

Albums released

References
  1. Lindvall, Helienne (2 September 2010). "Behind the music: Awal keeps digital royalties from going awol". theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 2018-03-31.
  2. Ingham, Tim (31 March 2020). "Denzyl Feigelson: Once you help an artist build a robust business, a lot starts to happen for them". musicbusinessworldwide.com. Music Business Worldwide Ltd. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  3. "AWAL Signs Global Physical Distribution Agreement with Proper Music Group". Digital Music News.
  4. "Can Kobalt Disrupt the Label Game With AWAL?". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  5. Aswad, Jem (February 1, 2021). "Sony Music Acquires Kobalt's Label and Neighboring Rights for $430 Million".
  6. Frater, Patrick (May 20, 2021). "Sony Music Completes Acquisition of AWAL and Kobalt Neighboring Rights; U.K. Initiates Post-Mortem Probe".
  7. Lunny, Oisin. "Beyond 'The Hunger Games', The Disruptive Music Business Model Of AWAL". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  8. "Can Kobalt's AWAL rewrite the rules of A&R?". Music Business Worldwide. 2018-07-09. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  9. "Kobalt's AWAL Releases New App That Simplifies Streaming Data for Artists". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  10. "Behind the music: Awal keeps digital royalties from going awol". the Guardian. 2010-09-02. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
  11. "Kobalt Appoints Lonny Olinick to Recording Division CEO". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  12. "Kobalt Boosts Its AWAL Brand With $150M Investment, Seeks 100 New Hires". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  13. "Kobalt's AWAL acquires radio promo company in2une". Music Business Worldwide. 2018-06-07. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  14. "Glassnote Music Announces Partnership With Kobalt Music's AWAL". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  15. "'They embody the spirit of what we're trying to do': You Me At Six launch own label imprint, partner with AWAL". Musicweek.com. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  16. "AWAL signs deal with rising country star Austin Burke". Musicweek.com. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  17. "deadmau5 Signs New Worldwide Deal With AWAL: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  18. ""There's huge opportunity for her globally": AWAL announces worldwide partnership deal with Little Simz". Musicweek.com. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  19. "AWAL extends recordings deal with The Night Café and signs Little Simz". Music Business Worldwide. 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  20. "AWAL Signs Kevin Garrett to Worldwide Recording Deal". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  21. "'It's an exciting time to be an independent artist': Gabrielle Aplin signs with AWAL". Musicweek.com. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  22. "He's as creative and authentic as they come': AWAL signs Gus Dapperton". Musicweek.com. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  23. "AWAL inks global recordings deal with singer/songwriter Ella Vos & Hwyl Records". Music Business Worldwide. 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  24. "Revealed: Billboard's 2018 Digital Power Players". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  25. "AWAL expands into Canada with new Toronto office". Music Business Worldwide. 2018-12-11. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  26. Smirke, Richard (September 7, 2021). "U.K. Watchdog Finds Sony's AWAL Deal Raises 'Significant Competition Concerns'". Billboard.
  27. "CMA launches in-depth phase two investigation of Sony Music's AWAL acquisition". www.musicweek.com.
  28. "Bonesteel Teams Up With McKenna Haner On Monstrous New Single "Upside Down"". R o c k 'N' L o a d. 2019-12-01. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  29. Moore, Sam (March 13, 2020). "Finn Wolfhard on new band The Aubreys: "We wanted to mix the craziness of Flaming Lips with the earnestness of Wilco"". NME. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  30. "Interview with music artist Joshua Morata". twistonline.net. 2019-05-30.
  31. "Lauren Jauregi broke up with Sony and became completely independent". Pennsylvania News Today. 8 October 2021.
  32. "VIDEO: Lizzy McAlpine Releases 'All My Ghosts' Music Video".
  33. "Simon Fuller's Global Pop Group Now United Signs Worldwide Deal With AWAL". Billboard. 2019-09-24. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  34. "Pritam Mandal wikidata". wikidata. 2019-12-01. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  35. "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away". AWAL. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  36. "Spotify goes AWAL and updates with 43,253 tracks".
  37. "Glassnote Music Announces Partnership With Kobalt Music's AWAL". Billboard. November 16, 2018.
  38. "AWAL signs worldwide deal with UK-based independent label B-Unique". Music Business Worldwide. April 2, 2019.
  39. "SideOneDummy Records Signs Worldwide Distribution Deal With AWAL". Billboard. April 29, 2019.
  40. "AWAL signs worldwide recordings deal with girl in red". Music Business Worldwide. 2019-12-03. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
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