Copenhagen Records is a mainstream Danish independent record label

Independent record label

An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...

 formed on 5 January 2004 by former EMI

EMI

The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...

 Recorded Music Denmark staff members to give artists more artistic autonomy. It houses artists spread over a wide range of genres, from goth rock to rap, and from pop artists to comedians.

History

In 2003, EMI-Medley had a 40% share on the Danish music market. Days after Medley-founder Michael Ritto announced he would depart in February 2004, other staff members announced they would start Copenhagen Records with an aim "to recruit and develop quality Danish musicians. Sales of Danish artists have not dipped nearly as much as international acts [in Denmark]," as Christensen explains. The label also had the direct intention to create a strong local competitor against the established multinational labels.

Former Medley marketing manager Jakob Sørensen and former A&R manager Christian Backman set up operations; former EMI Denmark head of A&R Nick Foss and former Capitol

Capitol Records

Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...

/Medley GM

General manager

General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...

 Mik Christensen joined on 1 April 2004. Christensen and Foss had worked at EMI for 19 years and long wanted to start a company of their own, but Ritto persuaded them to hold off those plans.

In 2005, Christensen and Foss also started Mermaid Records

Mermaid Records

Mermaid Records is a Copenhagen, Denmark based record label. The company was started as an independent record label by Mik Christensen and Nick Foss in 2005. The label publishes distinguished Danish artists.- History :...

, which is largely owned by Sony Music Entertainment

Sony Music Entertainment

Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....

 Denmark since 2008. In 2008, Christensen and Foss left Copenhagen Records. Sørensen holds the position of CEO

Chief executive officer

A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...

 and product manager

Product Manager

A product manager investigates, selects, and develops products for an organization, performing the activities of product management.A product manager considers numerous factors such as intended demographic, the products offered by the competition, and how well the product fits with the company's...

, and Backman is creative director and in charge of A&R.

In 2008, Copenhagen Records founded Copenhagen Music, a booking company led by Niels Lindgren, primarily facilitating bookings for the artists on CPH Records.

Artists

Former artists