CD Pool
Encyclopedia
CD Pool is a UK
based company founded in 1994. It produces promotional CD compilation albums of forthcoming releases gathered from various record label
s. CDs are available on a subscription basis mainly for DJs
.
CD Pool also runs Sixpack a DJ Only digital music service.
www.cdpooldigital.com
At the time, many DJs were interested in CDs. The sound quality was better than vinyl and the technology superior. They were also keen to get hold of promo tracks that kept them ahead of the field.
CD Pool’s Tim Rudling and Rob Sawyer began to compile white label
CDs to meet this demand. In fact, the company was the first to offer such a service to complement vinyl.
This led to interest from the Pioneer Corporation
. In the mid nineties, Pioneer developed its CDJ-500 CD decks. Only about 25% of the major clubs had CD facilities. By teaming up with CD Pool in a sponsorship deal, Pioneer promoted its hardware to DJs alongside CD Pool’s compilations .
Following this deal, CD Pool continued to expand. It now has subscription and purchase options that cover all the types of music DJs require .
For instance, by giving professional DJs the chance to use CDs, CD Pool helped them improve the quality of the sound at their live performances. DJs such as Paul Oakenfold
and Trevor Nelson
have confirmed this. These DJs endorsed CD Pool in its early years and gave it recognition .
CD Pool also has a policy of helping to break artists and tracks. It does this by employing a team of dance music experts who bring the latest upfront dance music to its subscribers each month .
Furthermore, as part of its goal to promote music, CD Pool pays royalties to UK industry collection agencies PPL and PRS for Music. This ensures that performers and songwriters receive payment for their work .
Tim began in retail before moving to Island Records
and EMI. He then created a company called The Dance Corporation.
Tim’s work with DJs made him realise the difficulty of finding CD promos; this gave him the idea for CD Pool.
To create CD Pool, Tim joined up with Rob Sawyer. Rob started in music publishing with ATV Music and EMI Publishing. He then switched to EMI Records
and it’s A&R
department.
Following this, Rob began his Intermusica music consultancy business. Finally, in 1994, he set up CD Pool with Tim.
Jamie Topham compiles two of the monthly discs for CD Pool. He’s also an independent music consultant and production team manager.
Andrew Field recently joined CD Pool. Like Jamie, he compiles tracks for some of the company's discs.
Mark Bowdon works for Music House.
Iyare Igiehon
is a BBC Radio presenter.
Rich Orchard works for FreeStyleGames
, the creators of the DJ Hero
computer game.
Dan Cook now works for IMImobile / Dx3
Tracey Webb works for Power Promotions
Dance genres include house, hardcore, techno, trance, hip hop
, leftfield, electro and commercial dance.
The nature of the dance music industry is such that styles often blend into one another. They also develop rapidly. This is due to the efforts of many performers who explore ways to create music that’s both innovative and commercial .
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
based company founded in 1994. It produces promotional CD compilation albums of forthcoming releases gathered from various record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s. CDs are available on a subscription basis mainly for DJs
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
.
CD Pool also runs Sixpack a DJ Only digital music service.
www.cdpooldigital.com
History
In 1994, professional DJs relied overwhelmingly on 12-inch vinyl. The concept behind CD Pool was to give DJs access to CD-based white labels.At the time, many DJs were interested in CDs. The sound quality was better than vinyl and the technology superior. They were also keen to get hold of promo tracks that kept them ahead of the field.
CD Pool’s Tim Rudling and Rob Sawyer began to compile white label
CDs to meet this demand. In fact, the company was the first to offer such a service to complement vinyl.
This led to interest from the Pioneer Corporation
Pioneer Corporation
is a multinational corporation that specializes in digital entertainment products, based in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. The company was founded in 1938 in Tokyo as a radio and speaker repair shop...
. In the mid nineties, Pioneer developed its CDJ-500 CD decks. Only about 25% of the major clubs had CD facilities. By teaming up with CD Pool in a sponsorship deal, Pioneer promoted its hardware to DJs alongside CD Pool’s compilations .
Following this deal, CD Pool continued to expand. It now has subscription and purchase options that cover all the types of music DJs require .
Culture
The company directors have adopted a culture of innovation and improvement.For instance, by giving professional DJs the chance to use CDs, CD Pool helped them improve the quality of the sound at their live performances. DJs such as Paul Oakenfold
Paul Oakenfold
Paul Mark Oakenfold is a British record producer and a trance DJ.-Early Career: 1979–84:Paul Oakenfold's career was set to be a chef, after having hopes of becoming part of a band. He describes his early life as a "bedroom deejay" in a podcasted interview with Vancouver's 24 Hours, stating he grew...
and Trevor Nelson
Trevor Nelson
Trevor Nelson MBE is an English DJ and presenter.Born in Hackney to a family of St Lucian heritage, he attended Central Foundation Boys' Grammar School in Cowper St, Islington, London EC2 and Westminster Kingsway College...
have confirmed this. These DJs endorsed CD Pool in its early years and gave it recognition .
CD Pool also has a policy of helping to break artists and tracks. It does this by employing a team of dance music experts who bring the latest upfront dance music to its subscribers each month .
Furthermore, as part of its goal to promote music, CD Pool pays royalties to UK industry collection agencies PPL and PRS for Music. This ensures that performers and songwriters receive payment for their work .
Headquarters
CD Pool’s offices are at Devonshire House, 223 Upper Richmond Road, London SW15 6SQ.Directors
Tim Rudling and Rob Sawyer are the original founders of CD Pool.Tim began in retail before moving to Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
and EMI. He then created a company called The Dance Corporation.
Tim’s work with DJs made him realise the difficulty of finding CD promos; this gave him the idea for CD Pool.
To create CD Pool, Tim joined up with Rob Sawyer. Rob started in music publishing with ATV Music and EMI Publishing. He then switched to EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
and it’s A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
department.
Following this, Rob began his Intermusica music consultancy business. Finally, in 1994, he set up CD Pool with Tim.
Employees
CD Pool’s label manager is Andy Wetson. Andy also works as a DJ, production team manager and club promoter.Jamie Topham compiles two of the monthly discs for CD Pool. He’s also an independent music consultant and production team manager.
Andrew Field recently joined CD Pool. Like Jamie, he compiles tracks for some of the company's discs.
Former employees
CD Pool's former employees now have jobs in various capacities in the music, entertainment and promotion industries.Mark Bowdon works for Music House.
Iyare Igiehon
Iyare Igiehon
-Early life:Igiehon grew up in London and studied Pop Music Studies at the University of Leeds and graduated with 1st class honours. Returning to London he worked as a recording engineer, mixing house tunes for Studio 33 in West London...
is a BBC Radio presenter.
Rich Orchard works for FreeStyleGames
FreeStyleGames
FreeStyleGames Ltd. is a British video game development company with approximately 100 staff based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. The company was originally formed by Ex-Codemasters and Ex-Rare staff in late 2002, and has developed over the last 5 years into a well-respected development...
, the creators of the DJ Hero
DJ Hero
DJ Hero is a music video game, developed by FreeStyleGames and published by Activision as a rhythm game spin-off of the Guitar Hero franchise. It was released on October 27, 2009 in North America and on October 29, 2009 in Europe...
computer game.
Dan Cook now works for IMImobile / Dx3
Tracey Webb works for Power Promotions
DJ music genres
Since the 1970s, DJ music genres have developed well beyond the category of standard disco music. Disco remains as a genre in its own right, but more often in the context of classic tracks. DJs now have a significant range of music styles to draw on, each with their own sound. There are even sub-groupings within each style .Dance genres include house, hardcore, techno, trance, hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
, leftfield, electro and commercial dance.
The nature of the dance music industry is such that styles often blend into one another. They also develop rapidly. This is due to the efforts of many performers who explore ways to create music that’s both innovative and commercial .