Stockholm Records
Encyclopedia
Stockholm Records is a Swedish
subsidiary of Universal Music Group
.
The boutique label
was originally launched in 1992
as an independent record company by its Swedish founders Ola Håkansson
and Alexander Bard
in partnership with the original distributor and investor Polygram
in London.
Håkansson and Bard ran the company for the first six years, achieving global success with multi-platinum-selling artists like Army of Lovers
, The Cardigans
, A-Teens, E-Type and Lisa Miskovsky
. Another noteworthy signing during this period was Johan Renck
, who was originally signed under the artist name Stakka Bo but later became far more famous under his own name as one of the world's leading music video directors, working for artists like Madonna
, Beyoncé and Robbie Williams
.
Håkansson and Bard sold their shares in Stockholm Records to Universal Music Group
in 1998, after which the company was folded into Universal Music as a boutique label. Stockholm Records has often been referred to as a model for other music production companies in continental Europe, with the successful and market-dominating Danish enterprise Copenhagen Records and Swedish production powerhouses Cheiron
and Murlyn Music Group
as obvious examples.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
subsidiary of Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
.
The boutique 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,...
was originally launched in 1992
1992 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....
as an independent record company by its Swedish founders Ola Håkansson
Ola Håkansson
Ola Håkansson is a Swedish singer, composer and producer.Ola Håkansson was born in Stockholm. He was the singer of the band Ola and the Janglers and later Secret Service. In 1986 he recorded the duet "The Way You Are" with Agnetha Fältskog.He was part of the songwriting trio Norell Oson Bard...
and Alexander Bard
Alexander Bard
Alexander Bengt Magnus Bard is a Swedish artist, music producer and writer.-Background and education:Bard was born Alexander Bengt Magnus Bard in Medevi, Motala Municipality, Sweden. After he had completed his upper secondary education, Bard studied in the United States and in Amsterdam, Netherlands...
in partnership with the original distributor and investor Polygram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
in London.
Håkansson and Bard ran the company for the first six years, achieving global success with multi-platinum-selling artists like Army of Lovers
Army Of Lovers
Army of Lovers are a Swedish dance music group formed in 1987.The name of the band alludes to a documentary Armee der Liebenden oder Revolte der Perversen about the German gay rights activist Rosa von Praunheim, the title of which in turn alludes to the Theban Band.-History:The founding members,...
, The Cardigans
The Cardigans
The Cardigans are a Swedish rock band formed in the town of Jönköping in October 1992.Their debut album Emmerdale gave them a solid base in their home country and enjoyed some success abroad, especially in Japan. It was not until their second album Life that an international reputation was secured...
, A-Teens, E-Type and Lisa Miskovsky
Lisa Miskovsky
Lisa Miskovsky is a Swedish musician. Her mother is Finnish and her father is from the Czech Republic.-Biography:...
. Another noteworthy signing during this period was Johan Renck
Johan Renck
Bo Johan Renck is a Swedish director of music videos, TV and film. He is an occasional recording artist using the moniker Stakka Bo.-Music videos:...
, who was originally signed under the artist name Stakka Bo but later became far more famous under his own name as one of the world's leading music video directors, working for artists like Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Beyoncé and Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
.
Håkansson and Bard sold their shares in Stockholm Records to Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
in 1998, after which the company was folded into Universal Music as a boutique label. Stockholm Records has often been referred to as a model for other music production companies in continental Europe, with the successful and market-dominating Danish enterprise Copenhagen Records and Swedish production powerhouses Cheiron
Cheiron Studios
Cheiron Studios was a recording studio located at Kungsholmen, Stockholm, Sweden founded in 1992 by Denniz PoP and Tom Talomaa. Cheiron Studios was apart from being a recording studio, also a label Cheiron Records in affiliation with BMG for a while, and the music publishing service Cheiron Songs...
and Murlyn Music Group
Murlyn Music Group
Murlyn Music Group AB or just Murlyn Music is Stockholm-based international music production company founded in 1998 by Anders Bagge and Christian Wåhlberg. Wåhlberg takes care of administration and Bagge of artstic production...
as obvious examples.