LABEL LINK
Nov 1, 2001 12:00 PM, By Martin Brown
Indie labels rarely master both the music and business angles of the game; most dance imprints excel at either one or the other. Phatt Phunk Records is among the few that know both.
After a decade of throwing parties, Phatt Phunk confounder Richard Butler decided to combine his passion for dance music with his professional business background and form a dance label. Along with his wife, Tanya, he launched Phatt Phunk in 1998 with the goal of developing artists and providing quality music spanning the genres of house, trance, techno, drum 'n' bass, and hip-hop.
Already, the magic formula has paid off. Phatt Phunk has released a number of successful mix CDs, including Mark Lewis's Global Frequencies: Tokyo and David Alvarado's Soundscapes: Live from London — which the L.A. Weekly newspaper voted the No. 2 album of 2000. Other new projects include the Plugged In compilation series, which features unreleased material, and three sublabels: Ritual Sounds for tribal trance, Phobia Records for funky techno, and an as-yet-unnamed Latin house imprint.
Butler was bitten by the dance-music bug during the late '80s while living in Australia. His commitment to the scene continued throughout his university days in his hometown of Vancouver, B.C., as he pursued a degree in international business. His Vancouver-based Philosophers of Funk production company continues to grace the West Coast with luminaries such as Carl Cox, Dave Ralph, Paul Oakenfold, Christopher Lawrence, and the Moontribe collective. From a business perspective, Butler says that the label's Web site, which features free downloads, is crucial to Phatt Phunk's success. “It's a great tool to keep fans informed and involved while collecting invaluable data for targeting marketing dollars,” he says. The site also features monthly contests and giveaways.
Artists also benefit from Butler's business savvy. He advises new artists to decide what issues are important to them. “Retaining ownership of masters, retaining publishing rights, boycotting sync licenses for NC-17 films or violent video games — these are things that may be important to certain artists,” he explains.
In addition, Butler recommends that every artist he signs hire a lawyer “to help them navigate the contract.” And what does Phatt Phunk expect in return for developing and exposing fresh talent? “We expect the artist to play willingly if we set up in-store or radio promos. There is no place for inflated egos; we want to work with artists that appreciate what it takes to float to the top and stay there,” Butler says.
Artists wishing to submit material to Phatt Phunk should send in CDs, cassettes, or vinyl. The label's demo policy can be found on their Web site. Send material to: Phatt Phunk Records, 1680 N. Vine St., Suite 1208, Hollywood, CA 90028; tel. (323) 461-4000; Web www.phattphunk.com.
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