Mute Records
313270
224147410
2008-07-07T15:11:11Z
24.23.112.130
{{infobox record label
| image = [[Image:Mute records.jpg]]
| parent = [[EMI]]
| founded = 1978
| founder = [[Daniel Miller (music producer)|Daniel Miller]]
| distributor =
| genre = Various
| country = [[United Kingdom|UK]]
| url = [http://www.mute.com/ Official website of Mute Records]
}}
'''Mute Records''' is a [[record label]] formed in [[1978 in music|1978]] by [[Daniel Miller (music producer)|Daniel Miller]] primarily to release his own single, "T.V.O.D."/"[[Warm Leatherette]]", under the moniker [[The Normal]].
Mute Records made a name for itself as the label that was willing to sign [[post-punk]] artists like [[Fad Gadget]] ([[Frank Tovey]]'s pseudonym), [[Einstürzende Neubauten]], [[Throbbing Gristle]], [[Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft]] (DAF) and [[Cabaret Voltaire (band)|Cabaret Voltaire]]. Once electronic music hit the [[United Kingdom|British]] charts from 1981 onwards, Mute signed artists like [[Wire (band)]], [[Depeche Mode]], [[Nitzer Ebb]], [[Yazoo (band)|Yazoo]] and [[Erasure]] that utilised new technology which would eventually redefine the sound of the dancefloor in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Mute redefined itself again to encompass [[alternative rock]] with bands such as [[Sonic Youth]] on their [[Blast First]] imprint. The label also in 1992 launched a subsidiary called [[Novamute Records]], mainly as a distribution channel for experimental electronic music.
Mute Records was famous for being the home of Depeche Mode and Erasure despite the lack of what is normally considered a contract. [[Moby]], [[Nick Cave]] and [[Laibach (band)|Laibach]] are also Mute mainstays.
The following albums released by Mute have been nominated for the [[Mercury Prize]]: ''[[We Can Create]]'' by [[Maps (band)|Maps]] (2007), ''[[Coles Corner (album)|Coles Corner]]'' by [[Richard Hawley]] (2006), ''[[Felt Mountain]]'' by [[Goldfrapp]] (2000) and ''Soul Murder'' by [[Barry Adamson]] (1992).
Mute Records was the first British record label to have an internet presence, entitled Mute Liberation Technologies. This started out as a dial-up [[Bulletin board system|BBS]], then becoming a [[Telnet]] site and finally a website. They continued to be run in tandem for a number of years until all were finally shut down, with the exception of the website.
On [[May 10]], [[2002]], [[EMI]] acquired Mute Records, extending an existing licensing relationship that Mute had with EMI’s [[Virgin Records]] for over 15 years. Daniel Miller, Executive Chairman, is responsible for all of the company’s global activities.
==See also==
* [[List of record labels]]
* [[List of electronic music record labels]]
* [[:Category:Mute Records albums|Albums released on Mute]]
* [[Mute Records discography]]
==External links==
* [http://www.mute.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.mute.de/ Official site of Mute Germany]
* {{MySpace|id=muterecords|name=Mute Records}}
[[Category:British record labels]]
[[Category:Record labels established in 1978]]
[[Category:EMI]]
[[Category:Electronic music record labels]]
[[Category:Industrial record labels]]
[[Category:Synthpop record labels]]
[[Category:Alternative music record labels]]
[[ca:Mute Records]]
[[cs:Mute Records]]
[[de:Mute Records]]
[[es:Mute Records]]
[[fr:Mute Records]]
[[gl:Mute Records]]
[[lt:Mute Records]]
[[nl:Mute Records]]
[[ja:ミュート・レコード]]
[[pl:Mute Records]]
[[ru:Mute Records]]
[[fi:Mute Records]]
[[sv:Mute Records]]