Believe UK signs global partnership with Bella Union

28 February 2024 - Press release

Includes new Bella Union releases and select catalogue. 

Deal 'signals sea change away from licensing model of the past'.

 

The UK office of Believe, one of the world's leading digital music companies, has signed a long-term, global label solutions deal with Bella Union.

The deal incorporates new Bella Union releases and select catalogue. As well as all-format digital and physical distribution, Believe will provide high level services to the label in the form of synchronisation, DSP and retail editorial and marketing partnerships, strategic release management, unique digital expertise and in-house technology, video and audience development, and ongoing advance funding. 

The legendary independent label joins a number of renowned alternative genre labels on the Believe UK roster such as Communion, So Young, Mick, House Anxiety, Scruff Of The Neck, Nice Swan, Mahogany, and Ourness (Royel Otis).

Bella Union is firmly established as one of the best loved and most influential independent labels in the UK. Created in 1997, originally to release the music of its owners, Cocteau Twins, label boss Simon Raymonde set about signing other acts after the band's break-up. Starting with Warren Ellis' Dirty Three and John Grant's The Czars, names to have graced the Bella Union roster over the following years also include Explosions In The Sky, Beach House and Midlake. Fleet Foxes earned the label its first crossover success, with the band's debut album achieving UK Double Platinum status. 

The past decade has seen continued critical acclaim and chart successes with the likes of Father John Misty, John Grant, BC Camplight and Ezra Furman, whilst legendary acts such as The Flaming Lips, Spiritualized, White Denim and Mercury Rev have joined the roster. The label also continues to develop some of the most talked about young artists in the industry, such as Pom Poko, Penelope Isles, and Personal Trainer, who all contribute to Bella Union's most exciting release schedule in years during 2024.

Ben Rimmer, Regional Director, Believe UK & Northern Europe, said: "We are delighted to welcome the Bella Union family to Believe. Simon's ability to find and develop talent is second to none. We are convinced the recent growth of alternative music will further amplify and cross over with Bella Union at the forefront. Beach House and Father John Misty prove how wide that audience is and the potential for further growth with Believe. 

"The signing of Bella Union signals another big sea change in the music industry towards fully independent global partnerships and away from the licensing model of the past. We've been delivering industry leading levels of service to our partners at Believe UK over these past 15 years and adding Bella Union to the community really proves the model is working and giving a platform to leading independent talent."

Bella Union founder, Simon Raymonde, said: "We are all thrilled to begin an exciting new chapter in the Bella Union story, working with the fantastic team at Believe. I am an instinctive person who always follows my gut. My team at Bella Union have all been with the company long term and we need to feel the love from the people we work with and for. Meeting Ben and his team - following a conversation with Alice McLean [Head of Video & Audience Development at Believe UK], who we had worked with joyously when she ran Comes With Fries prior - that love was supremely evident. 

"The industry has been in a depressed state for a while, and it can be easy to get drawn under the grey cloud. From the minute we walked into the Believe offices and met their team, we saw the light and followed it. A modern, vibrant company with an incredible story and phenomenal growth, Believe are the queens of the digital age. Fiercely independent like us, we feel loved, and we will give it back in spades."

This deal between Believe UK and Bella Union follows a number of recent significant partnership announcements with both labels and artists including Mahogany, Rinse, Hospital, Royel Otis, All Ways Dance, Lustre, Nice Swan, Kamille, and Mick Music.