Spanish musicians unhappy with “a lack of market opportunities” started 233 new labels in 2003, the most in 10 years and 24.6% more than the 187 new labels registered in 2002, according to local authors and publishers’ society SGAE.
Larger labels launched during the year include V2 Records Spain, formed in October. But SGAE noted that the majority of new record companies were set up by artists unhappy with their existing contracts with major labels, or following several years without a record deal.
Singer/songwriter Quique Gonzalez, for example, released his CD “Kamikazes Enamorados” on his own Varsovia Records after a dispute with his long-time label Universal Spain, while folk group La Musgaña created Lubican Records to publish its first album in six years.
