PARTISAN RECORDS

This label focuses on allowing its stable of artists the time and space they need to create their best work. Their first-ever Mercury Prize win this year proves that this approach pays off

- Will Richards

IN AN ERA OF playlisting and instant gratification, record labels with longterm thinking and artist development at their heart have never been more vital. This idea is at the very core of Partisan Records, and that’s why it is this year’s recipient of The Record Label Award at the Rolling Stone UK Awards, in collaboration with Rémy Martin.

Started in 2007 in New York City, Partisan Records has since expanded to London, Los Angeles and Berlin. “We describe the label as having a global vision but local execution,” vice president Jeff Bell tells Rolling Stone UK. “It’s about building audiences worldwide for artists and being able to push them to think about that and what that means to have success at this point in history.”

In their 15 years in the business, Partisan have released albums by Cigarettes After Sex, John Grant and more. In the late 2010s, they were at the vanguard of the UK and Irish postpunk explosion, developing both IDLES and Fontaines D.C. into two of the most exciting and relevant bands of the day. Of their relationship with Partisan, Fontaines D.C. said: “Partisan is a label that is solely about facilitating the creation of credible and powerful music with a roster of artists that we’re honoured to call our labelmates. They changed our lives forever, and we’re lucky to have that trust.”

And 2023 has been Partisan’s biggest year yet. In July, they began working with PJ Harvey for the release of her new album,