>> Jeepster
bio: Established in 1995, Jeepster Recordings Limited was created by like minded people looking for an outlet for a style of music they felt was missing from the scene at that time. It?s first signing, Belle & Sebastian, brought the label into the indie media and buyers? consciousness almost immediately and, via its association with the band, so developed a ?Jeepster sound?. Increasingly, new artists wanted to be associated with the development of the label. Belle & Sebastian?s initial success provided the label with the financial security and confidence to expand it?s roster, firstly with Snow Patrol in winter 1997, Salako early the following year and finally Belle & Sebastian side projects Looper and The Gentle Waves. Album releases followed from all four new signings while Belle & Sebastian?s career went from strength to strength. They released their third album ?The Boy With The Arab Strap? in 1998 and, against the odds, went on to beat Steps to the 1999 Brit Award for Best Newcomer. By 2002 the realities of increasing recording and marketing costs allied with a reduced market for music generally led the directors to consider ways to consolidate the label?s position in the future. In order to retain the catalogue they had worked so hard to create the decision was taken to reduce the size of the label and temporarily curtail its signing activity. So far this tactic has been successful. In October 2003 the label released ?Fans Only?, Belle & Sebastian?s first DVD project. This retrospective compilation was aimed squarely at their ever loyal fanbase and records the development of the band during their time with Jeepster, bringing together videos, live performances, interviews, out-takes, tv appearances, documentary footage and exclusive material to give an insight into the evolution of the band. In May 2005 Jeepster will compliment ?Fans Only? with the band?s first compilation album, ?Push Barman To Open Old Wounds?, which brings together all 25 tracks from their seven Jeepster EP and single releases.
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