Planet Mu

Planet Mu is an eclectic English electronic music record label created and run by Mike Paradinas. The label started out as a subsidiary of Virgin Records then Paradinas set up the label independent of Virgin. After releasing intelligent dance music, the label moved to jungle and breakcore, and then grime and dubstep and later footwork. The label also releases the music of Paradinas under various aliases such as μ-Ziq, Kid Spatula and Tusken Raiders. It celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2020.

Planet Mu
Parent companyVirgin Records (until 1998)
Founded1995
FounderMike Paradinas
Distributor(s)Cargo (Europe + R.O.W), Redeye USA (North America and Canada)
GenreIDM, dubstep, breakcore, footwork, grime
Country of originEngland
LocationEngland
Official websitehttp://www.planet.mu

Beginning

When Mike Paradinas signed as a musician to Virgin Records in the mid-1990s, Paradinas was asked for suggestions for the new dance subsidiary and suggested Planet Mu as a play on Carl Craig's label Planet E.[1] When Virgin lost interest in the project, Paradinas took it over. He quickly drew critical acclaim for releasing a string of important IDM (intelligent dance music) records, from artists such as Jega, Leafcutter John, Luke Vibert, WWWINGS[2][3] and Venetian Snares.[1][4] The label also releases Paradinas' music under a range of aliases including Kid Spatula, Tusken Raiders and Mu-Ziq, establishing itself as an electronic music label to rival Skam Records and Warp records.[4]

Progression

As the new decade began, Planet Mu began to release jungle and breakcore records from artists such as 0=0, Tim Exile and Shitmat.[4][5] Later in the decade, Paradinas moved towards grime and dubstep, signing artists such as Boxcutter, Milanese, Mr. Mitch, Pinch, Vex'd and Virus Syndicate.[1][4][6][7] In 2006, the label released three Warrior Dubz compilations curated by Mary Anne Hobbs.[8] In the 2010s, Planet Mu changed direction again, releasing the footwork compilation Bangs & Works Vol. 1 which featured DJ Rashad and brought the Chicago genre to wider attention.[1] Bangs & Works Vol. 2 came out the following year and launched the career of Jlin.[9]

In 2020, the label celebrated its 25th birthday. In 2019 it had not made a profit but in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, sales went up.[1] It released the compilation PlanetMµ25 which featured grime from East Man & Streema, pop from RUI-HO, IDM from Bogdan Raczynski and jazz from Jana Rush.[6]

See also

References
  1. Finlayson, Angus (3 December 2020). "Mike Paradinas on Planet Mu's Past, Present, and Future". Electronic Beats. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  2. "WWWINGS release PHOENIXXX on August 19". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  3. "planet mu · WWWINGS". planet.mu. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  4. Madden, Joe (20 July 2006). "Planet Mu label profile". BBC. Archived from the original on 3 December 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  5. "Henry Collins". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  6. Cardew, Ben (22 December 2020). "Various Artists: PlanetMµ25". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  7. Pearl, Max (15 February 2017). "Planet Mu announces new Mr. Mitch album, Devout". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  8. "Planet Mu biography". IMO Records. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  9. Beta, Andy (15 April 2015). "Never Scared: The Fearless Footwork of Jlin". Pitchfork. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
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