#ThursdayTool - AWAL

Music Service Profile: AWAL

Name: AWAL (Artists Without A Label)

Synopsis:

AWAL (an initialism of Artists Without a Label) is a British music distribution company owned by Sony Music Entertainment. The company serves as an alternative to the traditional music label deal, offering deal structures to artists and independent labels without them giving up ownership or control. In 2021, Sony Music Entertainment purchased AWAL from Kobalt Music Group for $430m.

AWAL's main service is digital music distribution, but also includes marketing, physical distribution, data analytics, radio, and synchronization licensing. AWAL's artists keep their music and creative rights, unlike the traditional record label. In November 2018, Billboard wrote an article titled, "Can Kobalt Disrupt the Label Game With AWAL?," outlining the company's approach and how it pays out as much as 80 percent of streaming revenue to its artists. In March 2017, AWAL introduced its music analytics app designed to collect and display data from an artist's presence on Spotify and Apple Music.

Parent company

Sony Music Entertainment

Founded

1997

Founder

Denzyl Feigelson

Kevin Bacon

Jonathan Quarmby

Status

Active

Distributor(s)

The Orchard

Proper Music Distribution (physical, ROW)

Genre

Pop, electronic, alternative rock, hip hop

Country of origin

United Kingdom

Location

London

Official website

www.awal.com