AWAL


AWAL is an independent record label and a distribution company with headquarters in London, UK. Acquired by Kobalt Music in December 2011, AWAL is Kobalt’s recordings company. 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.

Services

AWAL's main service is digital music distribution, but also includes marketing, data analytics, radio, and synch licensing.

History

In December 2011, AWAL was acquired by the Kobalt Music Group and operated as the company’s digital music distribution arm. AWAL was originally founded in 1997 by record producers Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quarmby.
In January 2018, Lonny Olinick was named CEO of Kobalt's recording division. By March 2018, Kobalt announced it was investing $150 million into AWAL and that all of Kobalt's recording business will be combined under the AWAL brand. AWAL acquired In2une Music in June 2018, which provides multi-format radio promotion to independent labels and artists. AWAL announced a strategic partnership with independent label, Glassnote Records, in November 2018. Other notable announcements from the company include signing artists such as You Me At Six, Austin Burke, deadmau5, Little Simz, The Night Cafe, Kevin Garrett, Gabrielle Aplin, Gus Dapperton, and Ella Vos.
In November 2018, AWAL was named to Billboard's 2018 Digital Power Players - Music Groups list.
AWAL has offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Berlin, Hong Kong, Miami, Nashville, Stockholm, Sydney. In December 2018, AWAL announced it was opening an office in Toronto.

Business model

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.

Technology

In March 2017, AWAL introduced its music analytics app designed to collect and display data gleaned from each artist's presence on Spotify and Apple Music.

Artist success

AWAL works with rising and established artists such as Lauv, who is known for his hit song, "I Like Me Better".

Artists