Partisan Records

Partisan Records
Founded2007 (2007)
Founder
  • Tim Putnam
  • Ian Wheeler
StatusActive
GenreVarious, with a focus on indie rock and post-punk
Country of originUnited States
Location
  • Brooklyn, New York, US (HQ)
  • London, UK
  • Berlin, Germany
  • Los Angeles, US
Official websitewww.partisanrecords.com

Partisan Records is an American independent record label with offices in New York, London, Berlin and Los Angeles. The company was co-founded in 2007 by Tim Putnam and Ian Wheeler in Brooklyn, New York.[1]

History

Partisan Records was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 2007 by Tim Putnam and Ian Wheeler. At the time, Putnam was working at the independent label Knitting Factory Records and started Partisan as a "passion project" from his apartment.[2]

An early signing was the Providence-based rock band Deer Tick. The critical success of their albums helped establish the label's credibility.[3] In 2008, Partisan entered into a formal partnership with Knitting Factory Entertainment, which also involved managing the catalog of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.[4]

The label continued to build its roster, signing artists like The Dismemberment Plan for their reunion album Uncanney Valley in 2013. A turning point for Partisan's international profile came with the signing of Cigarettes After Sex.[5]

Partisan signed Dublin post-punk band Fontaines D.C. in 2018 and Bristol band Idles in 2019.[6] Both bands achieved critical and commercial success under the label. Idles' albums Ultra Mono (2020) and Tangk (2024), along with Fontaines D.C.'s Skinty Fia (2022), all debuted at #1 on the UK Albums Chart.[7][8][9]

Section 1

In 2021, Partisan launched a joint venture label, Section 1, in partnership with Brontë Jane of Third Side Music, and Chris Robbins and Tom Wironen of Friendly Announcer management.[10] As of 2025, bands released by section 1 include Blonde Redhead, King Princess, Hildegard, Fazerdaze, and Eterna.[11]

Awards and accolades

Partisan Records has won Label of the Year at the Libera Awards (2019, 2023) and the Rolling Stone UK Awards (2023).[12]

In 2023, London-based jazz group Ezra Collective won the Mercury Prize for their album Where I'm Meant to Be.[13] Several artists have received multiple Grammy nominations, including Fontaines D.C.[14] and Idles.[15]

Idles have won multiple Ivor Novello Awards and NME Awards.[16] Ezra Collective won a Brit Award for Group of the Year.[17]

Artists

Current

Alumni

Notable releases

Year Artist Album Notes
2014 Sylvan Esso Sylvan Esso Certified Gold in the US.[18]
2017 Cigarettes After Sex Cigarettes After Sex Certified Platinum in the UK.[19]
2018 Idles Joy as an Act of Resistance Reached #5 on the UK Albums Chart and was shortlisted for the 2019 Mercury Prize.[20]
2019 Fontaines D.C. Dogrel Shortlisted for the 2019 Mercury Prize.[21]
2020 Laura Marling Song for Our Daughter Nominated for the Mercury Prize and the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.[22]
2020 Idles Ultra Mono Reached #1 on the UK Albums Chart.[8]
2022 Fontaines D.C. Skinty Fia Reached #1 on the UK and Irish Albums Charts.[7]
2022 Ezra Collective Where I'm Meant to Be Won the 2023 Mercury Prize.[13]
2023 PJ Harvey I Inside the Old Year Dying Nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.[23]
2023 WITCH Zango The band's first album in nearly 40 years, it received critical acclaim.[24]
2024 Idles Tangk Reached #1 on the UK Albums Chart.[9]
2024 Cameron Winter Heavy Metal The debut solo album from the Geese frontman.[25]
2025 Geese Getting Killed

References

  1. ^ Mulligan, Joe (October 25, 2018). "The Story of Partisan Records: "We're all about creating a culture that's artist-friendly"". Music Week. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  2. ^ Mulligan, Joe (October 25, 2018). "The Story of Partisan Records: "We're all about creating a culture that's artist-friendly"". Music Week. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  3. ^ Heaton, Dave (June 15, 2010). "Deer Tick: The Black Dirt Sessions". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  4. ^ "About Fela Kuti". felakuti.com. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  5. ^ Gourlay, Dom (November 22, 2017). "It's the indie breakthrough of the year: Partisan Records MD on Cigarettes After Sex". Music Week. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  6. ^ Homewood, Ben (January 22, 2018). "'They are a necessary band for the times we live in': Partisan Records sign rising Bristol band Idles". Music Week. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Murray, Robin (April 29, 2022). "Fontaines D.C. Land First UK No. 1 Album With 'Skinty Fia'". Dancing About Architecture. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Idles land their first Number 1 album and fastest-selling vinyl release of the year with Ultra Mono". Official Charts Company. October 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Idles secure second Number 1 album with Tangk". Official Charts Company. February 23, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  10. ^ Stassen, Murray (March 4, 2021). "Partisan Records launches new joint venture label section1". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  11. ^ "section 1 (2) Discography". Discogs. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  12. ^ Richards, Will (November 23, 2023). "Partisan Records win the Record Label Award at the Rolling Stone UK Awards". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Ezra Collective wins the 2023 Mercury Prize with FREENOW for 'Album of the Year'". Mercury Prize. September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  14. ^ King, Jack (February 6, 2023). "Fontaines D.C. on Losing a Grammy to The Rolling Stones: "It's a Funny Little Thing"". People. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  15. ^ "Artist: Idles". www.grammy.com. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  16. ^ Aswad, Jem (May 23, 2019). "Mariah Carey, The 1975, Deep Purple Win Ivor Novello Awards". Crack Magazine. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  17. ^ Flynn, Mike (March 3, 2025). "Ezra Collective seal BRIT Award win for Group of the Year 2025 with electrifying performance". Jazzwise. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  18. ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA: Sylvan Esso". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  19. ^ "British certifications – Cigarettes After Sex". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 2, 2025. Type Cigarettes After Sex in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  20. ^ Copsey, Rob (September 7, 2018). "Paul McCartney's Egypt Station scores his first Number 1 solo album in 29 years". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  21. ^ Monroe, Jazz (July 25, 2019). "Mercury Prize 2019 Shortlist: The 1975, slowthai, Black Midi, More". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  22. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (July 23, 2020). "Mercury Prize 2020 nominations: Full list of shortlisted albums, from Dua Lipa to Laura Marling". The Independent. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  23. ^ "Artist: PJ Harvey". www.grammy.com. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  24. ^ Brophy, Conor (June 1, 2023). "W.I.T.C.H.: Zango Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  25. ^ "Cameron Winter: Heavy Metal Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
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