Arts & Crafts
Parent companyArts & Crafts Productions
Founded2003 (2003)
FounderKevin Drew
Jeffrey Remedios
Distributor(s)Caroline Distribution (US)
Universal Music Canada (Canada)
GenreIndie
Country of originCanada
LocationToronto, Ontario
Official websitearts-crafts.ca

Arts & Crafts Productions is a music-focused media and artist services company that offers information as an independent record label, management firm, merchandiser, and publisher worldwide. It has earned 21 Juno Awards. Arts & Crafts has been called one of Canada's most important record labels.[1]

History

Founding

Arts & Crafts (also referred to as "A&C") was launched as a music company in 2003 by friends Jeffrey Remedios & Daniel Cutler both former Virgin Records executives as well as Kevin Drew, who co-founded flagship group Broken Social Scene (BSS) with Brendan Canning. The partnership was originally intended as a vehicle for self-release and artist management of Broken Social Scene's breakthrough album You Forgot It in People, and the structure quickly formed as a platform to release albums and manage the careers of artists directly affiliated with members of Broken Social Scene. In addition to BSS albums the labels first releases were by Stars, Jason Collett, Feist, Apostle of Hustle and Valley of the Giants.

Growth

In 2005 The Most Serene Republic was the first band unrelated to Broken Social Scene to sign to Arts & Crafts[2] and officially marked a shift of scope broader than the projects related to Broken Social Scene.

A&C began its foray into the digital music business with the launch of GalleryAC.com, a boutique web store that offered digital downloads and Arts & Crafts related merchandise, in 2005. They were one of the first labels to launch a digital download store.

In 2004, Remedios expanded the operation into Montreal basing himself out of the offices of DKD who later partnered to form Arts & Crafts International, releasing the gold selling album Set Yourself on Fire[3] by Montreal-based group, Stars.

Arts & Crafts were among the first labels to offer a strategy for combating advance music leaks by offering Stars follow-up album In Our Bedroom After the War for sale before promotional copies were ever manufactured and distributed by issuing wide release as a digital download only 3 days following album completion.[4]

In 2009 Rolling Stone cited Remedios as a key insider reshaping the future of the music biz.[5]

On 5 April 2017,[6] Caroline Distribution became the US distributor for the Arts & Crafts label in the US. The label was previously distributed by RED Distribution in the US. EMI Music Canada previously distributed the label in Canada, when, in 2013, EMI Music Canada was merged into Universal Music Canada.

Recent history

Arts & Crafts Music (also known as GalleryAC Music) controls or administers the publishing rights to much of the music released by the Arts & Crafts label.

On 14 January 2013, Arts & Crafts announced it would be holding the Field Trip Arts & Crafts Music Festival to commemorate their ten-year anniversary. Signed on to headline are Arts & Crafts labelmates Broken Social Scene, Feist, and Stars.[7] Along with the festival celebration, Arts & Crafts released a rarities compilation titled, Arts & Crafts: 2003–2013. The compilation was released as a double album or four LPs and included selected rarities from across the Arts & Crafts catalog.[8] A second compilation album, Arts & Crafts: X, was released in May and featured newly recorded collaborations between A&C artists.[9]

The "Toronto Music Scene"

The 2009 release of This Book Is Broken (House of Anansi Press) documented the rise of Toronto indie bands, focusing especially on Broken Social Scene and the Arts & Crafts roster.

The Arts & Crafts Aesthetic

A design house, Arts & Crafts is well known for a consistent look and quality to all releases. Design and art are important to the company, and are taken as another medium of artistic expression that the label supports.

A&C has been nominated for five JUNO Awards for Album Artwork of the year. In 2006 for Broken Social Scene: Broken Social Scene (Louise Upperton (Director/Designer); Christopher Mills, Kevin Drew, Justin Peroff (Illustrators)), in 2009 for Constantines: Kensington Heights (Dallas Wherle, Robyn Kotyk and Alex Vs. Alex). In 2011, Kotyk, Peroff, Charles Spearin, Joe McKay, Jimmy Collins and Elisabeth Chicoine were awarded the Recording Package of the Year Juno for Broken Social Scene's Forgiveness Rock Record box set and in 2012 for Timber Timbre's Creep on Creepin' On and Feist's Metals both earned nominations in the category.

In 2014, Arts & Crafts designers Kotyk, Peroff, and Petra Cuschieri won another Recording Package of the Year Juno Award for "Arts & Crafts: 2003–2013" 4x LP compilation album.

Gold & Platinum Certifications

Broken Social Scene Broken Social Scene

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada Gold[10] 50,000

Stars Set Yourself On Fire

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada Gold[10] 50,000

Broken Social Scene You Forgot It in People

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada Gold[11] 50,000

Feist Let It Die

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada Platinum[12] 100,000

Feist The Reminder

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada 2× Platinum[13] 200,000

Feist Metals

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada Gold[10] 50,000

Awards and accolades

Juno Awards

The Juno Awards are presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003Broken Social Scene, You Forgot It in PeopleAlternative Album of the YearWon
2004Broken Social Scene, "Stars and Sons"Video of the YearNominated
Stars, HeartAlternative Album of the YearNominated
2005Feist, "One Evening"Video of the YearNominated
Feist, Let It DieAlternative Album of the YearWon
FeistNew Artist of the YearWon
Stars, Set Yourself on FireAlternative Album of the YearNominated
2006Broken Social Scene, Broken Social SceneAlternative Album of the YearWon
CD/DVD Artwork Design of the YearNominated
Feist, "Inside and Out"Single of the YearNominated
2008Feist, The ReminderAlbum of the YearWon
Pop Album of the YearWon
Feist, "1,2,3,4"Single of the YearWon
FeistSongwriter of the YearWon
FeistArtist of the YearWon
2009The Stills, Oceans Will RiseAlternative Album of the YearWon
The StillsNew Group of the YearWon
Constantines, Kensington HeightsRecording Package of the YearNominated
FeistJuno Fan Choice AwardNominated
Feist, "Honey Honey"Video of the YearWon
2010Amy Millan, Masters of the BurialAdult Alternative Album of the YearNominated
Amy Millan, Masters of the BurialRecording Package of the YearNominated
Bell Orchestre, As Seen Through WindowsInstrumental Album of the YearWon
Charles Spearin, The Happiness ProjectContemporary Jazz Album of the YearWon
The Most Serene Republic, "Heavens to Purgatory"Video of the YearNominated
2011Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock RecordAlternative Album of the YearNominated
Broken Social SceneGroup of the YearNominated
Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock RecordRecording Package of the YearWon
Broken Social Scene, This Movie Is BrokenMusic DVD of the YearNominated
Broken Social Scene, "Forced to Love"Video of the YearNominated
Chilly Gonzales, Ivory TowerElectronic Album of the YearNominated
2012Dan Mangan, Oh FortuneAlternative Album of the YearWon
Dan ManganNew Artist of the YearWon
Dan ManganSongwriter of the YearNominated
Dan Mangan, "Rows of Houses"Video of the YearNominated
Feist, MetalsAdult Alternative Album of the YearWon
FeistArtist of the YearWon
FeistSongwriter of the YearNominated
Feist, Look at What the Light Did NowMusic DVD of the YearWon
Timber Timbre, Creep on Creepin' OnAlternative Album of the YearNominated
Timber Timbre, Creep on Creepin' OnRecording Package of the YearNominated
2013TrustElectronic Artist of the YearNominated
Cold SpecksBreakthrough Artist of the YearNominated
2014Arts & Crafts: 2003–2013Recording Package of the YearWon
Hayden, Us AloneAdult Alternative Album of the YearNominated
The Darcys, WarringAlternative Album of the YearNominated
2015Timber Timbre, Hot DreamsAlternative Album of the YearNominated
Timber Timbre, Hot DreamsRecording Package of the YearNominated
2016Tobias Jesso Jr., GoonAdult Alternative Album of the YearNominated
Frazey Ford, Indian OceanContemporary Roots Album of the YearNominated
Dan Mangan + Blacksmith, Club MedsRecording Package of the YearNominated
2017Andy ShaufBreakthrough Artist of the YearNominated
Gord DownieSongwriter of the YearWon
Andy Shauf, The PartyAdult Alternative Album of the YearNominated
Gord Downie, Secret PathAdult Alternative Album of the YearWon
Jacques Greene, You Can't DenyDance Recording of the YearNominated
Andy Shauf, The PartyRecording Engineer of the YearNominated
Gord Downie, Secret PathRecording Package of the YearWon
Gord Downie, "The Stranger"Video of the YearNominated
2018Broken Social SceneBreakthrough Artist of the YearNominated
Gord Downie, Introduce YerselfAdult Alternative Album of the YearWon
Gord DownieArtist of the YearWon
Timber Timbre, Sincerely, Future PollutionAdult Alternative Album of the YearNominated
Gord Downie + Kevin DrewSongwriter of the YearWon
Kid Koala, Music To Draw To: SatelliteElectronic Album of the YearNominated
2019Dan Mangan, More or LessAdult Alternative Album of the YearNominated
Fucked Up, Dose Your DreamsAlternative Album of the YearNominated
Jacques Greene, Avatar BeachDance Recording of the YearNominated
Said The Whale, UnAmericanRecording Engineer of the YearNominated

Polaris Music Prize

The Polaris Music Prize is awarded annually to the best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2006Broken Social Scene, Broken Social ScenePolaris Music PrizeNominated
2007Feist, The ReminderPolaris Music PrizeNominated
2008Stars, In Our Bedroom After the WarPolaris Music PrizeNominated
2010Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock RecordPolaris Music PrizeNominated
2011Timber Timbre, Creep on Creepin' OnPolaris Music PrizeNominated
2012Cold Specks, I Predict a Graceful ExpulsionPolaris Music PrizeNominated
2012Feist, MetalsPolaris Music PrizeWon
2014Timber Timbre, Hot DreamsPolaris Music PrizeNominated
2015Tobias Jesso Jr, GoonPolaris Music PrizeNominated
2016Andy Shauf, The PartyPolaris Music PrizeNominated
2017Gord Downie, Secret PathPolaris Music PrizeNominated
2018Jean-Michel Blais, Dans ma mainPolaris Music PrizeNominated
2020nêhiyawak, nipiyPolaris Music PrizeNominated

Canadian Music Awards

The Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards happen every March in Toronto as part of Canadian Music Week.[14]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2008Arts & CraftsIndependent Label of the YearWon
2009Arts & CraftsIndependent Label of the YearWon
2011Arts & CraftsIndependent Label of the YearWon
2012Arts & CraftsIndependent Label of the YearWon
2013Arts & CraftsManagement Company of the YearWon
2014Arts & CraftsManagement Company of the YearWon

Other ventures

In 2008 Arts & Crafts opened Arts & Crafts México[15] and are recognized as the first independent music company to focus on the independent music market in Mexico, releasing albums by the A&C North American roster as well as being the Mexican home to a number of other successful artists such as Sonic Youth, Bright Eyes, M. Ward, Metric, and The Dears.

Artists

References

  1. ↑ Experienced youth.
  2. ↑ Jennings, Nicholas (Spring 2006). "We are Family: Arts & Crafts". Words & Music. SOCAN. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2009. Article about the label's beginnings and its different approach to the music business.
  3. ↑ CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications for December 2006.
  4. ↑ "Stars Fight Album Leak, Release in Our Bedroom After the War on iTunes Immediately". Exclaim!. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  5. ↑ "How to Save Rock & Roll". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 17 January 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  6. ↑ Music Business Worldwide - "Arts & Crafts Signs Renewed US Distribution Deal"
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ Pelly, Jenn (26 February 2013). "Arts & Crafts Detail Retrospective Comp, With Broken Social Scene, Feist, Stars, Los Campesinos!, More". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Arts & Crafts’ Jeffrey Remedios on Label's Tenth Anniversary, the ‘Nostalgia Vortex,' Stars' Pillow Cases". Billboard, 28 May 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications.
  11. ↑ CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications
  13. ↑ CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications Archived 7 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ "CMA 2011 Winners". Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  15. ↑ "Toronto music label Arts & Crafts opens office in Mexico City". CBC News. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  16. ↑ "Charlie Houston Signs To Arts & Crafts".
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