Byte Records
Encyclopedia
Byte Records is a Belgian based independent music label
specialized into dance music
. The company was founded by DJ Jean-Paul De Coster in 1988 and is named after his former record store in Antwerp. Successful acts have included 2 Unlimited
, Sash!
and Sylver
.
Through the years the label had several sub-labels like B³ (Byte Blue), Byte Progressive, Discomatic and La Belle Noir.
One of the first Byte releases was “Don't Miss The Party Line” by Jean-Paul De Coster and Peter Neefs as Bizz Nizz
. The single was licensed by Cooltempo, a sub-label of Chrysalis (now EMI
) and became a top 10 hit in the UK by the end of the 1980’s. Together with producer Phil Wilde Jean-Paul De Coster formed the producers duo behind famous Eurodance act 2 Unlimited
in the beginning of the 1990s. Licenses were giving by Byte to PWL Continental
and ZYX Music
and the act sold more than 20 million records and 50 million compilations worldwide, giving Byte Record a tremendous boost.
Other Eurodance acts followed and Byte became a household name in the dance community. Most of the artist became populair in Belgium
, The Netherlands and Germany
like Timeshift, CB Milton, Red 5, Sash! and DJ Peter Project. But due to the bad economical climate in the music industry Byte had to reduce his activities over the years. Since early 2004 dance act Sylver
is the only remaining act signed by Byte Records.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
specialized into dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
. The company was founded by DJ Jean-Paul De Coster in 1988 and is named after his former record store in Antwerp. Successful acts have included 2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited is a Dutch Eurodance/Hi-NRG act formed in 1991. The project was the brainchild of Belgian producers Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde, and was fronted by a Dutch duo, rapper Ray Slijngaard and singer Anita Doth. During five years of enormous worldwide popularity, the act scored 16 chart...
, Sash!
Sash!
SASH! is a German DJ / producer team, fronted by Sascha Lappessen , who works in the recording studio with Ralf Kappmeier and Thomas "Alisson" Lüdke. They have sold over 18 million albums worldwide and earned more than 65 Gold and Platinum awards.-History:Sascha Lappessen, Thomas "Alisson" Lüdke,...
and Sylver
Sylver
Sylver is a Belgian vocal Trance group best known for the song "Turn the Tide". The group's vocalist is Silvy De Bie and keyboardist/songwriter is Wout Van Dessel . Regi Penxten is the producer and co-songwriter...
.
Through the years the label had several sub-labels like B³ (Byte Blue), Byte Progressive, Discomatic and La Belle Noir.
One of the first Byte releases was “Don't Miss The Party Line” by Jean-Paul De Coster and Peter Neefs as Bizz Nizz
Bizz Nizz
Bizz Nizz was a Belgian dance act formed in 1989 by Jean-Paul de Coster, of Antwerp.The dancefloor filling single's, "We're Gonna Catch You!" and "Don't Miss the Party Line" were both substantional hits across Europe, including in the United Kingdom where "Don't Miss The Partyline" reached number...
. The single was licensed by Cooltempo, a sub-label of Chrysalis (now EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
) and became a top 10 hit in the UK by the end of the 1980’s. Together with producer Phil Wilde Jean-Paul De Coster formed the producers duo behind famous Eurodance act 2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited is a Dutch Eurodance/Hi-NRG act formed in 1991. The project was the brainchild of Belgian producers Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde, and was fronted by a Dutch duo, rapper Ray Slijngaard and singer Anita Doth. During five years of enormous worldwide popularity, the act scored 16 chart...
in the beginning of the 1990s. Licenses were giving by Byte to PWL Continental
PWL
Pete Waterman Entertainment is the production company one-time pop and dance record label owned by pop mogul Pete Waterman. The label, originally PWL, is most famous for being the home of hit record producers Stock Aitken Waterman....
and ZYX Music
ZYX Music
ZYX Music is a German record label which was founded in 1971 by Bernhard Mikulski. Until 1992, the label's name was Pop-Import Bernhard Mikulski. The label specialized in disco and early house music. Founder Bernhard Mikulski is credited with coining the term Italo disco in the 1980s...
and the act sold more than 20 million records and 50 million compilations worldwide, giving Byte Record a tremendous boost.
Other Eurodance acts followed and Byte became a household name in the dance community. Most of the artist became populair in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, The Netherlands and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
like Timeshift, CB Milton, Red 5, Sash! and DJ Peter Project. But due to the bad economical climate in the music industry Byte had to reduce his activities over the years. Since early 2004 dance act Sylver
Sylver
Sylver is a Belgian vocal Trance group best known for the song "Turn the Tide". The group's vocalist is Silvy De Bie and keyboardist/songwriter is Wout Van Dessel . Regi Penxten is the producer and co-songwriter...
is the only remaining act signed by Byte Records.
List of Artists
- Bizz NizzBizz NizzBizz Nizz was a Belgian dance act formed in 1989 by Jean-Paul de Coster, of Antwerp.The dancefloor filling single's, "We're Gonna Catch You!" and "Don't Miss the Party Line" were both substantional hits across Europe, including in the United Kingdom where "Don't Miss The Partyline" reached number...
- 2 Unlimited2 Unlimited2 Unlimited is a Dutch Eurodance/Hi-NRG act formed in 1991. The project was the brainchild of Belgian producers Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde, and was fronted by a Dutch duo, rapper Ray Slijngaard and singer Anita Doth. During five years of enormous worldwide popularity, the act scored 16 chart...
- TimeshiftTimeShiftTimeShift is a sci-fi first-person shooter developed by Saber Interactive and published by Sierra Entertainment for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It was developed using the Saber 3D engine, v.S-3 and Havok. On August 31, 2007 a demo of TimeShift was released on Xbox Live Marketplace...
- CB MiltonCB MiltonCB Milton, aka Clarence Bekker , is a Dutch Euro-house vocalist, who became known in the early 1990s. He is best known for the singles "It's a Loving Thing", "Send Me an Angel" and "Open Your Heart"...
- Ice MC
- 740 Boyz740 Boyz740 Boyz is an American dance music group founded in 1991, by Winston Rosa aka BIG WIN from New York.BIG WIN worked with several singers including Shaggy and Afrika Bambatta. While working in a studio called INS Studios in New York City, he met Rafael Vargas aka Dose Material...
- Murray HeadMurray HeadMurray Seafield Saint-George Head is a British actor and singer, most recognised for his international hit songs "Superstar" and "One Night in Bangkok" and his album Say It Ain't So...
- Red 5
- Sash!Sash!SASH! is a German DJ / producer team, fronted by Sascha Lappessen , who works in the recording studio with Ralf Kappmeier and Thomas "Alisson" Lüdke. They have sold over 18 million albums worldwide and earned more than 65 Gold and Platinum awards.-History:Sascha Lappessen, Thomas "Alisson" Lüdke,...
- The Oh!
- Phats & SmallPhats & SmallPhats & Small are a dance music duo from the UK. The duo consists of Jason "Phats" Hayward and Russell Small, they are best known for their 1998 hit "Turn Around"-Career:...
- DJ Peter Project
- Atlantis 6
- SylverSylverSylver is a Belgian vocal Trance group best known for the song "Turn the Tide". The group's vocalist is Silvy De Bie and keyboardist/songwriter is Wout Van Dessel . Regi Penxten is the producer and co-songwriter...
- Zippora
- D-Devils
External links
- Byte Records official website (no longer active)
- Byte Records releases on Discorg