Innocent Records
Encyclopedia
Innocent Records is a pop
record label
created to cater to for EMI
's Virgin Records
more Pop oriented acts. Following the success of the Spice Girls
, Virgin Records
decided to delve into the Pop
market. In doing so they poached Hugh Goldsmith from RCA Records
(famous for steering Take That
's initial flagging sales, to a multi-platinum act). They let him launch his own Virgin Records
offshot. His first signing was Billie Piper
, followed by Martine McCutcheon
, along with several dance acts Todd Terry
to name one. The label continued to thrive
well into the mid 00s with Atomic Kitten
& Blue
achieving Platinum sales. In early 2005, Hugh Goldsmith returned to Sony BMG (parent company of RCA Records
) to set up Brightside Records. Not long after Hugh's departure Innocent Records was shifted from Virgin Records
to the newly formed Angel Music Group
. EMI's newly created commercial division, which also handles EMI Classics
. For a time in the mid 00s Angel Music Group
also licensed Hollywood Records
for the UK. Innocent Records most notable success during this period was Blue (group)'s Simon Webbe's double platinum solo album Sanctuary (Simon Webbe album)
. The Innocent Records imprint seemed to have vanished by the late 00's being replaced by the revived Charisma Records
label, which itself also seems disappeared after limited success with pop acts such as Alphabeat
etc.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
created to cater to for 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...
's Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
more Pop oriented acts. Following the success of the Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
, Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
decided to delve into the Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
market. In doing so they poached Hugh Goldsmith from RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
(famous for steering Take That
Take That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
's initial flagging sales, to a multi-platinum act). They let him launch his own Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
offshot. His first signing was Billie Piper
Billie Piper
Billie Paul Piper is an English singer and actress.She began her career in the late 1990s as a pop singer and then switched to acting. She started in acting and dancing and was talent spotted at the Sylvia Young stage school by Smash Hits magazine who wanted a "face" for their magazine...
, followed by Martine McCutcheon
Martine McCutcheon
Martine McCutcheon is an English singer, television personality and Laurence Olivier Award-winning actress. McCutcheon had minor success as one third of the pop group Milan in the early 1990s; however, it was her role as Tiffany Mitchell in BBC's EastEnders that made her a household name in the UK...
, along with several dance acts Todd Terry
Todd Terry
Todd N. Terry is an American DJ, producer, and remixer.-Career:Terry's productions extensively used samples blending the sounds of classic disco, the Chicago sound, and elements of hip-hop....
to name one. The label continued to thrive
Thrive
Thrive is the ninth studio album by Christian pop rock band Newsboys, released in 2002. It features the singles "It Is You," "Million Pieces ," and "Lord ." Thrive debuted at No. 38 on the Billboard 200 charts, selling 37,000 units...
well into the mid 00s with Atomic Kitten
Atomic Kitten
Atomic Kitten were an English girl group from Liverpool, first established in 1997. Created by Andy McCluskey, the final line-up, and most commercially successful, consisted of Natasha Hamilton, Liz McClarnon, and Jenny Frost...
& Blue
Blue
Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
achieving Platinum sales. In early 2005, Hugh Goldsmith returned to Sony BMG (parent company of RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
) to set up Brightside Records. Not long after Hugh's departure Innocent Records was shifted from Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
to the newly formed Angel Music Group
Angel Music Group
Angel Music Group is a management company for various dance music groups in the United Kingdom, including Godskitchen, Global Gathering, Polysexual, and others. It was set up in 2005...
. EMI's newly created commercial division, which also handles EMI Classics
EMI Classics
EMI Classics is a record label of EMI, formed in 1990 in order to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogs for internationally distributed classical music releases....
. For a time in the mid 00s Angel Music Group
Angel Music Group
Angel Music Group is a management company for various dance music groups in the United Kingdom, including Godskitchen, Global Gathering, Polysexual, and others. It was set up in 2005...
also licensed Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by Disney Music Group, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-History:Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of the company and to develop and promote...
for the UK. Innocent Records most notable success during this period was Blue (group)'s Simon Webbe's double platinum solo album Sanctuary (Simon Webbe album)
Sanctuary (Simon Webbe album)
Sanctuary is the debut solo album from Blue band-member Simon Webbe. The album was released on November 14, 2005, peaking at #7 on the UK Albums Chart, selling more than 600,000 copies in the UK. It was certified Double Platinum by the BPI...
. The Innocent Records imprint seemed to have vanished by the late 00's being replaced by the revived Charisma Records
Charisma Records
Charisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...
label, which itself also seems disappeared after limited success with pop acts such as Alphabeat
Alphabeat
Alphabeat are a Danish pop band from Silkeborg, fronted by singers Stine Bramsen and Anders SG and signed to Polydor Records. Their single "Fascination" was a major hit in Denmark during the summer of 2007 and a significant hit in the United Kingdom in 2008...
etc.
Former artists
- Atomic KittenAtomic KittenAtomic Kitten were an English girl group from Liverpool, first established in 1997. Created by Andy McCluskey, the final line-up, and most commercially successful, consisted of Natasha Hamilton, Liz McClarnon, and Jenny Frost...
1999-2005 - Blue (group) 2001-2010
- Billie PiperBillie PiperBillie Paul Piper is an English singer and actress.She began her career in the late 1990s as a pop singer and then switched to acting. She started in acting and dancing and was talent spotted at the Sylvia Young stage school by Smash Hits magazine who wanted a "face" for their magazine...
1998-2001 - Geri HalliwellGeri HalliwellGeraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell is an English pop singer-songwriter, author and actress. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic...
2004-2005 (shifted from EMIEMIThe 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...
to Innocent which is a more Pop-focused label) - SpeedwaySpeedway (band)Speedway were a Scottish pop rock group, who were formed in 2001, by Glaswegians Jill Jackson and Jim Duguid . The band acquired three more members in that year, with the keyboardist and vocalist Tom Swann from Edinburgh plus guitarist Dan Sells, now lead singer of The Feeling , and signed with...
2002-2004 - Martine McCutcheonMartine McCutcheonMartine McCutcheon is an English singer, television personality and Laurence Olivier Award-winning actress. McCutcheon had minor success as one third of the pop group Milan in the early 1990s; however, it was her role as Tiffany Mitchell in BBC's EastEnders that made her a household name in the UK...
1999-2003 - Duncan JamesDuncan JamesDuncan Matthew James Inglis is an English singer, actor and television presenter. He is best known as a member of the boyband Blue.-Early life:...
SoloSolo (music)In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
2004-2007 - Simon WebbeSimon WebbeSimon Solomon Webbe is an English singer-songwriter, actor and music manager. He is best known as a member of the British boyband Blue.-2001–2005: Early Career And Blue:...
SoloSolo (music)In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
2005-2008 - Javine HyltonJavine HyltonJavine Dionne Hylton , often known simply as Javine, is an English singer. She is most notable for representing the UK at Eurovision Song Contest 2005; beating competition favourite, model Katie Price, for the ticket to Kiev...
2003-2004 - VS (band)VS (band)VS were a British R&B/pop group that had three hit singles in the United Kingdom. It was the brainchild of former Blue member Simon Webbe , Melody from DJ Pied Piper, and established singer-songwriter Ali Tennant, who came together to form the production company Love for Music.-Band members:*Jaime...
2004-2005