IRIS Distribution

IRIS Distribution (Independent Recording Industry Services) is a digital music distribution and marketing firm based in San Francisco, CA and New York City. Co-founded by Matt Laszuk (CEO) and Bryn Boughton (CMO) in 2003, IRIS distributes digital music, ringtones, and video to over 450 digital retailers in over 85 countries. It also promotes label catalogs through various outlets, including social networking sites, newsletters, and label profiles. The company offers its technical, marketing, and legal services to a wide range of independent artists and labels from all genres. Artists distributed by IRIS include She Wants Revenge, Le Tigre, Lou Reed, Mogwai, and many more.

History

After the launch of Apple’s iTunes digital music store, IRIS Distribution was founded in 2003 to support independent labels in entering the digital marketplace. IRIS originally began as a co-op for independent artists, but quickly became a distribution company specializing in facilitating negotiations between retail services and independent labels.

IRIS Distribution's first digital distribution

Digital distribution

Online distribution, digital distribution, or electronic software distribution is the practice of delivering content without the use of physical media, typically by downloading via the internet directly to a consumer's device. Online distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media,...

 deals were with Force Inc. and Megaforce Records.

In 2007, IRIS expanded its services with the launch of BlinkerActive, a dedicated marketing arm devoted to music promotion and branded entertainment. Some of BlinkerActive’s clients include Scion/Toyota, Ninja Tune, Chemikal Underground, Surfdog Records, BYO Records, and Mack Avenue Records among others.

IRIS reported strong growth and profitability in 2008.

Most recently, IRIS Distribution placed twice in The National Association of Record Industry Professionals’ poll, Best In The Biz (2009); IRIS placed second in the ‘Best Digital Distribution Company’ category, and Bryn Boughton as ‘Top New Media Representative.’

Labels Distributed by IRIS

This is not a complete list.

• +1 Music
• AGF Producktion
• Affluent Records
• Ant Zen / Salt
• Beta-lactam Ring Records
  Beta-lactam Ring Records
  Beta-lactam Ring Records is an American independent record label founded by Chris McBeth in 2000.. The label relocated from its founding city of Austin, Texas to Portland, Oregon in 2001....
  
  
• Big Dada
  Big Dada
  Big Dada Recordings is the Hip Hop imprint of London-based independent record label, Ninja Tune. It is best known for being the home of prominent British hip hop artist Roots Manuva. It was started by reputed hip hop journalist Will Ashon in February 1997...
  
  
• Chemikal Underground
  Chemikal Underground
  Chemikal Underground is an independent record label set up in 1994 by Glasgow, Scotland rock band The Delgados. It was set up to release their first single, "Monica Webster" / "Brand New Car" and went on to break many new Scottish bands in the nineties....
  
  
• Coco Machete Records
• Duck Down Records
  Duck Down Records
  Duck Down Music Inc is a New York City based record label, talent management, music-marketing, and consulting company founded by Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake in 1995. In Duck Down's 16 year existence, the Company has released over 40 Albums and sold more than 3 million...
  
  
• Gemini Sun Records
• Hefty Records
  Hefty Records
  Hefty Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois . Founded in 1995 by John Hughes III , the label releases a range in genres that include post-rock, IDM, down-tempo, nu jazz, experimental music, and hip-hop.-History:...
  
  
• Hymen Records
  Hymen Records
  Hymen Records is an imprint of the Ant-Zen record label, founded in 1997 by Stefan Alt . Hymen mainly releases material of a technoid, power noise/rhythmic noise, dark ambient, IDM, breakcore or similar experimental electronic nature....
  
  
• Konfort Records
• Kranky Records
  Kranky Records
  Kranky is an independent record label, located in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1993 by Bruce Adams and Joel Leoschke.The bands it houses are noted for combining experimental and often electronic influences with elements of more traditional rock structures, and many of the artists on Kranky...
  
  
• K Records
  K Records
  K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
  
  
• Megaforce Records
  Megaforce Records
  Megaforce Records is an American independent record label which was founded in 1982 by Jon and Marsha Zazula to publish the first works of Metallica. It has offices in New York and Philadelphia. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony Music Entertainment/RED Distribution...
  
  
• Minus Records
• Mutek
  Mutek
  Founded in 2000, MUTEK is an international festival organization dedicated to the promotion of electronic music and the digital arts. Its central platform is an annual five-day event in Montreal that takes place in late May and early June...
  
  
• Monolake
  Monolake
  Monolake is an electronic music act based in Berlin. Originally consisting of members Gerhard Behles and Robert Henke, Monolake is now perpetuated by Henke while Behles focuses on running music software company Ableton, which they founded in 1999 together with Bernd Roggendorf...
  
   Records
• Moodgadget
  Moodgadget
  Moodgadget is an independent electronic music label, founded in 2004 in Ann Arbor, Michigan by Jakub Marek Alexander and Adam E. Hunt, with the mission statement "Exposing the diversity in electronically made music." They started the label with the goal of popularizing their opinion that electronic...
  
   Records
• Ninja Tune Records
• Palmetto Records
  Palmetto Records
  Palmetto Records is an independent American jazz record label founded in 1990 by Matt Balitsaris. -Artists:*Ben Allison*Lili Anel*Matt Wilson*Fred Hersch*Ted Nash*Bill Mays*Larry Goldings*David Berkman*Dr...
  
  
• Seed Records
  Seed Records
  - Seed Records 1972-1981 :Seed Records was a record label started by Paul Clark in 1972. The label ran until circa 1981, when he started Minstrel's Voyage Music...
  
  
• Static Discos Records
• Wednesday Records
• YouRelease Distribution

External links

• IRIS Distribution
• BlinkerActive