PWL
Encyclopedia
Pete Waterman Entertainment (PWE) 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
.
After producing many hits for other record companies, PWL launched its own label in 1987
(PWL Records) with the balearic classic "I Just Can't Wait
" by Mandy Smith
, although it peaked at #91.
As a record label, PWL enjoyed success with Australia
n artists such as Kylie Minogue
and Jason Donovan
and Dutch
dance group 2 Unlimited
. As a production house they produced hits for English
artists such as Rick Astley
, Dead or Alive
and Bananarama
on other record labels.
In the USA, PWL America was established in 1989 and specialized in hip-hop music
. In 1992, it was renamed Chemistry Records Ltd., but it shut its doors in 1993. It was distributed in that territory by Mercury
/PolyGram Records.
In the early 1990s, Pete Waterman formed a new label called PWL International in partnership with Warner Music. However with other projects taking up Waterman's time, his involvement in the label decreased, and PWL International Ltd. became the Warner label Coalition.
The record label is still in operation today and operates the label EBUL
through Jive Records
and Zomba.
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...
and dance 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,...
owned by pop mogul Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
. The label, originally PWL, is most famous for being the home of hit record producers Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
.
After producing many hits for other record companies, PWL launched its own label in 1987
1987 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
(PWL Records) with the balearic classic "I Just Can't Wait
I Just Can't Wait
"I Just Can't Wait" is a Pop-dance song written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman for Mandy Smith's debut studio album Mandy . The song was released as Mandy's debut single and the album's first single...
" by Mandy Smith
Mandy Smith
Mandy Smith is an English dance-pop singer, former model and aspiring counsellor.-Early life:In 1983, at age 13 she started dating 47-year-old The Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, with the consent of her mother...
, although it peaked at #91.
As a record label, PWL enjoyed success with Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n artists such as Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
and Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
and Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
dance group 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...
. As a production house they produced hits for English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
artists such as Rick Astley
Rick Astley
Richard Paul "Rick" Astley is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality. He is known for his 1987 song, "Never Gonna Give You Up", which was a #1 hit single in 25 countries...
, Dead or Alive
Dead or Alive (band)
Dead or Alive were a British New Wave band from Wirral, England, United Kingdom, Europe. The band rose to fame in the 1980s with their number one single on the UK Singles Chart, "You Spin Me Round ". They were the first group to have a number one single under the production team Stock Aitken Waterman...
and Bananarama
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
on other record labels.
In the USA, PWL America was established in 1989 and specialized in hip-hop music
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
. In 1992, it was renamed Chemistry Records Ltd., but it shut its doors in 1993. It was distributed in that territory by Mercury
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
/PolyGram Records.
In the early 1990s, Pete Waterman formed a new label called PWL International in partnership with Warner Music. However with other projects taking up Waterman's time, his involvement in the label decreased, and PWL International Ltd. became the Warner label Coalition.
The record label is still in operation today and operates the label EBUL
EBUL
EBUL is a record label belonging to Pete Waterman Ltd and Jive/Zomba.EBUL was established by Pete Waterman from the ashes of his Eastern Bloc Records and Unity record labels...
through Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
and Zomba.
Notable former PWL artists
- Kylie MinogueKylie MinogueKylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
(left in 1992) - Dead or AliveDead or Alive (band)Dead or Alive were a British New Wave band from Wirral, England, United Kingdom, Europe. The band rose to fame in the 1980s with their number one single on the UK Singles Chart, "You Spin Me Round ". They were the first group to have a number one single under the production team Stock Aitken Waterman...
(left in 1988) - The Reynolds GirlsReynolds GirlsThe Reynolds Girls were a British vocal duo, famed for their hit single "I'd Rather Jack" which peaked at number 8 in April 1989 on the UK Singles Chart. It remained on the chart for 12 weeks. Comprising sisters Linda and Aisling , they were signed to the PWL record label after giving Pete...
- Rick AstleyRick AstleyRichard Paul "Rick" Astley is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality. He is known for his 1987 song, "Never Gonna Give You Up", which was a #1 hit single in 25 countries...
(left in 1990) - KakkoKakko (singer)Kakko is one of the pseudonyms of Yamagata Kakuko , a Japanese actress, TV presenter and former pop singer. Yamagata was born September 23, 1969 in Osaka, Japan...
- Steps
- Boy KrazyBoy KrazyBoy Krazy was a New York City-based girl group that saw brief fame in 1993 with their hit single "That's What Love Can Do".-Career:The group was put together through auditions by a management company in New York. Boy Krazy featured female singers Kimberly Blake, Josselyne Jones, Johnna Lee...
- The Twins
- SinittaSinitta MaloneSinitta is an American singer who has lived in the United Kingdom for most of her career. She is best known for her hit records in the 1980s; including "So Macho", "Toy Boy", "Cross My Broken Heart" and "Right Back Where We Started From"...
- Mandy SmithMandy SmithMandy Smith is an English dance-pop singer, former model and aspiring counsellor.-Early life:In 1983, at age 13 she started dating 47-year-old The Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, with the consent of her mother...
- Jason DonovanJason DonovanJason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
(left in 1993) - Niki EvansNiki EvansNiki Evans is an English actress and singer. She is best known for her appearance in the fourth UK series of the popular television talent show The X Factor in 2007. She is currently appearing as Mrs. Johnstone in the current UK national tour of Blood Brothers.-Pre X Factor:Niki Evans has sung...
- Sonia (left in 1991)
- Hazell DeanHazell DeanHazell Dean is a British dance-pop singer, who achieved her biggest success in the 1980s as a leading Hi-NRG artist. She is best known for the top ten hits "Searchin' ", "Whatever I Do " and "Who's Leaving Who"...
- Mel & Kim
- BananaramaBananaramaBananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
- SybilSybilIn antiquity, the oracular seeresses of the Ancient Near East and the Mediterranean were referred to by the Greek term "sibyls". In modern times, when "Sibyl" is adopted for a woman's name, the conventional spelling is "Sybil".-People:...
- Big Fun (Dropped out in 1991)
- Strange NatureStrange NatureStrange Nature was an indie rock band from the United Kingdom signed to Pete Waterman’s PWL record label in the UK, Warner Music in Europe, and Warner Chappell Music for worldwide publishing. The band was popular in Europe during 1992 to 1995...
(left in 1995) - 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...
- Desiree HeslopDesiree HeslopPrincess is a British singer who found chart success in the mid 1980s. In the late 1970s she worked with the group Osibisa....
('Princess') - London BoysLondon BoysLondon Boys were a British/German dance pop duo composed of Edem Ephraim and Dennis Fuller...
- Sabrina SalernoSabrina SalernoSabrina Salerno , also known in her singing career as Sabrina, is an Italian singer, television hostess, model, actress and record producer...
- Lonnie GordonLonnie GordonLonnie Gordon is a female Hi-NRG, house and soul singer-songwriter from New York's Bronx, who has scored many chart hits during the 1990s and 2000s.-Early life and career:...
- Tina CousinsTina CousinsTina Cousins is an English singer-songwriter and former fashion model. She has had five singles in the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with others. She has also achieved popularity in Australia. She started her career as a model...
- LovelandLoveland (band)Loveland was a British house group, formed in 1994 by Mark Hadfield, Paul Taylor and Paul Waterman.The group scored several dance hits in the UK in the middle of the 1990s, and released one album, 1995's The Wonder of Love. McFarlane was the group's 'featured' lead vocalist, and was often...
- Opus IIIOpus IIIOpus III were a techno and house music group from England who had success on the UK Singles Chart and on the U.S. Dance charts. The group consisted of vocalist Kirsty Hawkshaw and producers/musicians Kevin 'The Fly' Dodds, Ian Munro and Nigel 'Spider' Walton...
- Anticapella
- One True VoiceOne True VoiceOne True Voice were a British boyband created on the ITV television series Popstars: The Rivals, which also produced girl group Girls Aloud. The band was created by the public, who voted for their favourite hopefuls each week...
- Pop!Pop!Pop! were a UK pop group consisting of Glenn Ball, Hannah Lewis, Jamie Tinkler, and Jade McGuire. The group was formed in the summer of 2003 when they were signed by Pete Waterman...
- The SheilasThe SheilasThe Sheilas are a pop girl group who found fame with Stock Aitken Waterman, after they were featured in an advertising campaign for the car insurance company Sheilas' Wheels.The Sheilas are Emma Robbins, Carly Romain and Cathi Ogden...
- Same DifferenceSame DifferenceSame Difference can refer to:* Same Difference, a British singing duo* Same Difference , an album by Swedish death metal band Entombed* Same Difference , a show which aired on Channel 4...
Chemistry/PWL America artists
- B.O.X.
- Diamond and the Psychotic NeuroticsDiamond DDiamond D is a hip hop producer and MC from the Bronx, New York City, and one of the founding members of the legendary D.I.T.C. crew. He started out as a DJ for Jazzy Jay back in the late 1980s and was at the same time perfecting his skills in beat making and turntablism, and together with rhyme...
- Ed O.G. & da BulldogsEd O.G.Edward Anderson is a hip-hop artist from Boston, Massachusetts, United States, better known by his stage names Edo G and Ed O.G.. Although not widely known in the mainstream, Edo G has a cult following in Boston, and an international fanbase.-Career:Born in Roxbury—a rough, predominantly black...
- Sylk Smoov
- T.D.C.