A Healthy New Label

MAMA Group and Mercury Records have entered into a joint venture to start a new label, called The Pharmacy Recording Company.

The label will be overseen by MAMA Group’s James Sandom, although he stresses that this does not signal a move away from artist management.

MAMA will continue to represent acts including Kaiser Chiefs, White Lies, The Cribs and Howling Bells.

“The label further widens the parameters of what we’re able to offer artists. Partnering with Jason Iley and the Mercury team is an exciting opportunity. We will announce our first signing in the next few weeks,” Sandom explained.

Ex-NME new music editor Alex Miller will be working as A&R consultant.

At the beginning of the year, Mama sold 50 percent of its stock in the Mean Fiddler music venues to retail chain HMV for £18.25 million (US$ 26.6 million). The eleven venues, which include London’s Hammersmith Apollo and Forum and provincial rooms including Edinburgh Picture House and Birmingham Institute, now carry the HMV brand.