Wrasse Records

Label operated by Wrasse Records Ltd. Wrasse Records was formed in September 1998 by Ian Ashbridge, formerly Head Buyer at HMV and Marketing Director of A&M (UK), and Joanna Ashbridge, formerly Marketing Manager at the News International-owned internet provider Line One. The first signing with the label was Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The label works very closely with artists, management, and record companies to create albums that people want to listen to. Most of its repertoire is African-based, however it tends to sign music that the staff enjoys to the label. In 2005, Universal Music began to license all of its so-called world music to Wrasse for distribution in the UK and the USA so it would not be burdened with those genres of music in those territories.