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Arts & Crafts Productions

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Arts & Crafts
Parent companyArts & Crafts Productions
Founded2003 (2003)
FounderKevin Drew
Jeffrey Remedios
Distributor(s)Caroline Distribution (US)
Universal Music Canada (Canada)
GenreIndie
Country of originCanada
LocationToronto, Ontario
Official websitearts-crafts.ca

Arts & Crafts Productions is a music-focused media and artist services company that offers information as an independent record label, management firm, merchandiser, and publisher worldwide. It has earned 21 Juno Awards. Arts & Crafts has been called one of Canada's most important record labels.[1]

History

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Founding

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Arts & Crafts (also referred to as "A&C") was launched as a music company in 2003 by friends Jeffrey Remedios & Daniel Cutler both former Virgin Records executives as well as Kevin Drew, who co-founded flagship group Broken Social Scene (BSS) with Brendan Canning. The partnership was originally intended as a vehicle for self-release and artist management of Broken Social Scene's breakthrough album You Forgot It in People, and the structure quickly formed as a platform to release albums and manage the careers of artists directly affiliated with members of Broken Social Scene. In addition to BSS albums the labels first releases were by Stars, Jason Collett, Feist, Apostle of Hustle and Valley of the Giants.

Growth

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In 2005 The Most Serene Republic was the first band unrelated to Broken Social Scene to sign to Arts & Crafts[2] and officially marked a shift of scope broader than the projects related to Broken Social Scene.

A&C began its foray into the digital music business with the launch of GalleryAC.com, a boutique web store that offered digital downloads and Arts & Crafts related merchandise, in 2005. They were one of the first labels to launch a digital download store.

In 2004, Remedios expanded the operation into Montreal basing himself out of the offices of DKD who later partnered to form Arts & Crafts International, releasing the gold selling album Set Yourself on Fire[3] by Montreal-based group, Stars.

Arts & Crafts were among the first labels to offer a strategy for combating advance music leaks by offering Stars follow-up album In Our Bedroom After the War for sale before promotional copies were ever manufactured and distributed by issuing wide release as a digital download only 3 days following album completion.[4]

In 2009 Rolling Stone cited Remedios as a key insider reshaping the future of the music biz.[5]

On 5 April 2017,[6] Caroline Distribution became the US distributor for the Arts & Crafts label in the US. The label was previously distributed by RED Distribution in the US. EMI Music Canada previously distributed the label in Canada, when, in 2013, EMI Music Canada was merged into Universal Music Canada.

Recent history

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Arts & Crafts Music (also known as GalleryAC Music) controls or administers the publishing rights to much of the music released by the Arts & Crafts label.

On 14 January 2013, Arts & Crafts announced it would be holding the Field Trip Arts & Crafts Music Festival to commemorate their ten-year anniversary. Signed on to headline are Arts & Crafts labelmates Broken Social Scene, Feist, and Stars.[7] Along with the festival celebration, Arts & Crafts released a rarities compilation titled, Arts & Crafts: 2003–2013. The compilation was released as a double album or four LPs and included selected rarities from across the Arts & Crafts catalog.[8] A second compilation album, Arts & Crafts: X, was released in May and featured newly recorded collaborations between A&C artists.[9]

The "Toronto Music Scene"

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The 2009 release of This Book Is Broken (House of Anansi Press) documented the rise of Toronto indie bands, focusing especially on Broken Social Scene and the Arts & Crafts roster.

The Arts & Crafts Aesthetic

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A design house, Arts & Crafts is well known for a consistent look and quality to all releases. Design and art are important to the company, and are taken as another medium of artistic expression that the label supports.

A&C has been nominated for five JUNO Awards for Album Artwork of the year. In 2006 for Broken Social Scene: Broken Social Scene (Louise Upperton (Director/Designer); Christopher Mills, Kevin Drew, Justin Peroff (Illustrators)), in 2009 for Constantines: Kensington Heights (Dallas Wherle, Robyn Kotyk and Alex Vs. Alex). In 2011, Kotyk, Peroff, Charles Spearin, Joe McKay, Jimmy Collins and Elisabeth Chicoine were awarded the Recording Package of the Year Juno for Broken Social Scene's Forgiveness Rock Record box set and in 2012 for Timber Timbre's Creep on Creepin' On and Feist's Metals both earned nominations in the category.

In 2014, Arts & Crafts designers Kotyk, Peroff, and Petra Cuschieri won another Recording Package of the Year Juno Award for "Arts & Crafts: 2003–2013" 4x LP compilation album.

Gold & Platinum Certifications

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Broken Social Scene Broken Social Scene

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada Gold[10] 50,000

Stars Set Yourself On Fire

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada Gold[10] 50,000

Broken Social Scene You Forgot It in People

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada Gold[11] 50,000

Feist Let It Die

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada Platinum[12] 100,000

Feist The Reminder

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada 2× Platinum[13] 200,000

Feist Metals

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada Gold[10] 50,000

Awards and accolades

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Juno Awards

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The Juno Awards are presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003 Broken Social Scene, You Forgot It in People Alternative Album of the Year Won
2004 Broken Social Scene, "Stars and Sons" Video of the Year Nominated
Stars, Heart Alternative Album of the Year Nominated
2005 Feist, "One Evening" Video of the Year Nominated
Feist, Let It Die Alternative Album of the Year Won
Feist New Artist of the Year Won
Stars, Set Yourself on Fire Alternative Album of the Year Nominated
2006 Broken Social Scene, Broken Social Scene Alternative Album of the Year Won
CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year Nominated
Feist, "Inside and Out" Single of the Year Nominated
2008 Feist, The Reminder Album of the Year Won
Pop Album of the Year Won
Feist, "1,2,3,4" Single of the Year Won
Feist Songwriter of the Year Won
Feist Artist of the Year Won
2009 The Stills, Oceans Will Rise Alternative Album of the Year Won
The Stills New Group of the Year Won
Constantines, Kensington Heights Recording Package of the Year Nominated
Feist Juno Fan Choice Award Nominated
Feist, "Honey Honey" Video of the Year Won
2010 Amy Millan, Masters of the Burial Adult Alternative Album of the Year Nominated
Amy Millan, Masters of the Burial Recording Package of the Year Nominated
Bell Orchestre, As Seen Through Windows Instrumental Album of the Year Won
Charles Spearin, The Happiness Project Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year Won
The Most Serene Republic, "Heavens to Purgatory" Video of the Year Nominated
2011 Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock Record Alternative Album of the Year Nominated
Broken Social Scene Group of the Year Nominated
Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock Record Recording Package of the Year Won
Broken Social Scene, This Movie Is Broken Music DVD of the Year Nominated
Broken Social Scene, "Forced to Love" Video of the Year Nominated
Chilly Gonzales, Ivory Tower Electronic Album of the Year Nominated
2012 Dan Mangan, Oh Fortune Alternative Album of the Year Won
Dan Mangan New Artist of the Year Won
Dan Mangan Songwriter of the Year Nominated
Dan Mangan, "Rows of Houses" Video of the Year Nominated
Feist, Metals Adult Alternative Album of the Year Won
Feist Artist of the Year Won
Feist Songwriter of the Year Nominated
Feist, Look at What the Light Did Now Music DVD of the Year Won
Timber Timbre, Creep on Creepin' On Alternative Album of the Year Nominated
Timber Timbre, Creep on Creepin' On Recording Package of the Year Nominated
2013 Trust Electronic Artist of the Year Nominated
Cold Specks Breakthrough Artist of the Year Nominated
2014 Arts & Crafts: 2003–2013 Recording Package of the Year Won
Hayden, Us Alone Adult Alternative Album of the Year Nominated
The Darcys, Warring Alternative Album of the Year Nominated
2015 Timber Timbre, Hot Dreams Alternative Album of the Year Nominated
Timber Timbre, Hot Dreams Recording Package of the Year Nominated
2016 Tobias Jesso Jr., Goon Adult Alternative Album of the Year Nominated
Frazey Ford, Indian Ocean Contemporary Roots Album of the Year Nominated
Dan Mangan + Blacksmith, Club Meds Recording Package of the Year Nominated
2017 Andy Shauf Breakthrough Artist of the Year Nominated
Gord Downie Songwriter of the Year Won
Andy Shauf, The Party Adult Alternative Album of the Year Nominated
Gord Downie, Secret Path Adult Alternative Album of the Year Won
Jacques Greene, You Can't Deny Dance Recording of the Year Nominated
Andy Shauf, The Party Recording Engineer of the Year Nominated
Gord Downie, Secret Path Recording Package of the Year Won
Gord Downie, "The Stranger" Video of the Year Nominated
2018 Broken Social Scene Breakthrough Artist of the Year Nominated
Gord Downie, Introduce Yerself Adult Alternative Album of the Year Won
Gord Downie Artist of the Year Won
Timber Timbre, Sincerely, Future Pollution Adult Alternative Album of the Year Nominated
Gord Downie + Kevin Drew Songwriter of the Year Won
Kid Koala, Music To Draw To: Satellite Electronic Album of the Year Nominated
2019 Dan Mangan, More or Less Adult Alternative Album of the Year Nominated
Fucked Up, Dose Your Dreams Alternative Album of the Year Nominated
Jacques Greene, Avatar Beach Dance Recording of the Year Nominated
Said The Whale, UnAmerican Recording Engineer of the Year Nominated

Polaris Music Prize

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The Polaris Music Prize is awarded annually to the best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2006 Broken Social Scene, Broken Social Scene Polaris Music Prize Nominated
2007 Feist, The Reminder Polaris Music Prize Nominated
2008 Stars, In Our Bedroom After the War Polaris Music Prize Nominated
2010 Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock Record Polaris Music Prize Nominated
2011 Timber Timbre, Creep on Creepin' On Polaris Music Prize Nominated
2012 Cold Specks, I Predict a Graceful Expulsion Polaris Music Prize Nominated
2012 Feist, Metals Polaris Music Prize Won
2014 Timber Timbre, Hot Dreams Polaris Music Prize Nominated
2015 Tobias Jesso Jr, Goon Polaris Music Prize Nominated
2016 Andy Shauf, The Party Polaris Music Prize Nominated
2017 Gord Downie, Secret Path Polaris Music Prize Nominated
2018 Jean-Michel Blais, Dans ma main Polaris Music Prize Nominated
2020 nêhiyawak, nipiy Polaris Music Prize Nominated

Canadian Music Awards

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The Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards happen every March in Toronto as part of Canadian Music Week.[14]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2008 Arts & Crafts Independent Label of the Year Won
2009 Arts & Crafts Independent Label of the Year Won
2011 Arts & Crafts Independent Label of the Year Won
2012 Arts & Crafts Independent Label of the Year Won
2013 Arts & Crafts Management Company of the Year Won
2014 Arts & Crafts Management Company of the Year Won

Other ventures

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In 2008 Arts & Crafts opened Arts & Crafts México[15] and are recognized as the first independent music company to focus on the independent music market in Mexico, releasing albums by the A&C North American roster as well as being the Mexican home to a number of other successful artists such as Sonic Youth, Bright Eyes, M. Ward, Metric, and The Dears.

Artists

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References

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  1. ^ Experienced youth.
  2. ^ Jennings, Nicholas (Spring 2006). "We are Family: Arts & Crafts". Words & Music. SOCAN. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2009. Article about the label's beginnings and its different approach to the music business.
  3. ^ CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications for December 2006.
  4. ^ "Stars Fight Album Leak, Release in Our Bedroom After the War on iTunes Immediately". Exclaim!. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  5. ^ "How to Save Rock & Roll". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 17 January 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  6. ^ Music Business Worldwide - "Arts & Crafts Signs Renewed US Distribution Deal"
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ Pelly, Jenn (26 February 2013). "Arts & Crafts Detail Retrospective Comp, With Broken Social Scene, Feist, Stars, Los Campesinos!, More". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  9. ^ "Arts & Crafts’ Jeffrey Remedios on Label's Tenth Anniversary, the ‘Nostalgia Vortex,' Stars' Pillow Cases". Billboard, 28 May 2013.
  10. ^ a b c CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications.
  11. ^ CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ^ CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications
  13. ^ CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications Archived 7 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "CMA 2011 Winners". Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  15. ^ "Toronto music label Arts & Crafts opens office in Mexico City". CBC News. 7 October 2008. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  16. ^ "Charlie Houston Signs To Arts & Crafts".
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