Wolverhampton Wanderers have launched a record label - yes, really

Wolverhampton Wanderers have become the first footballing team in the UK to launch their own record label.

The label, which will run under the name of ‘Wolves Records’ has seen Wanderers team up with Warner Music UK in what is described as a ‘ground-breaking new venture.’

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At a glance: 5 key points

• Wolves are the first football team in the UK to launch their own record label.
• Wolves Records aims to give ‘unprecedented exposure and opportunities to emerging artists and local talent.’
• Legendary music manager Peter Rudge who has managed The Who and The Rolling Stones among others has taken up the role of Strategic Consultant.
• Wolves fan and music Producer S-X who has worked with huge global names in the music industry such as Lil Wayne, Childish Gambino & Skepta has also partnered with the project.
• Wolves Records have already began taking audio submissions from emerging talents and have encouraged anyone that wants to submit a demo to visit wolvesrecords.com to find out more.

What’s been said

Wolves’ general manager of marketing and commercial growth, Russell Jones:

“Wolves Records is an ambitious and progressive project that we have been working on for some time, and we are delighted to finally be able to announce it publicly. Working hand-in-hand with Warner Music’s ADA and lots of very talented and experienced industry professionals, Wolves Records will provide talent with life-changing opportunities.

“As many of our supporters will be aware, one of our goals at Wolves is to grow the club in innovative and entrepreneurial ways, developing new business ideas that will eventually complement and help support the continued success of the football club.”

S-X:

“I am very excited to be involved and support Wolves Records from the beginning and am looking forward to helping identify the best local talent and working with the label’s first artists.

“Wolves and the city of Wolverhampton are both very close to my heart, and I am deeply passionate about giving talented young people from this area the best opportunities, and the rich musical talent that the West Midlands has to offer.

“I am genuinely looking forward to seeing how Wolves Records can impact the music industry and support new artists, and I’m also very proud that it is my club that is going to be the first in the UK to venture into music in such an authentic and exciting way.”

Peter Rudge:

“Football and music are a universal language. Wherever in the world you visit you will likely see a Beckham or a Beatles t-shirt, and the footballers of today have so much in common with musicians in terms of influencing and setting the cultural tone of the times.

“Wolves and Warner Music’s ADA will merge these two cultures and partner in combining their respective skills and assets to develop Wolves Records, and in turn support, nurture, and encourage the local music community.

“I am thrilled to be involved in this initiative, to be able to be part of creating Wolves Records, and thus merging two of mine, and the world’s, great passions - football and music.”

Wolves Records’ head of label, Ricky Hill:

“I went to University in Wolverhampton so I’ve a lot of affection for the city and the Midlands. There’s so much talent in the local area, that Wolves Records is perfectly positioned and hungry to back.

“However, this is not just about supporting local artists, but a genuine and authentic move by a football club with a vast audience to penetrate the music industry and develop new and emerging talent across the world. By partnering with Warner Music and ADA, we are also able to plug into some of the best distribution available and have support from their team of experts when it comes to releasing music.”

Leader of Wolverhampton Council, Ian Brookfield:

“This is a bold move which highlights how ambitious our football club is. Music is a key part of the package for sports marketing and brand development. We already know that Wolves has a huge global brand and fanbase and this move will help cement that.

“More importantly for me, it will create fantastic opportunities for local bands and musicians, building on Wolverhampton’s reputation as a music city. With the Civic Halls opening next year and operated by AEG and live music being a fundamental part of our new five-year events strategy, the music scene in our city is going to go from strength to strength.”

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