Polydor co-presidents Ben Mortimer and Tom March say their label has become a significant cultural force for their artists and staff alike.
The pair, who picked up Label Of The Year at the 2019 Music Week Awards, told Music Week that they have built a distinctive, new culture since taking charge of Polydor in 2016.
“It’s fun, it’s youthful and there it’s full of people care about each other, there’s a community at Polydor,” suggested Mortimer.
“We’re a settled team, a young team, a hungry team,” added March. “If I was a manager or an artist, I would want to be with the team we have here because they’re clever people who are good at what we do. There’s always the debate, do you need a record label? Polydor's an exciting place to be. I’d want to be with us.”
The co-presidents explained that while they have enjoyed significant market shares recently, their focus is on building their artists’ careers.
We want to be known as the best label for breaking artist and building campaigns
Tom March
“We want to be known as the best label for breaking artists and building campaigns,” said March. “I’m not bothered about the size or are you this or are you that. We just want to do brilliant work and it’s nice to be recognised. If your label is good and you’re having success and your records are doing well then your market share is going to grow so I’m delighted it’s looking good.”
Looking ahead for the rest of 2019, the duo indicated that Polydor will be active on all fronts.
“This year we have Mabel, Sam Fender, Jax Jones and Jessie Reyez who is about to drop a brilliant record Stefflon Don is about to drop her second record, so we are bringing new artists through,” said March, while his co-president stressed that established acts also remain a priority.
“We’re still putting as much into the artists who have been on the label for some time too,” said Mortimer. “We’re putting a lot into them, a lot into every element of the label. That’s the key for us.”
Last month, Polydor announced the signing of indie pop band Sea Girls. Revisit the best moments of the Music Week Awards 2019 here.
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