Soul Jazz Records

Soul Jazz Records is a British based record label which was formed in the 1990s. Since then it has established a reputation for distributing a range of music to a wide audience. It is most recognised for distributing predominantly black music such as: reggae, soul, ska, dub, and jazz, and other styles given an 'underground' tag. They also distribute music from older generations that were not given their due recognition at the time of its original release.

What kinds of music do Soul Jazz Records produce?
The genre of music which Soul Jazz Records produce is predominately black music such as reggae, soul, dubstep, funk/soul, jazz and hip hop. It is clear that the music that they do produce is niche rather than mainstream chart/pop, and may only appeal to certain audiences.

What strategies do Soul Jazz Records use to promote and distribute their music?
The main strategy that Soul Jazz Records use to promote and distribute their music is through their website, which is used as an online store for each artist that is on the label. The website allows them to promote music by giving updates through the news section about up and coming tracks from previous artists, or new artists breaking through. They can also offer previews of the tracks before a customer purchases the music. Also by offering different ways of purchasing the music through different formats, as they have CD's, Vinyl, LP's, and MP3 it targets a wider range of audience to suit their demands. The website also uses multimedia platforms, as it advertises 'coming soon' DVDs with tracks on it from artists on their label.

Who is the audience for Soul Jazz Records?
There isn't one particular audience for Soul Jazz Records as it offers a wide range of genres which essentially targets a wider range of audience. As everyone listens to different types of music there are going to be different niche audiences for the different genres that Soul Jazz Records have to offer. Soul Jazz Records also have sister labels on their website, such as Universal Sound, which once again offers an even further range of genre again reaching a wider audience.

What is the relationship between Soul Jazz Records and the mainstream music industry?
There is no obvious relationship between Soul Jazz Records and the mainstream music industry, as Soul Jazz Records target their distribution at niche audiences rather than the mainstream itself. Their website allows you to sample the music before you actually purchase it, whereas a 'Big 4' label such as Universal wouldn't. An example of Soul Jazz Records not targeting the mainstream would be their decision not to use social networking sites, but instead having their own blog through the website. This may be a disadvantage as they aren't reaching mass audiences when they have the ability to do so. However, one similarity between the mainstream and Soul Jazz Records is that they are keeping up with technology and allowing MP3 format files of their music to be purchased, which is just basically keeping up with modern trends.