Downtown Records
American record label

Downtown Records is an American record label based in New York City with offices in Los Angeles. Owned and operated by Josh Deutsch and Terence Lam, the label is distributed by Interscope Capitol Labels Group (formerly Geffen Records and Interscope Records) in the US, in the UK distributed by Polydor Records, and in the EU distributed by The Orchard.
Downtown's roster includes artists such as Nick Murphy, Brett Dennen, Electric Guest, Tei Shi, Goldroom and Tommy Genesis.
History
The label was co-founded by Josh Deutsch and Terence Lam in 2006 and grew to become Downtown Music with publishing, licensing, music services and Songtrust. In 2013 Downtown Records was purchased outright by its original co-founders and now operates fully independent. The label's music was distributed by Sony Music's RED Distribution and Cooperative Music. It is now distributed by Interscope Records/Universal Music Group (now Geffen Records).
In addition to the sister label, Mercer Street Records, Downtown has label partnerships with Dim Mak Records, Fool's Gold Records and Mad Decent.
Downtown Records also operates Downtown Events – a festival and concert promotion company that produces The Downtown Music Festival.
Roster
The Academic
Ant Beale
Autre Ne Veut
Bop English
Brett Dennen
Dawn Golden
Devin Di Dakta
Electric Guest
Ex Cops
Goldroom
Houses
Lawrence Rothman
Lola Kirke
Lorde Fredd33
Mapei
Miike Snow
Nick Murphy (aka Chet Faker)
Sammi Sanchez
San Fermin
Santigold
Slow Magic
Smino
Tei Shi
Tkay Maidza
Tommy Genesis
Vacationer
Past roster
Andrew Wyatt
Amanda Blank
Art Brut
Big Time Rush
Butter the Children
Carla Bruni
Chloē Laing
Cold War Kids
The Cranberries
Crookers
Cyndi Lauper
Die Antwoord
The Drums
Duck Sauce
Duke Dumont
Eagles of Death Metal
Gnarls Barkley
Jonathan Wilson
Justice
Kid Sister
Kate Earl
Katie Herzig
Lissy Trullie
Major Lazer
Marilyn Manson
Mura Masa
Mas Ysa
Mos Def
MSTRKRFT
Neon Trees
Penguin Prison
Port St.
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