Produce Records

Produce Records was a Liverpool-based British independent record label founded in 1990. Initially releasing primarily indie dance / indie rock music it later licensed US house music for the UK market. It was founded by Wayne Chand, Ian Croft, Paul McKenna and Barney Moores.
== History ==
Produce Records was founded after British band The Farm and their managers, Kevin Sampson and Graham ‘Suggs’ McPherson (of British Ska band Madness) , approached Moores for a loan to record a single . Moores and McKenna had been selling tour merchandise for the band and, rather than providing the loan, they preferred to set up their own label, establishing Produce Records in 1990.
The Farm was initially the only band on the label, achieving success with the singles Groovy Train and All Together Now (which achieved a silver disc) and the album Spartacus , which reached the top of the UK record chart and was awarded a gold disc . Produce Records subsequently expanded its roster by signing Liverpool indie rock band The Hoovers and releasing tracks by several other Liverpool-based artists .
In 1993, Produce began to license existing US house tracks for release in the UK market and subsequently established two subsidiary labels, World Series (1993 - US house music), and Interactive Records (1994 - UK ambient music). Music was primarily released on a single label basis and included albums by Eightball Records, Movin' Records, New Breed Records, Strobe Records and Vibe Music.
Produce Records stopped releasing music after 1996 and was subsequently wound up in 2005.
== Copy Infringement – Legal Test Case ==
In 1999 Produce Records was involved in a legal test case having challenged the use of an uncleared vocal excerpt from The Farm's track 'Higher and Higher' on Los Del Rio's song 'Macarena'. This led to “Produce Records Limited v. BMG Entertainment International UK and Ireland Limited (1999)”, which tested the extent to which 'substantial use' could be used as a defence for infringement of copyright. The case reinforced the position that sampling without permission is “prima facie” copyright infringement, though the case was ultimately settled out of court and so no legal precedent was set .
== Discography ==
=== Singles ===
Catalogue Series	Artist 	Year 	Label
MILK101-MILK106 	The Farm 	1990-91	Produce Records
HERB101 & 102 	The Hoovers 	1991-92	Produce Records
BUMP101-201 	People Get Ready	1992-93	Produce Records
BEND101 	International 	1992 	Produce Records
WEFUNK1 	The Family Vibe 	1992 	Produce Records
HUGO2 	The Afro Kid 	1992 	Produce Records
8W14 	Eight 	1993 	Produce Records
PLUG01-17 	Various 	1993-96	Produce Records
SERIES1-3 	Various 	1993 	World Series Records
ACTV1 & ACTV6 	The Naturists 	1994 	Interactive Records
ACTV2 & ACTV5 	Omnivore 	1994 	Interactive Records
=== Albums ===
Catalogue Series	Artist 	Year 	Label
MILK-1 	The Farm 	1991 	Produce Records
HERB-1 	The Hoovers 	1992 	Produce Records
EBALL-1 & 2 	Various from Eightball	1993-5	Produce Records
PLUG-1 	Various 	1994 	Produce Records
PLUG-2 	Various from Vibe 	1995 	Produce Records
PLUG-3 	Various 	1994-5	Produce Records
PLUG-4 	Lectroluv 	1996 	Produce Records
WORLD-2 	Various from Strobe 	1993 	World Series Records
WORLD-3 	Various from New Breed	1993 	World Series Records
WORLD-4 	Various from Movin' 	1993 	World Series Records
=== Music Videos ===
Catalogue Series	Artist 	Year
PMV 083 306-3 	The Farm	1991
Category:Independent record labels
Category:Record labels established in 1990