Bannatyne Music

RKA Records Limited

Type	Private
Industry	Music & entertainment
Genre	Pop, Dance, Teen
Founded	October 2010
Founder	Ryan Ashmore & Liam Webb
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom
Key people	Duncan Bannatyne, Ryan Ashmore, Liam Webb
Products	Music & entertainment
Owner	Sony Music Entertainment
Parent	Sony Music (50%) TESCO Records (30% Joint)
Website	Bannatyne Music

Bannatyne Music is a record label that was originally known as RKA Records. It was first established in October 2010 by Ryan Ashmore and Liam Webb. The label is best known for Ashmore and Webb's appearance on the well known BBC TV Show Dragons Den.

History

Founding

RKA Records was set up in October 2010 by Ryan Ashmore and Liam Webb in Ryan's bedroom. The label began when Ashmore was on holiday in Spain. There he met current artist MarQ Figuli for the first time. When Ashmore returned, he consulted Webb and told him about the idea for the label. A couple of weeks later, they went to Germany to meet with Figuli to discuss a possible recording contract. Recording artist Chris Parham was visiting Fuguli for some songs in the home studio; Ashmore and Webb signed Figuli and Parham both to the label. The contracts were drawn up, and two weeks later, the pair flew back out to Germany again to close the deal with the two singers.

The company was formed on 5 November 2010 through Companies House. Ashmore held an 80% share in the company, and Webb held a 20% share. Throughout the year, Ashmore and Webb worked with Figuli and Parham on their debut albums and were slowly getting them ready to start the promotion stage.

Investment via the Dragons Den

Ashmore and Webb successfully gained investment from Duncan Bannatyne on the Dragon's Den. Bannatyne got a 79% share of the company in return for a £50,000 investment.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Renamed to Bannatyne Music

In 2012 RKA Records closed and was renamed to Bannatyne Music. Bannatyne Music's launch was covered in the NME.^[7]

Deal with Sony Music Entertainment and Gut Records

In 2013, the company was sold to Sony and Gut Entertainment Group (Sony Music Entertainment and Gut Records).^[8]

Artists

• ReConnected^[9][10][11]
• Jay Milly^[12]

References

1. "Telegraph News Paper – Teenagers Sell 79% Stake"."Real Business – Bannatyne Secures Record Stake In RKA Records".
2. "X Factor Reviewer".
3. "Bannatynes New Deal".
4. "Teens Strike Deal With Dragon".
5. "Dragon Invests In RKA".
6. "Teens Secure Deal".
7. "'Dragons' Dens Duncan Bannatyne launches label with new boy band". Retrieved 4 December 2014.
8. "Dragons' Den: Duncan Bannatyne OBE - Startups.co.uk: Starting a business advice and business ideas". Startups.co.uk: Starting a business advice and business ideas. 2016-07-26. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
9. Simon Harding (19 September 2011). "West music promoter back to boost chart hopefuls". Blottr. Blottr Digital Limited. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
10. "ReConnected Signed to RKA Records".
11. "T Boy Band Signed to RKA Records".
12. "Artistes". Bannatyne Music. Retrieved 4 December 2014.