Dirty Hit expands into Australia

Dirty Hit is open for business in Australia.

The award-winning independent record label today (26th August) expands into Asia Pacific with an office in Sydney, led by former Sony Music Entertainment executive Rachel Jones-Williams.

Jones-Williams will oversee label operations for the region in the role of General Manager, Asia Pacific, with Ingrooves Music Group on board as digital distribution partner, through a newly-struck global deal.

Until recently, Jones-Williams served as Senior Manager, National Promotions and Communications at Sony Music, where she worked on campaigns for Vampire Weekend, RUFUS DU SOL, BROCKHAMPTON and Dirty Hit’s frontline act, The 1975.

True to its name, Dirty Hit has enjoyed an impressive haul of international hits with the likes of The 1975, Wolf Alice, Beabadoobee and many others.

Speaking exclusively to TIO, Jones-Williams says the new Dirty Hit affiliate is on the hunt for domestic talent to add to its roster.

“We’re ears to the ground and having conversations,” she explains. “There’s been a really great response from the artist community on the news that the label is launching operations in ANZ. Speaking with local artists it’s been really humbling to hear there is already a solid level of awareness and appreciation for what Dirty Hit does.”

Dirty Hit logo

The launch of an Asia Pacific arm closely follows the creation of an operation in the United States, based out of Los Angeles.

In time, opportunities should open-up for homegrown signings to be pumped through the Dirty Hit business on both sides of Atlantic.

“I’ve always had frustrations watching local artists being pushed into signing global deals out of Australia without the commitment for markets elsewhere to actively support their releases,” notes Jones-Williams.

“Being a close-knit team anything we do sign out of ANZ will be because we collectively love and believe in the music and know we can we can work it on a global level.”

Established 10 years ago in London, Dirty Hit has earned a reputation as one the independent music scene’s premier labels.

With The 1975, the label has one of the biggest British rock bands of its generation.

All four of the Matt Healy-led band’s album have gone to No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, and their 2016 set I Like It When You Sleep… went to the top on the Billboard 200.

Their most recent album, Notes On A Conditional Form, debuted at No. 1 in Australia, their second leader in these parts.

Rachel Jones-Williams

In recognition of its goal-scoring feats, Dirty Hit was named Best Independent Label at the 2019 Music Week Awards in the U.K.

“We are hugely excited to announce the opening of Dirty Hit Australia,” comments Dirty Hit owner and founder Jamie Oborne in a statement.

“This follows the launch of Dirty Hit USA which we have also now announced, Australia feels like the natural next step in the global expansion of the label.”

Jones-Williams, he enthuses, is the perfect point person for the expanding business in Asia Pacific. “Having worked with Rachel for the past few years across much of our roster, we are delighted that she is joining the team and heading up Dirty Hit Australia,” Oborne adds. “She brings with her a wealth of expertise and experience and is the perfect person to ensure we are offering our artists a truly global platform.”

Looking ahead, Dirty Hit will roll out new music from Pale Waves, Benjamin Francis Leftwich and The Japanese House in the coming year.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.