| Poptones Records | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Alan McGee |
| Distributor(s) | Vital |
| Genre | Alternative rock Indie rock Noise pop Shoegazing Britpop |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Location | London, England |
Poptones is a record label launched by Alan McGee after the demise of Creation Records in 1999. Named after a Public Image Limited song, it is seen as something of a return to the staunchly independent roots of Creation. Most notably, the label launched the career of The Hives in the UK.
Poptones' roster included acts such as psychedelic DJ Cherrystones, ex-Beta Band member Steve Mason's King Biscuit Time, Thee Unstrung, The Boxer Rebellion, The Icarus Line's sister project Souls She Said, Sailboats are White, Viking Moses, Beachbuggy and acey-folk acts The Singleman Affair and Pure Reason Revolution and Trashmonk, a project of Nick Laird-Clowes.
Poptones reportedly was close to signing Hole after they left Universal Music Group and before their demise in 2002.[1]
In 2002, Poptones gain national success and media with The Hives "Your New Favourite Band" LP/CD, Main Offender 7" (which featured "Lost And Found" originally performed by The Saints as a B-Side), and Supply And Demand/The Stomp 7". "Your New Favourite Band" LP/CD contained the smash international hits "Hate To Say I Told You So", "Main Offender", "Supply And Demand", "Die, Alright", and "Outsmarted" off Veni Vidi Vicious (Epitaph/Sire/Reprise Records) and as well the Independent success of "Here We Go Again", "A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T", "Automatic Schmuck", and "Hail Hail Spit N'Drool" off Barely Legal (Burning Heart/Epitaph/Gearhead Records). [2]
In May 2007, McGee told The Independent newspaper that he was winding down Poptones for financial reasons.[3]