Partisan Records

Partisan Records was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 2007 by Tim Putnam and Ian Wheeler. At the time, Putnam was working at the independent label Knitting Factory Records and started Partisan as a "passion project" from his apartment.^[2]

An early signing was the Providence-based rock band Deer Tick. The critical success of their albums helped establish the label's credibility.^[3] In 2008, Partisan entered into a formal partnership with Knitting Factory Entertainment, which also involved managing the catalog of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.^[4]

The label continued to build its roster, signing artists like The Dismemberment Plan for their reunion album Uncanney Valley in 2013. A turning point for Partisan's international profile came with the signing of Cigarettes After Sex.^[5]

Partisan signed Dublin post-punk band Fontaines D.C. in 2018 and Bristol band Idles in 2019.^[6] Both bands achieved critical and commercial success under the label. Idles' albums Ultra Mono (2020) and Tangk (2024), along with Fontaines D.C.'s Skinty Fia (2022), all debuted at #1 on the UK Albums Chart.^[7][8][9]

In 2021, Partisan launched a joint venture label, Section 1, in partnership with Brontë Jane of Third Side Music, and Chris Robbins and Tom Wironen of Friendly Announcer management.^[10] As of 2025, bands released by section 1 include Blonde Redhead, King Princess, Hildegard, Fazerdaze, and Eterna.^[11]

Partisan Records has won Label of the Year at the Libera Awards (2019, 2023) and the Rolling Stone UK Awards (2023).^[12]

In 2023, London-based jazz group Ezra Collective won the Mercury Prize for their album Where I'm Meant to Be.^[13] Several artists have received multiple Grammy nominations, including Fontaines D.C.^[14] and Idles.^[15]

Idles have won multiple Ivor Novello Awards and NME Awards.^[16] Ezra Collective won a Brit Award for Group of the Year.^[17]