Topic: End of Clone label

Just received the newsletter with that surprising, but totally understandable and well explained. Here's the original text:

"hello all....

first mail out of 2009!
A new year, a new round with new chances. And a good moment for some fresh ideas and make some changes...

* Closure of the Clone record label*
After running the label since 1993/ 94 we recently noticed that we were going to repeat ourselves. We started as a label influenced by the first wave of techno and house labels who were just releasing music for the sake of good and personal music (we cloned what they did... by just having fun and release music which we enjoyed ourselves).
We have started very immature and without having an idea in mind that we we're going to make this a business...

At that moment we were exploring the field of minimalish techno and acid. Then our attention slowly moved to electro, post Detroit techno and the new sonic territories with modern electronica. We've had the return of disco in the late 90's and the nu-disco thing and a fusi on of styles in the early '00. Simultaneously we've released dark electro techno, campy nu-disco ,advanced modern electronica and personal favorites in the rebound.

Artists developed into different directions and there is not much we haven't touched in our field... from very 'obscure' records to 'underground' dance floor hits that got big festival crowds and balearic holiday ravers moving.
So what is there left to do? Basically there is no challenge at this moment... we can continue releasing everything we like (from people we like) without a marketing strategy and without a potential buyers in mind as we used to do... but we already did so for many years.

At this moment we don't understand the popularity of many artists and releases....or... actually we do!. We do, to a certain level, because we've tried many things when we just started our journey into music when we were teenagers and when we started the label +/- 15 years ago! By now we do understan d the tricks and formulas of dance music and the different users. However using these tricks and formulas just to ensure maximum effect would be betrayal to our own musical ethics because our goal with Clone records is to entertain ourself with the music we release (and to be clear... with the music...and not the side effects). Somehow we feel we've had an almost complete life cycle of personal evolution in dance music and thats also how we developed the label into a versatile label which is releasing different styles of dance music for different purposes. Its a difficult decision because the label is doing very well and we get warm reactions from the strangest places in this world and we could do this for another 10 years!
But in order to remain passioned about what we do, we feel we should not continue the label as it is.. so we won't.

but no worries.. there will be new things coming, but its just not exactly clear what, how (and when). More news on th at in a few weeks time!

There will be to two remaining releases (scheduled for Februari.)
C#55 - I-f ft Fred Ventura/ Ajello - I cut my heart out (Craig Richards edit)/ I'm ready
C#56 - Marco Bernardi - Mystery Of Nazerus  (plus a limited Marcus Bernardi rmx 12")
then it will be quiet on the label...

oh.. and  Clone Clasic Cuts still has some releases lined up (incl a Unit Moebius CD release), so for now we don't know what will happen with that.. but most likely we will continue with the Classic Cuts Series.

anyway.....back to business as usual... :-)"

Re: End of Clone label

ouh jezus.
well..dont know what to say.
thanks for the last years!!

Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

Re: End of Clone label

WTF!?

Hopefully something fresh/new will pop up soon.

Re: End of Clone label

very consequent, I like labels who do this before they fade in insignificance ... it's good to hear some truthful words from people who are involved in that industry. Maybe falling sales helped that decision but nevertheless Clone deserves any respect!

Next?
Bunker
Creme
...

Europa has burned, and will burn again

Re: End of Clone label

They don't mention the two F.F. so maybe those will continue

6 (edited by schmoltz 2009-01-21 01:39:54)

Re: End of Clone label

hmmmmmm.. hmm

the tone of that message is almost like it's good news, which just adds to my confusion...

Re: End of Clone label

Oh No! what will Dj Hell do for ideas now

Re: End of Clone label

I don't understand exactly all the motivations behind this decision. Nevermind. I hope that someting good will follow (as IFM and RfR after the CBS...).

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many thanks and wish you luck !

Re: End of Clone label

this calls for a standing ovation. also, I think of C#55 and C#56 as the encore.

Re: End of Clone label

sad news. but on the other hand let's see what will come next..
thanks guys!!

12

Re: End of Clone label

Good decision to keep renewing yourself although it remains sad...

Re: End of Clone label

Good luck to the clone guys in future endeavours.. I however do hope that Frantic Flowers & Frustrated Funk are going to continue.. They are on a role!

Heil CBS

Re: End of Clone label

best of luck for the future.

Re: End of Clone label

well, i respect the decision to end sth, that apparently started as kind of a fun and self entertaining thing, before it turns into only business and to think of sth else instead. still a little sad though, but anyway, thx for some great releases. and good luck for your future plans.

.."this world`s a bubble"..

Re: End of Clone label

Herr Flick wrote:

Good luck to the clone guys in future endeavours.. I however do hope that Frantic Flowers & Frustrated Funk are going to continue.. They are on a role!

if i read right, the label stops..
not the distribution, so other labels connected to clone will continue

Vlam Aan

Re: End of Clone label

I only have respect for integrity. but we don't have that many good labels in holland...

but i doubt Serge will just retire from the music business altogether. can't wait to hear what's up next

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but F. F.s are Clone, no ?

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I believe they are idd sublabels of clone.. but CCC is as well.. and if i'm not mistaken Klen runs the 2 FF's (?) .. so hopefully they will continue..

Heil CBS

Re: End of Clone label

^ yes, but they are labels run by other
Frustrated Funk is run by Klen, dunno about Frantic Flowers
they will continue and distribution will continue also
imagine all those labels connected to clone have to search a new ditributor, that would be a disaster

Vlam Aan

Re: End of Clone label

that's some bad news...otherwise i can understand it...

but it's not the end of the story, hopefully something new will follow, good luck !

Re: End of Clone label

Bugger

So long and thanks for all the fish....er music.

Re: End of Clone label

It's best to quit while you are still ahead. Thank you Clone for all the nice records.

Re: End of Clone label

indeed, thanx for alle the great records in the past years!!

25 (edited by Klart 2009-01-21 14:18:12)

Re: End of Clone label

Damn, I think Clone is the label I've got the most releases of (45).

Well better end it while you're at the top than to end when you've hit the bottom.

Thanks for all the superb music.

Honey, in the morning the bees are singing and the birds are stinging in an open head surgery.