British Indie Powerhouse Relentless Records Celebrates 25th Anniversary, Founder ‘Shabs’ Jobanputra Plots U.S. Expansion
variety.comMark Sutherland Over the last quarter of a century, Relentless Records has been one of the most reliable sources for breaking artists out of the United Kingdom.
And now it’s heading across the Atlantic, as the label plans to celebrate its silver jubilee by setting up its first American office.
Relentless founder/president Shabir “Shabs” Jobanputra was not expecting the label to enjoy such longevity when he set it up, initially as a joint venture with Ministry of Sound, in order to release hip-hop, R&B and dance records on vinyl.
That was a bold strategy at the dawn of the Napster age. But Jobanputra’s own remarkable journey means he has never been afraid to take chances in the music industry: He came to Britain aged five as a refugee from Idi Amin’s Uganda and had what he describes as a “tough” upbringing in London, before becoming one of the first Asian presidents of a major label at Virgin Records U.K.
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