Arts & Crafts Productions

Arts & Crafts Productions, commonly known as Arts & Crafts or A&C, is a Canadian independent music company established in 2003 by Jeffrey Remedios, Daniel Cutler, and musician Kevin Drew. The company began as a vehicle for the release and management of Broken Social Scene, the Toronto-based collective co-founded by Drew and Brendan Canning. Its early catalogue was closely connected to the Broken Social Scene community and included releases by Broken Social Scene, Stars, Jason Collett, Feist, Apostle of Hustle, and Valley of the Giants. The business soon developed beyond a single artist collective. In 2005, The Most Serene Republic became the first act without a direct Broken Social Scene connection to sign with the company, marking a broadening of its roster and ambitions. Arts & Crafts also entered the digital-music business that year through GalleryAC.com, an early label-operated store offering downloads and related merchandise. The company became known for combining conventional label functions with artist services, including management, publishing, merchandising, physical and digital distribution, and international market development. Arts & Crafts expanded its presence in Montreal in 2004, where Remedios operated from the offices of DKD. The two organizations later partnered in the formation of Arts & Crafts International. This international orientation supported releases in multiple markets and helped establish the label as an important Canadian independent music operation. In 2008, Arts & Crafts México was launched to serve the Mexican independent-music market. The Mexican operation released music by artists from the wider Arts & Crafts roster and provided a local home for artists such as Sonic Youth, Bright Eyes, M. Ward, Metric, and The Dears. The label’s catalogue has included commercially and critically recognized albums by Broken Social Scene, Stars, Feist, Timber Timbre, and other Canadian and international artists. Several releases received gold or platinum certification, including Broken Social Scene, You Forgot It in People, Stars’ Set Yourself on Fire, and Feist’s Let It Die, The Reminder, and Metals. Arts & Crafts has also accumulated substantial recognition at the Juno Awards and has been described as one of Canada’s most important independent record labels. Visual design is central to the company’s identity. Arts & Crafts has treated packaging, artwork, and physical editions as part of the artistic presentation of its releases, maintaining a recognizable emphasis on design quality. Its projects received multiple Juno nominations for album artwork and recording packages, with a 2011 award for the box set of Broken Social Scene’s Forgiveness Rock Record and a 2014 award for the Arts & Crafts: 2003–2013 compilation package. The company also operates in music publishing through Arts & Crafts Music, also known as GalleryAC Music. This division controls or administers publishing rights connected with parts of the label catalogue and represents rights and royalties for additional artists and writers. Arts & Crafts marked its tenth anniversary in 2013 with the Field Trip Arts & Crafts Music Festival in Toronto, a rarities compilation covering its first decade, and Arts & Crafts: X, a collection of newly recorded collaborations. The company therefore occupies a hybrid position in the music industry: it is simultaneously a label, artist-services platform, publisher, merchandiser, management business, and international independent-music brand.

Arts & Crafts Productions was created in 2003 by Jeffrey Remedios and Daniel Cutler, both former Virgin Records executives, together with musician Kevin Drew. Drew was a co-founder of Broken Social Scene, and the company’s original purpose was closely tied to that group: it provided a structure for releasing Broken Social Scene’s album You Forgot It in People and for managing careers connected with the collective. The early roster included Broken Social Scene, Stars, Jason Collett, Feist, Apostle of Hustle, and Valley of the Giants. Although this initial identity was strongly associated with Toronto’s emerging indie-rock community, the company broadened its remit in 2005 when it signed The Most Serene Republic, its first act without a direct Broken Social Scene connection. This decision helped establish Arts & Crafts as a wider independent label rather than a vehicle limited to one artistic network. The company also pursued new forms of music retail and distribution. In 2005 it launched GalleryAC.com, a boutique online store selling digital downloads and Arts & Crafts merchandise. The initiative placed the company among the early record labels to operate a dedicated digital-download store. Arts & Crafts later became associated with release strategies designed for the changing digital environment. For example, Stars’ In Our Bedroom After the War was made available as a digital download shortly after completion and before promotional copies were manufactured and distributed, an approach intended to reduce the vulnerability of new music to leaks. Arts & Crafts expanded geographically during the same period. In 2004, Remedios developed the Montreal operation from DKD’s offices; the organizations subsequently partnered to create Arts & Crafts International. In 2008, Arts & Crafts México opened as a specialist operation serving Mexico’s independent music market. It released music by artists from the North American Arts & Crafts roster and represented additional artists, including Sonic Youth, Bright Eyes, M. Ward, Metric, and The Dears. Alongside label activity, Arts & Crafts developed management, merchandising, publishing, and rights-administration functions. Arts & Crafts Music, also called GalleryAC Music, administers or controls publishing rights connected to parts of the catalogue and represents selected artists and writers beyond the core label roster. The combination of label and artist services has allowed the company to support releases across recording, publishing, merchandise, distribution, and live activity. The company’s catalogue has produced several certified releases and has attracted recognition from Canadian music institutions. Albums associated with the label include Broken Social Scene, You Forgot It in People, Stars’ Set Yourself on Fire, and Feist’s Let It Die, The Reminder, and Metals. Arts & Crafts has won or been nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including recognition for recording packages. Its design culture is particularly prominent: artwork, packaging, and limited physical editions are treated as extensions of the music rather than merely promotional materials. Arts & Crafts celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2013 with the Field Trip Arts & Crafts Music Festival in Toronto, a two-part compilation project, and an album of new collaborations. Arts & Crafts: 2003–2013 collected rarities from the catalogue in double-CD and four-LP formats, while Arts & Crafts: X presented newly recorded collaborations among associated artists. The company’s distribution arrangements have changed over time, including a 2017 move to Caroline Distribution in the United States after earlier distribution through RED Distribution. In Canada, the label had previously been distributed by EMI Music Canada, whose operations were merged into Universal Music Canada in 2013. Arts & Crafts remains a multifaceted Canadian independent music brand built around artist development, catalogue ownership and administration, international services, and carefully designed releases.

1. 2017Caroline Distribution becomes the United States distributor

   Caroline Distribution takes over United States distribution from RED Distribution.

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2. 2014Arts & Crafts: 2003–2013 wins a Juno for its package

   The four-LP compilation’s recording package receives the Juno Award for Recording Package of the Year.

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3. 2013Tenth-anniversary Field Trip festival and compilations

   The company marks ten years with a Toronto festival, Arts & Crafts: 2003–2013, and Arts & Crafts: X.

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4. 2011Forgiveness Rock Record box set wins a Juno

   The packaging for Broken Social Scene’s Forgiveness Rock Record box set receives the Recording Package of the Year award.

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5. 2008Arts & Crafts México opens

   The Mexican operation is established to focus on independent music in Mexico.

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6. 2005The Most Serene Republic joins the roster

   The signing marks the company’s move beyond artists directly linked to Broken Social Scene.

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7. 2005GalleryAC.com launches

   Arts & Crafts introduces a label-operated digital-download and merchandise store.

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8. 2004Montreal expansion begins

   Remedios expands the operation into Montreal from DKD’s offices, contributing to the later development of Arts & Crafts International.

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9. 2003Arts & Crafts is founded

   Jeffrey Remedios, Daniel Cutler, and Kevin Drew establish the company to release and manage music associated with Broken Social Scene.

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An artist-centered Canadian independent music company distinguished by a strong roster, integrated label and publishing services, international independent-market activity, and an unusually prominent commitment to visual design and physical-release presentation.

• Record-label releasesRecorded music2003

  Arts & Crafts releases albums and other recordings by Canadian and international independent artists. Its catalogue originated in the Broken Social Scene network and later expanded to include artists such as Stars, Feist, The Most Serene Republic, Jason Collett, Apostle of Hustle, and Timber Timbre.

• Arts & Crafts MusicMusic publishing

  Also known as GalleryAC Music, the publishing operation administers or controls publishing rights connected with much of the Arts & Crafts catalogue and represents rights and royalties for selected artists and writers outside the label roster.

• GalleryAC.comDigital commerce2005

  GalleryAC.com was an early label-operated online store providing digital downloads and Arts & Crafts-related merchandise. Its launch reflected the company’s effort to combine recorded-music retail with direct artist and label merchandising.

• Arts & Crafts: 2003–2013Compilation album2013

  This tenth-anniversary compilation surveys the company’s first decade through selected rarities from its catalogue. It was issued as a double album and as a four-LP set, with the physical edition reinforcing the label’s emphasis on presentation and design.

• Arts & Crafts: XCompilation and collaborative album2013

  Released as part of the tenth-anniversary program, Arts & Crafts: X brings together newly recorded collaborations involving artists associated with the company.

• 2013Field Trip Arts & Crafts Music Festival

  Canada

  Arts & Crafts organized a Toronto festival to commemorate its tenth anniversary, with Broken Social Scene, Feist, and Stars among the announced headline acts.

  Outcome. The anniversary program was accompanied by two catalogue projects: Arts & Crafts: 2003–2013 and Arts & Crafts: X.

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• 2017Change United States distribution partnerStrategy

  The Arts & Crafts label had previously used RED Distribution for United States distribution.

  What changed. Caroline Distribution became the company’s United States distributor.

  Aftermath. The change revised the label’s United States distribution infrastructure.

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• 2008Establish a Mexican independent-music operationStrategy

  Arts & Crafts sought to extend its artist-services and release infrastructure into another independent music market.

  What changed. The company opened Arts & Crafts México.

  Aftermath. The Mexican operation released music by the North American roster and additional international artists.

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• 2005Broaden the roster beyond the Broken Social Scene networkStrategy

  The company initially centered on releases and management connected with Broken Social Scene and its affiliated artists.

  What changed. Arts & Crafts signed The Most Serene Republic, its first act without a direct Broken Social Scene connection.

  Aftermath. The move established a broader independent-label scope for the company.

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• 2005Enter digital direct-to-consumer retailStrategy

  Digital distribution was becoming increasingly important while independent labels were exploring ways to sell music and merchandise directly.

  What changed. Arts & Crafts launched GalleryAC.com for digital downloads and label-related merchandise.

  Aftermath. The company became an early independent label participant in dedicated digital-download retail.

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• 2017Arts & Crafts appoints Caroline Distribution for United States distribution

  Caroline Distribution becomes the United States distributor for the Arts & Crafts label, replacing RED Distribution.

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• 2013Arts & Crafts announces Field Trip anniversary festival

  The company announces a Toronto festival featuring Broken Social Scene, Feist, and Stars as part of its tenth-anniversary program.

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• 2008Arts & Crafts opens a Mexican operation

  Arts & Crafts México is established to focus on independent music in Mexico and to release music from both the company roster and additional international artists.

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• 2005The Most Serene Republic becomes the first unrelated signing

  The signing expands the company beyond projects directly connected with the Broken Social Scene community.

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• 2005Arts & Crafts launches GalleryAC.com

  The company enters digital retail with a label-operated store offering downloads and related merchandise.

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• 2003Arts & Crafts launches as a music company

  Jeffrey Remedios, Daniel Cutler, and Kevin Drew establish Arts & Crafts to release and manage music associated with Broken Social Scene.

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1. Arts & Crafts Productions