Dirty Hit

Dirty Hit Limited^[1] is a British independent record label founded in February 2010 by Jamie Oborne,^[2] Chuck Waite, Brian Smith and former England footballer Ugo Ehiogu.^[3] The company is based in London,^[4] and expanded operations to Los Angeles, Sydney and Tokyo in 2020.^[5]

Dirty Hit
Founded	2 February 2010; 15 years ago (2010-02-02)[1]
Founder	Jamie Oborne Brian Smith Ugo Ehiogu
Status	Active
Distributor(s)	Virgin Music Group (digital) Polydor (only The 1975) Universal Music Group (physical) Sony Music (Australia and New Zealand) Interscope Records (The 1975, Pale Waves and The Japanese House)
Genre	Various, with a focus on alternative and electronic
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Location	London, UK Los Angeles, US Sydney, Australia Tokyo, Japan
Official website	dirtyhit.co.uk

In 2019, Complex stated that "Dirty Hit has become known for championing their artists' individuality".^[6]

History

Jamie Oborne began working in artist management after founding his company, All On Red Management.^[7] When Drive Like I Do, a Manchester-based band later known as The 1975, remained unsigned despite meetings with several record labels, Oborne decided to establish his own record label with Chuck Waite, Brian Smith and former footballer Ugo Ehiogu.^[6][8] The 1975 signed to the label for £20.^[6]

The 1975 and Benjamin Francis Leftwich were the company's first signings, with the former becoming the label’s first act to achieve mainstream success by reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart in September 2013 with their eponymous debut album.^[9][10][11] In February 2019, The 1975 signed a new three-album deal with the label.^[12]

In May 2017, the label launched the Dirty Hit Tour, featuring Superfood, King Nun and Pale Waves.^[13] Since its inception, Dirty Hit’s releases have been distributed to digital platforms by Ingrooves Music Group.^[14][15]

Since January 2019, the members of The 1975 – Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald – have been shareholders in the company.^[16][17] Healy served as creative director for four years before stepping down from the role in April 2023.^[18][19]

DH2

On 17 June 2024, Dirty Hit announced a new imprint label, DH2, focused on electronic music and run by George Daniel of The 1975.^[20] Artists signed to the label include Kelly Lee Owens, Oscar Farrel and TimFromTheHouse.^[20] Owens's album Dreamstate, released on 18 October, was her debut for the label.^[21]

International expansion

Dirty Hit expanded its presence beyond the UK market through growing critical acclaim and a strong social media presence. Following the success of artists such as The 1975, the label gained increased attention for signing younger acts including Beabadoobee and Rina Sawayama. This led to the opening of new offices in the United States and Australia in 2020.^[22]

The label partnered with Ingrooves (now folded into Virgin Music Group) to support international distribution and marketing efforts.^[23] Ingrooves provides digital marketing services, analytics, rights management and promotional tools for independent labels and artists. The partnership was made official in late 2019.^[23]

Two notable members of Dirty Hit’s international team are Greg Carr and Rachel Jones-Williams. Carr joined the Los Angeles office in May 2020, and has been credited by Oborne with bringing significant expertise to the company.^[24] Jones-Williams, based in Sydney, also joined during the same period.

Awards and accolades

Notable artists affiliated with Dirty Hit Records include Wolf Alice, The 1975, Beabadoobee, and Pale Waves, all of whom have garnered nominations or awards from prestigious institutions such as the Grammys, NME, and the Brits.^{[citation needed]} The 1975, a flagship act of Dirty Hit, stands out with two nominations for the esteemed Mercury Prize, showcasing the label's dedication to artists with outstanding musical contributions. Beyond individual accolades, Dirty Hit's artists have collectively made a significant impact on the global music scene by performing at renowned festivals.^[25] The 1975 also headlined Radio 1's Big Weekend, bridging contemporary work and Dirty Hit's alternative style in mainstream media.

No Rome, an artist under the Dirty Hit banner, achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Filipino act to perform at the summer Coachella festival.^[26] In 2019, Dirty Hit Records achieved notable success at the Music Week Awards, outperforming esteemed competitors in the music industry. The label, alongside contenders such as Atlantic Records, Columbia Records, Island Records, Polydor Records, and Warner Bros Records, received recognition for its contributions. In 2019, the label was nominated for 3 awards. The label was able to win the "Best Independent Label" award.^[27]

Notable artists

The 1975, known in 2010 as Drive Like I Do, is the main reason co-founder Jamie Oborne set up Dirty Hit^[6]

• The 1975
• beabadoobee
• Benjamin Francis Leftwich
• Blackstarkids
• Deaton Chris Anthony
• Frost Children
• Jack Antonoff (including Bleachers)
• The Japanese House
• Kelly Lee Owens
• Lava La Rue
• Lowertown
• No Rome
• Pale Waves
• Pretty Sick
• Rina Sawayama

Former

• QTY
• Marika Hackman
• Caleb Steph
• Little Comets
• Wolf Alice
• 404 Guild
• Wallice