Hospital Records: 15 Years.

Since it was formed in 1996 by founder Tony Colman, Hospital Records has gone on to become one of the biggest movers and shakers in the world of bass music. Independently launched with the vision of becoming the hub of the bass genre, the label is now home to some of the most recognisable names within the Drum and Bass with High Contrast, Camo and Krooked and Netsky to name but a few. The music has always been at the centre of a project, which now contains franchises such as the successful ‘Med School’ which budding artists are invited to sign to. Then there is the infamous Hospitality club night which has torn up dance floors from its original home of Brixton Academy to the surreal surroundings of Manchester’s Warehouse Project. Fifteen years have passed by since Tony Colman had the enterprising idea of launching 

the label, so what next?

Fans of the Drum and Bass genre will be aware of the impact that Hospital have had, whether that be from giving artists access to studio space or the platform to perform at Hospitality. Even in the early days of Goss and Colman, the vision was to make the label the premiere destination for fans. With early influences of soul and jazz giving listeners something they were not used to, the summer of 1999 saw the label pushed to the forefront of the scene following the release of long player “Pull the Plug” by London Elektricity that really got heads turning. Listeners now had a label that was ready to push the boundaries of a genre that was dwindling 

in popularity and was bored of constant pretentious releases.

By 2002, Hospital had signed High Contrast and with early releases and a strong debut in ‘True Colours’ the label finally had the fan base that it required to take on an industry that was increasingly in need of fresh talent. 2005 saw the signings of Nu:Tone, Logistics, and Cyantific, they all become pioneers of the sub genre of liquid funk. 2007 saw the release of a compilation album for the first time and it was not until two years later that the label made their next move in signing fresh Austrian and Belgian talent (Netsky and Camo).

To celebrate the 15 years that have passed since the label began, a special anniversary compilation has been released that contains fresh remixes and new songs from the artists who are signed to Hospital. After the amount of success you could probably imagine that Goss and Colman would rest on their laurels, but this 

next year promises to be just as important as any that he presided it.

2012 is a year that will no doubt be as frantic and successful as any other before it. With major label players High Contrast, Netsky and Camo and Krooked all due to release full albums in the first half of the year expect this to be the year that the label breaks into the mainstream. Following the highly successful collaboration with Tiesto, High Contrast has dropped his much anticipated single The Agony and the Ecstasy which is a wonderful journey of both pain and joy that makes up the wonderfully weird Welsh producers mind. Orchestral numbers, followed by dark and meaningful sounds make for one hell of a single. This is one record label that is in it for the long haul and certainly won't be going anywhere quickly.