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PIAS Recordings (formerly Play It Again Sam) is a Belgian record label founded in 1983 by Kenny Gates and Michel Lambot.[1] Play It Again Sam expanded along with other European independent labels in the early 1980s. Play It Again Sam's prominent early artists were electronic-rock acts like Front 242, Meat Beat Manifesto and The Young Gods. They later added artists such as The Sound, Soulwax/2ManyDJ's, Sigur Rós and Mogwai.
| PIAS Recordings | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | PIAS Group |
| Founded | 1983; 41 years ago (1983) |
| Founder | Kenny Gates Michel Lambot |
| Distributor(s) | PIAS, Virgin Music Group in the U.S. |
| Genre |
|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom and Belgium |
| Location | London and Brussels |
| Official website | playitagainsam |
The first release on the label in 1984 was the mini album Faces in the Fire by the cult experimental psychedelic band The Legendary Pink Dots. This was immediately followed by the 'Four Your Ears Only' EP, featuring Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Red Guitars, Party Day and Luddites.[2] This laid the ground for releases from many other artists with very diverse musical backgrounds and geographical origins, including the Butthole Surfers, Parade Ground, The Neon Judgement, The Sound, Skinny Puppy, Taxi Girl, Bill Pritchard and The Cassandra Complex. In 1988 the label released the album Front By FrontbyFront 242 including the single "Headhunter" (with a video directed by Anton Corbijn).
The year 1983 marked a distribution agreement in which Chicago-based Wax Trax! Records distributed Play It Again Sam releases in the USA. The agreement continued into the 1990s. In 1999, Play It Again Sam signed a German distribution deal to distribute London-based dance label Mo' Wax's releases.[3]
In 2000, the label moved from Brussels to London and was renamed PIAS Recordings. PIAS Recordings released the first two albums by Icelandic band Sigur Rós. The Scottish band Mogwai signed to PIAS in 2001.
PIAS announced at the end of 2010 that it would be re-launching Play It Again Sam as a label.
In November 2022, Universal Music Group purchased a 49% stake in [PIAS] (including [PIAS] Recordings).[4]