Bardic Records :: The Lowdown

This spring US label Bardic Records opens a new UK office, offering new opportunities for both US artists whilst developing homegrown UK talent. The label is setting out on a major crusade to change the way record companies work, still using major league distribution and yet sharing the ethos of a small independent and ultimately putting artist development first.

Originally the brainchild of songwriter Jack Ponti, who has worked alongside artists such as Toni Braxton, Dr Dre and Destiny’s Child, Bardic Records is set to become a highly revolutionary ‘incubator’ of artistic talent and an intermediate step between the indie and major labels.

But why would anyone honestly want to start a new label at a time when the music industry is in such turmoil? "We wanted to find a model that worked both economically and creatively" explains Jack Ponti, "A label which wasn’t predicated on instant results, but long term objectives" Bardic Records intends to combine talents, capitalize on success, to unite strengths. Indeed the Bardic roster looks set to be a rich and varied one, ‘I look for great songwriting first" say’s Ponti " At the end of the day, that’s what defines the length of an artists’ career".. And he should know.

Jack Ponti’s story is an American Dream come true, Ponti, a guitarist, showed his aptitude for spotting talent early on in life when he formed a band, fronted by Jon Bon Jovi. This turned into a working relationship which saw Ponti soon promoted to the upper echelons of the songwriting world during the 80’s. With sales of over 80 million, including many with Alice Cooper, Ponti expanded into record production then management, soon representing 47 writers/producers in total such as Carlos "Six July" Broady (Puffy, Lil Kim, Notorious BIG), N.O. Joe Johnson (Ice Cube, Geto Boyz), Andrea Martin (Toni Braxton, Monica, En Vogue, Pink), Jelly Roll (Xzibit, Dr. Dre), Mary Brown (Destiny’s Child, Jaheim) and countless others.

The London based label has three key US artists currently in development, all scheduled to release albums this year, starting with the intriguing Virginia based singer song writer Ben Arthur in June 04. Edible Darling.