You may recall that back in 2023 The Snuts – who already have three Top 3 albums under their belt, including a No.1 – launched their very own label, Happy Artist Records.
Well, now they are ramping things up. Today (November 25), the group have confirmed they have partnered with Virgin Music Group for global distribution.
Happy Artist Records – led by The Snuts frontman Jack Cochrane alongside long-time managers Adam Harris and Callum Read – will now serve two functions. First and foremost, and as with their 2024 record Millennials, it will serve as the label home for the band’s next album. But now the group say HAR will also be looking “to invest in emerging talent across Scotland and other UK regions.”
An official press release elaborated upon the “dual purpose” of the expansion, saying that Happy Artist Records will be committed to “discovering, signing and developing new artists outside traditional industry hubs” and has been “designed to provide early support and meaningful opportunities for rising talent”.
The label is expected to announce further details and its first signings next year.
Speaking about the label launch, Jack Cochrane said: “From the moment we met Vanessa and Richard it was clear that their approach is to put the artist and their music at the forefront of all decisions. As well as becoming a new home for the Snuts’ new music, I’m incredibly proud that Virgin Music Group are partnering with Happy Artist Records to empower us to sign and provide support to artists from regions around the UK and Scotland which are so often overlooked within the industry. We cannot wait for this next chapter to begin.”
Vanessa Bosåen, president of Virgin Music Group said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome The Snuts to Virgin Music Group. Their new music sounds phenomenal – full of confidence, scale, power, and heart. I can’t wait for the world to hear what’s coming next from the Snuts, and Happy Artist Records. I’m especially excited to hear what talent the new label discovers around Scotland and beyond.”
I’m incredibly proud that Virgin Music Group are partnering with Happy Artist Records to empower us to sign and provide support to artists from regions around the UK and Scotland which are so often overlooked within the industry
Jack Cochrane, The Snuts
The Snuts’ debut album WL entered the charts at No.1 in 2021, followed by Top 3 second album Burn The Empire in 2022. Their independently released, self-produced third record Millennials reached No.2 on the UK Albums Chart, making them the first act since One Direction to achieve three Top 3 albums in three consecutive years. WL is on sales of 81,452 to date, according to Official Charts Company data.
The band have also sold out headline tours across Japan, Australia, Europe and North America, and recently headlined their first Scottish arena show at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro.
Callum Read of Touchdown Artist Management added: “We are on the precipice of something truly great with the next chapter of The Snuts; having built solid foundations over the last few years and with new music incoming that we know will elevate the band to another level. Choosing the right partner at this pivotal time was key. It was obvious from the moment Adam, myself and Jack (Cochrane) met Vanessa, Rich and the Virgin team - that our ambitions for The Snuts and Happy Artist Records were perfectly matched. Exciting times ahead!”
I’m especially excited to hear what talent the new label discovers around Scotland and beyond.”
Vanessa Bosåen, Virgin Music Group
Adam Harris of Touchdown Artist Management concluded: “It felt like a meeting of visionary minds when Jack met with Vanessa for the first time and they shared their ambitions to help break emerging talent in areas of the UK which are so often overlooked. Jack and the band have taken their biggest leap yet with their most ambitious music to date. We couldn’t be more excited to be embarking upon this next chapter for The Snuts and Happy Artist Records with Virgin.”
Alongside the band’s success, Jack Cochrane has been developing Kindrid, his writing and production partnership with long-time collaborator Scotty Anderson, working with a new wave of rising UK artists including Ellur, Jo Hill, Blair Davie, Kerr Mercer, Bemz, Will Parker, Zander, Jasper Hodges and Parliamo.
The Snuts are currently in the studio working on new music which is expected to be released in 2026.
Last month, Virgin Music Group announced it has formed a global distribution partnership with MiPromo, one of Ghana’s longest-standing digital distribution and creative media platforms.
