2008 labels

As previously, this list is purely mathematical, based on the singles and LP lists, and limited to a top 40 (we like to imagine Tommy Vance counting it down) for our own sanity. Last year's places (where there were any) in brackets, to give a pretty unrepresentative idea of "movement".

1 (1) Cloudberry Records
2 (27) Slumberland Records
3 (RE) Matinee Recordings
4 (4) 555 Recordings
5 (15) Fortuna Pop!
6 (-) Abstract Urban
7 (-) Smokin' Riddims
8 (-) Good Hands
9 (RE) Squirrel Records
10 (-) Lowdowndeep

11 (RE) Heavy Bronx
12 (-) Propaganda Records
13 (11) Planet Mu
14 (RE) Son
15 (-) MJ Hibbett, basically
16 (-) No Hat, No Hoods
17 (-) Eskibeat
=18 (-) Grave Mistake
=18 (-) No Way Out
20 (23) VRD

21 (20) Osmose Productions
=22 (RE) Earache
=22 (RE) The Lost and Lonesome Recording Company
=24 (-) Anorak
=24 (RE) Zebra Traffic
=26 (-) Filthy Little Angels
=26 (-) Satisfaction Recording Company
28 (-) Candlelight
29 (-) Ruff Sqwad
30 (=25) Boot

31 (-) Thee SPC
32 (-) Boss Tuneage
33 (-) No.Lay's World / GGI Enterprises
34 (-) Embajada de Liliput
35 (-) Make Do and Mend
36 (-) Compound
=37 (-) Communications Unique
=37 (-) Letterbox Records
39 (RE) Century Media
40 (-) What's Yr Rupture ?

The majors have pretty much been chased out again, but otherwise the list demonstrates how many million self-released or independently-released tunes there are out there: most of last year's top 40 still released records that made our year-ends. Cloudberry's sheer number of singles saw it reasonably clear as one of four US labels topping the list, though only a single point separated the equally resurgent Slumberland and Matinee. And while there are a couple of French labels, plus one each Spanish and German and Australian, the fact everything else is US / UK may yet demonstrate we haven't been looking widely enough...