Fiction Records

What Fiction Records does

Fiction Records is a London-based British record label founded in 1978 and operating as a frontline imprint within Universal Music Group (UMG). The label serves music consumers globally through a roster of approximately 20 active artists spanning indie, alternative, and contemporary rock acts, including The Cure, St. Vincent, Courtney Barnett, Kurt Vile, Steven Wilson, The Horrors, Billie Marten, Jehnny Beth, Kavinsky, and The Big Moon, among others. Its core function is artist signings, A&R, release management, and catalog stewardship for these acts.

The label's core product is recorded music — albums, singles, and catalog releases — distributed via major streaming platforms through UMG's global distribution infrastructure, supplemented by an own-label e-commerce store for direct-to-consumer sales. Marketing is centered on the label's website and the "Universal Recommends" email newsletter, an owned CRM channel used for release promotion and catalog reactivation. There is no proprietary technology platform described; operations rely on standard label tooling combined with UMG group infrastructure for distribution, rights administration, and back-office functions. The imprint itself operates with a lean 1-10 employee team.

Fiction Records generates revenue through recorded music sales and streaming royalties, plus licensing and synchronization income from placements of catalog tracks in film, television, advertising, and games. The most significant recent commercial events are the 2025 release of The Cure's "Songs Of A Lost World" — the band's first studio album in 16 years — and Steven Wilson's "The Overview," both headline releases for the label. As a UMG imprint, Fiction Records monetizes its roster through the parent company's global sales and streaming channels rather than through independent distribution arrangements.

Name

Fiction Records

Legal name

Fiction Records

Website

https://fictionrecords.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fiction Records is a London-based British record label founded in 1978, operating as an imprint within Universal Music Group and managing a roster of indie and alternative artists including The Cure and Steven Wilson.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recorded Music

NAICS

Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (512230)

SIC

Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)

akta.pro primary industry

Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing) (MPAIABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sync Rights Representation (Pitching, Clearance, Negotiation) (MPAIABAF), Performance Rights Administration (PRO Affiliation, Cue Sheet/Setlist Processing) (MPAIABAE), Royalty Accounting & Payment Services (Statements, Audits, Payee Management) (MPAIABAL)

Keywords

• Record label
• Music publishing
• Artist development
• Recorded music
• Music licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Music Sales and Streaming Royalties: Revenue generated from album and single sales across physical formats and digital streaming platforms. The label earns royalties based on streaming counts and physical sales of releases from its roster of artists.
2. Licensing and Synchronization: Revenue from licensing recorded music for use in films, TV shows, advertisements, and other media. Artists' catalogues are made available for synchronization opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Fiction Records is a British record label that signs, develops, and releases music from a diverse roster of artists across indie rock, alternative, electronic, and singer-songwriter genres. The label provides recording support, marketing, promotion, and distribution of artist releases through both physical formats (vinyl, CD) sold via its own store and third-party retailers, and digital channels including major streaming platforms and download stores via Universal Music Group. Additional revenue is generated through synchronization licensing of its catalog for use in films, television, and advertising.

Product overview

Fiction Records is a record label founded in 1978, operating as a music publishing and artist representation company. The company maintains a roster of artists and releases music through its catalog. Key products include album releases such as Steven Wilson's 'The Overview' and The Cure's 'Songs Of A Lost World'. Fiction Records also operates a merchandise store and newsletter subscription service for fans to receive updates about artists, tours, and merchandise drops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Overview (Steven Wilson album) Album release by Steven Wilson distributed by Fiction Records, available digitally via streaming platforms and downloads and physically via the Fiction Records store and third-party retailers. Targeted at Steven Wilson fans and progressive rock listeners.
• Songs Of A Lost World (The Cure album) Album release by The Cure distributed by Fiction Records, available digitally via streaming platforms and downloads and physically via the Fiction Records store and third-party retailers. Targeted at The Cure fans and alternative rock listeners.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Matador Records: Beggar's Group-owned indie label with a roster comparable to Fiction Records in alternative and indie rock. Comparable in scale and artist profile as a UK-/US-anchored independent label.
• Domino Recording Company: Independent UK label signed to a UMG distribution partnership, with a roster spanning indie rock and alternative. Comparable to Fiction Records in genre focus and UK-independent label identity.
• 4AD: Long-running UK independent label known for alternative and indie artists, comparable to Fiction Records in genre focus and label heritage. Operates as part of the Beggars Group alongside several other alt-indie imprints.
• Harvest Records: UMG label imprint with a strong alternative and progressive rock roster (Pink Floyd, Radiohead catalog). Closely comparable to Fiction Records as a UMG sibling imprint focused on alternative and heritage artists.
• XL Recordings: UK-based independent label with a strong alternative/indie roster (Radiohead, Adele, The xx). Comparable to Fiction Records in artist development model and UK-anchored indie/alternative positioning.
• Rough Trade Records: Independent UK label with a deep indie/alternative catalog and a strong independent-retail legacy. Highly comparable cultural positioning and artist base to Fiction Records.
• Polydor Records: Fellow UK-based Universal Music Group imprint operating as a frontline record label across alternative, indie, and pop genres. Directly comparable as a UMG sibling label with similar artist development and distribution models.
• Island Records: UMG-owned UK-originated label with a similar heritage profile to Fiction Records, signing and developing alternative and rock artists globally. Direct peer as a legacy UK label within the same parent group.

Broad incumbents

• Parlophone: Major UK label under Warner Music Group with a long alternative and rock heritage (Radiohead, Coldplay). Comparable as a UK legacy label with a similar artist profile, though larger in scale and under a different parent.

Emerging players

• Sub Pop Records: US-based independent label with a comparable alternative/indie roster and a long independent heritage. Relevant peer given overlapping genre focus and similar role as a flagship indie label for its roster.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FictionRecords
• Facebookfacebook.com/FictionRecords
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fictionrecords

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fiction Records