Editing Factory Records (section)

{{Short description|British record label}}
{{Redirect|The Factory (music venue)|the arts venue due to open in early 2020|The Factory (Manchester)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox record label
| name        = Factory Records
| image       = Factory_Records_Logo.svg
| founded     = {{start date and age|1978}}
| founder     = {{plainlist|
* [[Alan Erasmus]]
* [[Rob Gretton]]
* [[Martin Hannett]]
* [[Tony Wilson]]
}}
| status      = Defunct
| defunct     = {{end date and age|1992}}
| distributor = {{Nowrap|[[Pinnacle Distribution ]](in the UK)<Br/>[[Warner Records]] (in the US)<Br/>[[WEA International]] (worldwide)<Br/>[[Rhino Entertainment]] (Reissues)<Br/>[[Virgin Music Label & Artist Services]] (select)}}
| genre       = [[Post-punk]], [[alternative dance]]
| country     = United Kingdom
| location    = [[Manchester]]
| url         =
}}
'''Factory Records''' was a [[Manchester]]-based British [[independent record label]] founded in 1978 by [[Tony Wilson]] and [[Alan Erasmus]].

The label featured several important acts on its roster, including [[Joy Division]], [[New Order (band)|New Order]], [[A Certain Ratio]], [[the Durutti Column]], [[Happy Mondays]], [[Northside (band)|Northside]], and (briefly) [[Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark]] and [[James (band)|James]]. Factory also ran [[The Haçienda]] nightclub, in partnership with New Order.

Factory Records used a creative team (most notably record producer [[Martin Hannett]] and graphic designer [[Peter Saville (graphic designer)|Peter Saville]]) which gave the label and the artists recording for it a particular sound and image. The label employed [[Factory Records catalogue|a unique cataloguing system]] that gave a number not just to its musical releases, but also to various other related miscellany, including artwork, films, living beings, and even Wilson's own coffin.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lynskey |first1=Dorian |title=A fitting headstone for Tony Wilson's grave |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/oct/26/fitting-headstone-tony-wilson-grave |website=The Guardian}}</ref>