Editing Planet Mu

{{short description|British record label}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox record label
| name        = Planet Mu
| image       = Mulogo.jpg
| image_bg    = <!-- (background color for logo, should remain empty/white unless required) -->
| parent      = [[Virgin Records]] (until 1998)
| founded     = 1995
| founder     = [[Mike Paradinas]]
| status      = <!-- leave blank unless "Inactive" or "Defunct" -->
| distributor = Cargo (Europe + R.O.W), Redeye USA (North America and Canada)
| genre       = [[Intelligent Dance Music|IDM]], [[dubstep]], [[breakcore]], [[footwork (genre)|footwork]], [[Grime (music genre)|grime]]
| country     = [[England]]
| location    = England
| url         = http://www.planet.mu
}}

'''Planet Mu''' is an English [[electronic music]] [[record label]] created and run by [[Mike Paradinas]]. The label started out as a subsidiary of [[Virgin Records]] then Paradinas set up the label independent of Virgin. After releasing [[intelligent dance music]], the label moved to [[Jungle music|jungle]] and [[breakcore]], and then [[Grime (music genre)|grime]] and [[dubstep]] and later  [[footwork (genre)|footwork]]. The label also releases the music of Paradinas under various aliases such as [[μ-Ziq]], Kid Spatula, and Tusken Raiders. It celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025.

== Beginning ==

When [[Mike Paradinas]] signed as a musician to [[Virgin Records]] in the mid-1990s, Paradinas was asked for suggestions for the new dance subsidiary and suggested Planet Mu as a play on [[Carl Craig]]'s label Planet E.<ref name="EB" /> When Virgin lost interest in the project, Paradinas took it over. He quickly drew critical acclaim for releasing a string of important IDM ([[intelligent dance music]]) records, from artists such as [[Jega (musician)|Jega]], [[Leafcutter John]], [[Luke Vibert]] and [[Venetian Snares]].<ref name="EB">{{cite news |last1=Finlayson |first1=Angus |title=Mike Paradinas on Planet Mu's Past, Present, and Future |url=https://www.electronicbeats.net/planet-mu-25th-anniversary-mike-paradinas-conversation/ |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=Electronic Beats |date=3 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="BBCMu">{{cite news |last1=Madden |first1=Joe |title=Planet Mu label profile |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A13241819 |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=BBC |date=20 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203102445/www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A13241819 |archive-date=3 December 2007}}</ref> The label also releases Paradinas's music under a range of aliases including Kid Spatula, Tusken Raiders, and Mu-Ziq, establishing itself as an electronic music label to rival [[Skam Records]] and [[Warp (record label)|Warp records]].<ref name="BBCMu" />

== Progression ==
As the new decade began, Planet Mu began to release [[Jungle music|jungle]] and [[breakcore]] records from artists such as 0=0, [[Exile (artist)|Tim Exile]] and [[Shitmat]].<ref name="BBCMu" /><ref name="Crack">{{cite web |title=Henry Collins |url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/mixprofile/henry-collins/ |website=Crack Magazine |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref> Later in the decade, Paradinas moved towards [[Grime (music genre)|grime]] and [[dubstep]], signing artists such as [[Boxcutter (musician)|Boxcutter]], Milanese, [[Mr. Mitch]], [[Pinch (dubstep musician)|Pinch]], [[Vex'd]], and [[Virus Syndicate]].<ref name="EB" /><ref name="BBCMu" /><ref name="PF" /><ref name="RAMM">{{cite news |last1=Pearl |first1=Max |title=Planet Mu announces new Mr. Mitch album, Devout |url=https://ra.co/news/38179 |access-date=26 January 2021 |work=Resident Advisor |date=15 February 2017 |language=en}}</ref> In 2006, the label released three ''Warrior Dubz'' compilations curated by [[Mary Anne Hobbs]].<ref name="IMO">{{cite web |title=Planet Mu biography |url=http://www.imorecords.co.uk/dubstep-3/dubsteplabels/planet-mu-biography/ |website=IMO Records |access-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502181118/http://www.imorecords.co.uk/dubstep-3/dubsteplabels/planet-mu-biography/ |archive-date=2 May 2012}}</ref> In the 2010s, Planet Mu changed direction again, releasing the [[Footwork (genre)|footwork]] compilation ''Bangs & Works Vol. 1'' which featured [[DJ Rashad]] and brought the Chicago genre to wider attention.<ref name="EB" /> ''Bangs & Works Vol. 2'' came out the following year and launched the career of [[Jlin]].<ref name="PJ">{{cite news |last1=Beta |first1=Andy |title=Never Scared: The Fearless Footwork of Jlin |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/rising/9627-never-scared-the-fearless-footwork-of-jlin/ |access-date=26 January 2021 |work=Pitchfork |date=15 April 2015 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2020, the label celebrated its 25th birthday. In 2019 it had not made a profit but in 2020 during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], sales went up.<ref name="EB" /> It released the compilation ''PlanetMμ25'' which featured grime from [[East Man & Streema]], pop from [[RUI-HO]], IDM from [[Bogdan Raczynski]] and jazz from [[Jana Rush]].<ref name="PF">{{cite news |last1=Cardew |first1=Ben |title=Various Artists: PlanetMμ25 |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/various-artists-planetmu25/ |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=Pitchfork |date=22 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of electronic music record labels]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.planet-mu.com Official website]
* [http://www.discogs.com/label/Planet+Mu Discogs Planet-Mu]

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:English record labels]]
[[Category:Record labels established in 1995]]
[[Category:Electronic music record labels]]
[[Category:Drum and bass record labels]]
[[Category:Dubstep record labels]]
[[Category:Breakcore]]
[[Category:Grime music]]