Creation Records
British independent record label associated with influential alternative rock, shoegaze and Britpop releases.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Creation Records was a British independent record label founded in London in 1983 by Alan McGee, Dick Green and Joe Foster. Its name referred to the 1960s British group The Creation, a band admired by McGee. The label was established as an outlet for artists who did not fit the commercial pop system of the early 1980s and became one of the defining institutions of British independent music. McGee had previously been involved in the fanzine Communication Blur, the band The Laughing Apple and the Communication Club venue. He also operated The Living Room club in London, where he encountered musicians and artists who later became part of Creation's network. The label's first release was The Legend!'s 1983 single “73 in '83,” financed in part by a £1,000 bank loan. Early distribution and financial support from Rough Trade helped Creation expand beyond its extremely small beginnings. During the mid-1980s, Creation developed a roster that included The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Felt, The Membranes and The Weather Prophets. Its releases helped define the British indie movement, combining noisy guitar pop, post-punk influence, experimental production and a deliberately independent presentation. The Jesus and Mary Chain moved to Warner Bros. in 1985, but their success and McGee's continuing management relationship generated resources and visibility for other Creation artists. The label's artistic ambitions became increasingly broad in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Creation artists absorbed influences from acid house and dance music, while the roster expanded to include acts such as My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Slowdive, Teenage Fanclub and Primal Scream. Critical recognition was often stronger than commercial performance, and the extended recording of My Bloody Valentine's Loveless became associated with the label's financial strain. Creation also experimented with specialist imprints, including Infonet, August Records, Icerink, Ball Product and Eruption Records. In 1992, accumulated debt led McGee to sell half of Creation to Sony Music. The partnership supplied greater commercial infrastructure while leaving the label's A&R identity largely intact. The signing of Oasis transformed Creation's fortunes. Oasis's 1994 debut, Definitely Maybe, became a major success, and the 1995 album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? became one of the decade's biggest-selling British albums. Oasis consequently became a central musical symbol of Britpop and demonstrated that an independent label could achieve exceptional mainstream impact. Creation also operated the Rev-Ola subsidiary, associated with Joe Foster, and licensed parts of its catalogue to other labels for territories outside the United Kingdom and Europe. McGee's public profile grew alongside the label's success. He received the NME Godlike Genius award in 1995, while Creation was named Independent Label of the Year by Music Week from 1995 through 1998. In the period preceding the 1997 British general election, McGee also worked on a Labour Party youth-culture campaign and advocated policy changes intended to give musicians more time and public support to develop their careers. The original Creation operation ended in December 1999 after McGee and Foster decided to close it. Burnout and disillusionment were cited as important factors. Primal Scream's XTRMNTR, released in January 2000, was the label's final release issued shortly after the closure. McGee and Foster subsequently formed Poptones, returning to a more explicitly independent model. Creation was temporarily revived in 2011 for the soundtrack compilation connected with the documentary Upside Down: The Creation Records Story. Later revival efforts included Creation23, a seven-inch-focused label launched by McGee, and the 2021 relaunch branded “It's Creation Baby,” which expanded into albums as well as singles. These later ventures used the Creation identity but were distinct from the original 1983–1999 company. Creation's lasting importance rests on its combination of experimental taste, strong artist relationships, media visibility and an ability to turn alternative music into large-scale popular culture.
History
Creation Records emerged from London's independent music culture in 1983, when Alan McGee, Dick Green and Joe Foster created a label named after the 1960s group The Creation. McGee's earlier activities in fanzines, bands, clubs and live promotion gave him access to musicians outside the mainstream recording system. The first release, The Legend!'s “73 in '83,” was financed with a small bank loan, reflecting the label's modest beginnings. Rough Trade distribution helped Creation build a presence in the mid-1980s independent scene. The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Felt, The Membranes and The Weather Prophets were among the early artists associated with the label. Creation's aesthetic favored guitar noise, post-punk experimentation, strong personalities and records that could gain attention through specialist music press rather than conventional pop promotion. McGee's management of The Jesus and Mary Chain also helped him generate resources and visibility for the wider roster. After the short-lived Elevation Records venture, McGee redirected Creation toward the changing musical environment of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Acid house and dance culture influenced artists such as Primal Scream and My Bloody Valentine, while the label continued releasing records that were critically admired but not always commercially successful. Expensive recording projects and the general cost of maintaining a diverse independent roster created substantial debt. In 1992, McGee sold half of Creation to Sony Music, providing financial support and access to international distribution. The partnership became especially important after Creation signed Oasis. Definitely Maybe, released in 1994, turned the band into a major British act. Its successor, (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, became one of the decade's biggest-selling British albums and placed Creation at the center of Britpop. The label retained a distinct independent identity even as Sony supplied corporate infrastructure. Creation's catalogue was also licensed to companies including A&M, DGC, SBK and Sire in particular overseas territories. The company developed several specialized imprints. Infonet explored electronic music under Chris Abbot; August Records was an A&R-led offshoot; Icerink was associated with Saint Etienne; Ball Product was run by Edward Ball; and Eruption Records operated in the late 1990s with Richard Norris as an A&R consultant. Joe Foster also developed Rev-Ola, a subsidiary focused on specialist catalogue activity. McGee's prominence extended beyond record releases. He received the NME Godlike Genius award in 1995, and Creation was recognized as Music Week's Independent Label of the Year from 1995 to 1998. McGee also participated in a Labour Party media campaign before the 1997 general election and helped advocate changes to support musicians through the New Deal programme. A BBC documentary about McGee and Creation followed in 1998. The original company ceased operating in December 1999. McGee and Foster later explained the decision through burnout and loss of enthusiasm. Primal Scream's XTRMNTR, released in January 2000, was the final release to appear around the closure. McGee and Foster then formed Poptones. The Creation story was revisited in the documentary Upside Down, whose 2011 soundtrack temporarily revived the label name. Later projects, including Creation23 and the 2021 It's Creation Baby relaunch, extended the brand into new single, album and festival activity, but did not restore the original 1983–1999 label as an ongoing company.
- 2021
It's Creation Baby launches
[1]McGee relaunches the modern Creation23 project under a new Creation-branded identity.
- 2011
Temporary revival for documentary soundtrack
[1]Creation is revived for a 34-track compilation connected with Upside Down: The Creation Records Story.
- 1999
Original operations end
[1]McGee and Foster close Creation after sixteen years.
- 1995
Creation reaches the center of Britpop
[1]Oasis's (What's the Story) Morning Glory? turns the label into a leading force in British popular music.
- 1994
Definitely Maybe launches Oasis's breakthrough
[1]Oasis's debut album becomes a landmark success for Creation.
- 1992
Sony Music takes a 50% stake
[1]Sony invests in the debt-burdened label and provides a larger commercial and distribution platform.
- 1991
My Bloody Valentine releases Loveless
[1]The album becomes one of Creation's most acclaimed releases, although its lengthy production was associated with financial pressure on the label.
- 1985
The Jesus and Mary Chain moves to Warner Bros.
[1]The band's move demonstrates the growing profile of Creation artists, while McGee continues managing the group.
- 1983
Creation Records is established
[1]Alan McGee, Dick Green and Joe Foster found the British independent label; The Legend!'s “73 in '83” is its first release.
Products and positioning
Artist-led British independent label focused on alternative rock and adjacent underground styles, with a reputation for risk-taking, strong A&R instincts and culturally influential releases.
Recorded music · 1983
Creation Records catalogue
The original catalogue spans alternative rock, indie rock, shoegaze, Britpop, post-punk, indie pop, electronic music, folk and experimental work. Notable artists include Oasis, Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Ride, Slowdive, Felt and Teenage Fanclub.
Compilation albums · 2011
Creation Records compilations
Compilations assembled material from across Creation's career and helped present the label as a coherent musical culture rather than merely a sequence of individual releases. The 2011 Upside Down soundtrack covered the label's history with 34 tracks.
Electronic music sublabel · 1992
Infonet
Active from 1992 to 1997 and run by Chris Abbot, Infonet broadened the Creation network into electronic music. Its releases included work associated with Bandulu, Reload, Andrea Parker, David Morley and Eddie Fowlkes.
Catalogue subsidiary · 1990
Rev-Ola Records
Rev-Ola was a Creation subsidiary developed by Joe Foster during the 1990s and later became part of the PoppyDisc group of labels.
Independent record label · 2021
It's Creation Baby
Launched in 2021 as a successor identity to Creation23, this project expanded beyond seven-inch singles into albums and promoted live events featuring newer independent artists.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Creation Day Festival
United Kingdom
McGee created an indie music festival to showcase artists associated with the revived Creation project alongside established acts.
Outcome. The planned Wolverhampton event was postponed from 2021 to 2022 and subsequently operated under the Utilita Creation Day Festival name.
- 1997Labour youth-culture media campaign
United Kingdom
Alan McGee helped lead a media campaign intended to connect the Labour Party with Britain's youth and music culture before the 1997 general election.
Outcome. The campaign contributed to McGee's public policy advocacy concerning government support and development opportunities for musicians.
Brand decisions
2021
Expand the Creation23 successor into It's Creation BabyStrategyBackground
McGee's Creation23 project had focused primarily on seven-inch releases by emerging acts.
Action taken
McGee relaunched the identity as It's Creation Baby, adding album releases and broader artist-signing activity.
Aftermath
The new project issued releases by artists including Charlie Clark, Marquis Drive, Shambolics, The Illicits, CAT SFX and John Power.
2011
Revive the name for the Upside Down soundtrackProduct launchBackground
The documentary Upside Down revisited the label's history and required a soundtrack representing its catalogue.
Action taken
Creation Records was temporarily reactivated for the soundtrack compilation.
Aftermath
The revival was limited to the compilation project rather than a restoration of the original label's full operations.
1999
Close the original Creation Records operationStrategyBackground
After sixteen years, McGee and Foster experienced burnout and disillusionment with the label.
Action taken
They chose to shut down the original Creation operation in December 1999.
Aftermath
Primal Scream's XTRMNTR appeared around the closure, and McGee and Foster moved on to the Poptones label.
1992
Sell half of Creation to Sony MusicM&ABackground
Creation had accumulated substantial debt while funding critically ambitious releases and maintaining a broad roster.
Action taken
Alan McGee sold a 50% stake to Sony Music, creating a partnership between the independent label and a major music company.
Aftermath
The deal supplied financial and distribution support and preceded Creation's commercial breakthrough with Oasis.
Ownership stake. Creation independently owned → Sony Music held 50% (1992)
Sources1 sources
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