M&L Records

M&L Records is a Swedish record label founded in the autumn of 2002 as a 50/50 joint venture between Mariann Grammofon and Lionheart International. The company was established after Lionheart International secured 11 entries in that year's Melodifestivalen, Sweden's national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Alf Rudin, then finance manager at Lionheart, proposed a collaboration with Bert Carlsson's Mariann Grammofon, leading the two labels to operate together under M&L Records AB. The label is headquartered on Nytorgsgatan in Stockholm. Maria Ljunggren Molin has served as managing director since 2002 (she is also CEO of Lionheart), and Jonas Siljemark, CEO of Warner Music Nordic, has been chairman of the board since 2006. Distribution alternates annually between Warner Music and Universal Music. M&L Records is best known for holding the rights to the largest share of Melodifestivalen entries every year from 2003 to 2014, which allowed it to release the annual Melodifestivalen album containing all 32 competing songs. This made the label a central player in the Swedish music industry's relationship with the country's most-watched music competition.

M&L Records was formed in the autumn of 2002 as a joint venture between Mariann Grammofon and Lionheart International, each holding a 50% stake. The creation of the label followed Lionheart International's success in securing 11 entries for that year's Melodifestivalen, Sweden's premier song competition and Eurovision selection. Alf Rudin, the finance manager at Lionheart, proposed a partnership with Bert Carlsson's Mariann Grammofon, and the two companies agreed to collaborate under the newly formed M&L Records AB. From 2003 through 2014, M&L Records held the rights to the largest number of Melodifestivalen entries each year, enabling it to produce and release the official annual Melodifestivalen album featuring all 32 competing songs. This consistent dominance made the label a key player in the Swedish music market, particularly in the compilation and competition-related segment. The company is based on Nytorgsgatan in Stockholm. Maria Ljunggren Molin has been managing director since 2002, concurrently serving as CEO of Lionheart. Jonas Siljemark, CEO of Warner Music Nordic, became chairman of the board in 2006. Distribution of M&L Records releases alternates annually between Warner Music and Universal Music.

• 2014

  Last year M&L Records held the most Melodifestivalen rights (2003–2014 run).

• 2006

  Jonas Siljemark becomes chairman of the board.

• 2003

  Label begins holding rights to the largest share of Melodifestivalen entries, releasing the annual album.

• 2002

  M&L Records founded as a 50/50 joint venture between Mariann Grammofon and Lionheart International.

• 2002

  Maria Ljunggren Molin appointed managing director.

Specialist label focused on Melodifestivalen and Swedish popular music releases.

• Annual Melodifestivalen album

  Compilation of all 32 competing songs, released yearly while the label held the rights.

1. 1M&L Records – Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2M&L Records – Wikipedia (Swedish)sv.wikipedia.org