Monkey Bone Records

Monkey Bone Records was a Malaysian independent record label founded in 2006 by Ahmad Izham Omar, who was also associated with 8TV as its chief executive. The label was created in connection with 8TV's reality music program One in a Million, with an initial purpose of signing winners and promising contestants who did not already have recording contracts. This gave the label a direct talent-development role: it could identify performers through a nationally visible television competition, provide them with recording opportunities, and connect them to Malaysia's commercial pop ecosystem. Among the performers associated with the label were Suki Low Sook Yee and Norayu Damit, winners of the first and second seasons of One in a Million, respectively. The label also signed Faizal Tahir and Shila, who were runners-up in their respective seasons. Its artist activity extended beyond the television program. Monkey Bone signed Pendekar and Voice In Public, winners of Lagu Cari Tuan, a competition organized by Malaysian radio station Hot FM. These signings positioned the label as a bridge between broadcast talent contests, radio-led discovery, and the independent music community. The business also operated as a promoter and organizer. Through KAMI The Gig, it presented live performances by Malaysian independent bands in a series of events held in multiple cities. The 2007 edition included stops in Sungai Petani, Johor Bahru, and Kuala Lumpur. In 2008, the event expanded into a larger multi-city program featuring 22 Malaysian indie bands, with performances scheduled in Johor Bahru, Ipoh, Malacca, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, and Bukit Jalil. This activity broadened the label's role beyond releasing recordings and helped associate it with Malaysia's developing indie-gig circuit. The Monkey Bone name was later retired as the company adopted the name Alternate Records & Talents. According to the cited reference, the change took place in July 2021 and was intended to align the public-facing identity with the company's corporate name, Alternate Records Sdn Bhd. As a result, Monkey Bone Records is best understood as the former brand name of a Malaysian label and talent-development operation rather than as a current standalone label. Publicly documented information about its catalogue, financial performance, detailed corporate ownership, and current artist roster is limited.

Monkey Bone Records emerged in Malaysia in 2006 as an independent label founded by Ahmad Izham Omar, an executive associated with 8TV. Its creation was closely linked to One in a Million, an 8TV reality music competition. The label was intended to sign winners and promising contestants who were not already represented by another recording company, giving a television platform a route into artist contracting and commercial music production. The label's documented roster included Suki Low Sook Yee and Norayu Damit, winners of the first and second seasons of One in a Million. It also signed Faizal Tahir and Shila, runners-up from the corresponding seasons. The label's discovery model was not limited to television. It signed Pendekar and Voice In Public after they won Lagu Cari Tuan, a competition organized by Hot FM. These activities show Monkey Bone operating at the intersection of broadcast entertainment, radio promotion, and independent recording. Monkey Bone also developed a live-music function through KAMI The Gig. The first documented series in 2007 visited Sungai Petani on 8 August, Johor Bahru on 25 August, and Kuala Lumpur on 8 September. In 2008, the event became a larger Malaysian indie showcase. Twenty-two bands were scheduled across performances in Johor Bahru, Ipoh, Malacca, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, and Bukit Jalil. The gig series gave the label a role in presenting emerging bands and connecting its talent activities with local music audiences. In July 2021, Monkey Bone Records adopted the name Alternate Records & Talents. The change aligned the label's public identity with Alternate Records Sdn Bhd, the company named in the reference material. The historical Monkey Bone brand should therefore be treated as a former name rather than a current independent business identity. Available reference material does not establish a complete discography, detailed ownership structure, financial results, or a current executive team.

• 2021

  Rebrand to Alternate Records & Talents

  [1]Alternate Records & Talentsen.wikipedia.org

  In July, the Monkey Bone name is changed to Alternate Records & Talents to correspond with the company's corporate identity.

• 2008

  KAMI The Gig becomes a multi-city indie showcase

  [1]Alternate Records & Talentsen.wikipedia.org

  Twenty-two Malaysian indie bands perform across a series of events in several Malaysian cities.

• 2007

  First KAMI The Gig series

  [1]Alternate Records & Talentsen.wikipedia.org

  The label organizes KAMI The Gig events in Sungai Petani, Johor Bahru, and Kuala Lumpur.

• 2006

  Monkey Bone Records is established

  [1]Alternate Records & Talentsen.wikipedia.org

  Ahmad Izham Omar establishes the Malaysian independent label to sign One in a Million winners and other promising contestants without existing recording contracts.

A Malaysian independent label combining television-talent discovery, local artist development, recorded-music releases, and live promotion within the country's pop and indie music scenes.

• Music recordings · 2006

  Recorded music releases

  Monkey Bone's core offering was recorded music issued through an independent-label operation. The label's documented signing strategy focused on performers emerging from One in a Million and Lagu Cari Tuan, linking television and radio competitions with professional recording opportunities. A complete public catalogue is not identified in the available reference material.

• Talent development · 2006

  Artist development

  The label developed unsigned performers discovered through televised and radio-sponsored competitions. Its documented roster included competition winners and runners-up, making talent identification and transition into the commercial music industry a central part of the business model.

• Live music promotion · 2007

  KAMI The Gig

  KAMI The Gig was a touring live-music program organized by the label. It showcased Malaysian independent bands in multiple cities, including a 2008 edition involving 22 bands. The series extended Monkey Bone's activities from recording and artist signing into concert presentation and grassroots audience development.

• 2008KAMI The Gig multi-city series

  Malaysia

  The event expanded to feature 22 Malaysian indie bands across venues and stops in Johor Bahru, Ipoh, Malacca, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, and Bukit Jalil.

  Outcome. The available source documents the expanded itinerary but does not provide attendance or commercial results.

  Source
• 2007KAMI The Gig

  Malaysia

  A touring gig series presented in Sungai Petani, Johor Bahru, and Kuala Lumpur, supporting the Malaysian independent-band scene.

  Outcome. The documented first series established a multi-city live-event platform for local independent music.

  Source

• 2021

  Adopt the Alternate Records & Talents identityStrategy

  Background

  The company had operated under the Monkey Bone Records name while its corporate identity was Alternate Records Sdn Bhd.

  Action taken

  In July 2021, it changed the public-facing label name to Alternate Records & Talents.

  Aftermath

  Monkey Bone Records became a former brand name, while the operation was presented under the Alternate Records & Talents identity.

  Source

1. 1Alternate Records & Talentsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Monkey Bone Records official websitemonkeybone.com.my