The state51 Conspiracy

The state51 Conspiracy is a British independent music company based in London and established in 1991. It describes itself as an "independent music house" and operates through several divisions: state51 Recordings, state51 Distribution, state51 Atelier and state51 Factory. The company is registered in England and Wales as The state51 Conspiracy Ltd (company number 6460702) and is a private limited company. The business began when its founder started working at the intersection of music and technology in 1991. In the spring of 1993, he brought together a group of people to build a website, which became the focus of experiments around how music and audiences would meet on the internet. The group adopted the name The state51 Conspiracy, chosen because it sounded subversive and mysterious, signalled a UK base, and offered a platform that could grow as more collaborators joined. Part of the project became the Knowhere Guide, described as the UK's first user-generated-content website. With a working music website, the team attracted the attention of record label executives. In 1995 Virgin Records contracted the founder to help build a strategy and websites and to develop interactive technology-and-music projects. Over the following years the state51 team won creative awards for work with Virgin on artists including the Spice Girls, The Verve, Genesis, The Rolling Stones, Boy George and Future Sound of London. The company also worked with EMI Group on global strategy and projects including interactive TV production, and created an online music shop network called Greedbag, which became the core of its digital music distribution collective. It also produced consulting and creative work, including pre-launch content for BT's first UK broadband service. Having been based in the Brick Lane brewery since 1992, the company grew into a multi-service music business. Today its divisions cover recorded music, distribution, creative and production services, and manufacturing. The state51 Conspiracy remains privately held and active, with its website listing the group's divisions and describing it as an independent music house in London.

The state51 Conspiracy traces its origins to 1991, when its founder began a business working with music and technology, convinced that the combination would have a huge impact. In the spring of 1993, he brought a group of people together to make a website, and that project became the start of The state51 Conspiracy. The state51 website served as a focus point for experiments around how music and audiences would come together on the internet. The group adopted the name The state51 Conspiracy because it seemed subversive and mysterious, signalled a UK base, and provided a platform that could grow as more collaborators joined. Part of the project became the Knowhere Guide, described as the UK's first user-generated-content website. With a live example of a music website, the team quickly gained the attention of the music industry as record label executives began to notice what was happening online. In 1995 Virgin Records signed the founder to a contract to help build a strategy and websites and to develop other interactive technology-and-music projects. Over the next few years the state51 team won many creative awards for work with Virgin on projects for the Spice Girls, The Verve, Genesis, The Rolling Stones, Boy George, Future Sound of London and many others. This work led to a contract to help EMI Group with global strategy and projects, including interactive TV production. With some record labels, the team created an online music shop network called Greedbag, which became the core of its digital music distribution collective. The company also undertook consulting and creative projects, including pre-launch content for BT's first UK broadband service. Having been based in the Brick Lane brewery since 1992, the business continued to develop its London base. Over time, The state51 Conspiracy grew into a multi-division independent music house. Its divisions now include state51 Recordings, state51 Distribution, state51 Atelier and state51 Factory, covering recorded music, distribution, creative and production services, and manufacturing. The company is registered in England and Wales as The state51 Conspiracy Ltd (company number 6460702) and remains privately held and active.

• 1995

  Virgin Records signs the founder to help build a strategy and websites and develop interactive tech+music projects.

• 1993

  A group is brought together to make a website, marking the start of The state51 Conspiracy; the Knowhere Guide, described as the UK's first UGC website, is part of the project.

• 1992

  Company becomes based in the Brick Lane brewery.

• 1991

  Founder starts a business working with music and technology.

• state51 team wins creative awards for work with Virgin on artists including Spice Girls, The Verve, Genesis, The Rolling Stones, Boy George and Future Sound of London.

• Contract with EMI Group for global strategy and projects including interactive TV production.

• Greedbag online music shop network created with some record labels, becoming the core of the digital music distribution collective.

• Company produces pre-launch content for BT's first UK broadband service.

Independent music house offering recordings, distribution, creative and manufacturing services from London.

• state51 Recordings

  Recorded music division.

• state51 Distribution

  Music distribution division.

• state51 Atelier

  Creative and production services division.

• state51 Factory

  Manufacturing division.

1. 1state51thestate51conspiracy.com
2. 2history — state51thestate51conspiracy.com
3. 3The state51 Conspiracywikidata.org