+1 Records


+1 Records was founded in 2008 by Jonny Kaps, Nathaniel Hays, and Josh Swade as an extension of the music management, publicity & marketing company +1 Music. In 2014, +1 Records became an official label partner of Lyor Cohen's 300 Entertainment.

Biography

Since +1 was formed, Jonny and Nat have been managers, publicists, digital marketing pioneers, brand consultants, event promoters, and label executives. Their vast range of experience and dynamic approach to the music business has facilitated +1 Record's overall growth and success. Previous to joining +1 Records, Josh Swade worked in A&R at Maverick Records, and co-founded record label Young American Recordings in 2005. Using his experience in distribution and sales, he partnered with +1 to launch the record label.

Before +1 Records (2003-2008)

In 2003, while working at a PR company, Jonny Kaps started managing an unsigned band called stellastarr* As their manager, Jonny designed a new business model using PR to achieve management goals to grow their career of the artist. Prior to meeting Jonny, Nat worked in advertising and branding at Lipman. The company’s clients at the time included fashion brands Burberry, David Yurman, and Ermenegildo Zegna, as well as artists Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. Nat had been a fan of stellastarr* before they started working with Jonny, and paid close attention to their growth as it was happening. In the summer of 2003, he reached out to Jonny to discuss his strategy and how to scale it. After meeting and realizing their similar visions, Nat and Jonny became partners and started the company which became +1 Records.
In January 2004, +1 launched as the first company in America to merge management and public relations to develop and grow artists careers. It began in Jonny Kaps' apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with three clients, stellastarr*, Two Gallants and The Bravery. Over their first year of business, they grew their roster to ten clients, moved into an office and hired a staff. By 2008, their roster included Ambulance LTD, The Bravery, Basement Jaxx, The BPA, The Cribs, Editors, Jamie T, Kate Nash and The Kooks, Michael Kiwanuka, and TV On The Radio. +1 also created developed marketing campaigns and produced events for Diesel jeans, Playboy, The U.S. Air Guitar Championships and Lebowski Fest.

Early Years (2008-2013)

In 2008, Nat and Jonny made the decision to evolve +1 and launch a full service independent record label. Josh Swade’s label at the time, Young American Recordings, worked with +1. Josh Swade’s expertise in sales and distribution perfectly complimented +1’s A&R and Marketing prowess and he joined Jonny and Nat as a partner in the new label. +1 Records was announced with a full page ad in Spin Magazine proclaiming "+1 Records: Sometime you just gotta say what the f*ck."
+1 Records first signings were The Heavy and The Morning Benders, and in 2010 they brought in their first hit, The Heavy's "How You Like Me Now?". Jonny and Nat managed to get the band to perform on Letterman, and after a legendary performance that went viral, the song got featured in a Kia TV commercial that premiered during the 2010 Super Bowl, and became certified gold in the US. +1 managed Atlas Genius in 2012 and followed up by their second gold record with Atlas Genius's "Trojans".

+1 Records Today (2014-Present)

In 2014, +1 Records became a label partner with 300 Entertainment, and since then +1 Records has helped launching the singles label with Andrew Hwang as well as expanding their roster.

Clients