Remote Control Records was established in 2001 by Steve Cross and Harvey Saward.[1][2] It provides publicity, label management, distribution and marketing services to international and local artists and labels.
Remote Control's roster of international artists includes Adele, Queens of the Stone Age, The xx, FKA Twigs, Jungle, Vampire Weekend, Alabama Shakes, Radiohead, the National, Purity Ring and SBTRKT. The company represents various international record labels in the Australian and New Zealand markets, including 4AD, Matador Records, Rough Trade, True Panther, XL Recordings, and Young Turks. By October 2009 Andrew McMillen of Mess+Noise felt, "[it] represents a substantial roster of international artists in Australia and New Zealand."[1]
In 2004 Remote Control established Dot Dash Recordings with Inertia Distribution, exclusively for Australian acts. The Dot Dash roster includes Pearls,[3]Teeth & Tongue, Client Liaison, Sunbeam Sound Machine, Total Giovanni, Dorsal Fins, Saskwatch, Jeremy Neale, Methyl Ethel, and Velociraptor.[3]
In 2013 Remote Control opened a new publicity and promotions department via Recon Music, an established, boutique PR agency specialising in strategic national media campaigns. Recon's list of past and present clients included Sharon Van Etten, Ty Segall, Josh Pyke, The Clean, Elizabeth Rose, Allday, DZ Deathrays, Say Lou Lou,[3] Loon Lake,[3] Sally Seltmann,[3] Sugar Mountain Festival, Saskwatch and Philadelphia Grand Jury.
The label celebrated its 15th birthday in June 2016 by a party with, "a wide range of dope beat pushers, from Jim Lawrie at the start to Teeth & Tongue in the middle to Milwaukee Banks at the end."[4]
theMusic.com.au's reviewers described the company in February 2018, "one of the country’s leading record labels."[2] They observed, "they’ve opened up a completely different avenue of upcoming talent and assisted in building strong communities within the local scene" and determined that, "2017 saw the label have its strongest and most consistent year ever on the ARIA Album Chart."[2]
