Partisan Records

Partisan Records is an American independent label co-founded in 2007 by Tim Putnam and Ian Wheeler in Brooklyn, New York. It is home to Fontaines D.C., IDLES, Cigarettes After Sex, Geese, Blondshell, Laura Marling, and Deer Tick, and stewards catalogs for Cymande and DJ Rashad. Under president Tim Putnam and COO Zena White, Partisan has been named Billboard's Indie Power Players Execs of the Year. The label operates from Brooklyn with operations in Los Angeles and London.

Partisan's early years featured a modest roster led by indie-rock bands, most notably Deer Tick, and the catalog of the late Afrobeat great Fela Kuti. In the last decade, under the guidance of Putnam and White, its roster has become one of the most lauded in indie music. Partisan is responsible for launching next-gen rock heavyweights Fontaines D.C. and IDLES, is home to critical darlings including Blondshell and Laura Marling, and is behind the biggest indie-rock breakout in recent memory, Geese. Cigarettes After Sex, whose debut is certified platinum with over 3.2 million equivalent album units moved across its three studio sets, headlined arenas less than a decade after playing small clubs like the 575-capacity Bowery Ballroom.

How Partisan Operates

Partisan runs dedicated A&R from its Brooklyn headquarters with operations in Los Angeles and London. The label has built a global footprint through its work with Cigarettes After Sex, Fontaines D.C., and IDLES, and uses that global footprint to advance its capabilities as a company. COO Zena White, who relocated from the UK to Manhattan in October 2017, has helped oversee Partisan's global expansion. The label reinvests the fruits of its success with Cigarettes After Sex into new signings and artist development.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you make indie rock, post-punk, dream pop, or alternative with global potential, Partisan is one of the most respected independent labels in that space. Its track record of breaking Fontaines D.C., IDLES, and Cigarettes After Sex into global arenas shows it can develop artists from small clubs to international success. Its Billboard Indie Power Players recognition signals industry respect.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• Highly selective: Partisan signs very few artists each year.
• No unsolicited demos: Partisan does not accept cold submissions.
• Global expectations: Partisan's model favors artists with global potential. Purely local acts may be a harder sell.
• Indie deal terms: Partisan typically takes master ownership for the deal term.

Related Resources

• Record Label Contracts Explained - What a Partisan deal contains
• Independent Labels vs Major Labels - The global indie model
• How to Get a Record Deal in 2026 - Building an indie profile with global potential
• Domino Recording Company - A related indie rock label
• Partisan Records Official Site - Roster and releases