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Blue Grape Music

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blue Grape Music
TypeIndependent
IndustryMusic
Genre
Founded2022
Founders
  • David Rath
  • Cees Wessels
HeadquartersNew York City, New York, U.S.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Area served
Worldwide
Products
Websitebluegrapemusic.com

Blue Grape Music is an American independent record label specializing in rock, metal, and alternative music. Headquartered in New York City, with European operations based in Amsterdam, the company was founded in late 2022 by former Roadrunner Records executives David Rath and Cees Wessels.[1] The label's releases are distributed globally by The Orchard, a subsidiary of Sony Music.[2][3]

History

[edit]

The label was established by industry veterans with deep roots [according to whom?]in heavy music history. Co-founder Cees Wessels originally founded Roadrunner Records in the Netherlands in 1980, while David Rath served as the head of A&R at Roadrunner for over twenty years, overseeing the careers of prominent acts including Slipknot, Nickelback, Theory of a Deadman, Killswitch Engage, Gojira, and Turnstile.[4][5] The name “Blue Grape" was chosen because it was "familiar to rock music fans, as it was the merchandise company also launched by Wessels,” which handled official merchandise for major Roadrunner acts.[6][7][8]

Blue Grape Music officially launched publicly in February 2023, and announced its inaugural band signing, the two-time Grammy Award-nominated hardcore punk band Code Orange.[9] According to co-founder Rath, the rock label’s founding vision would be to help developing bands and artists who need “more resources than a very small indie label can provide, but who are not quite ready to step up to a major,” and then provide A&R expertise to “help the signed acts record their music in the way they envision.”[citation needed]

In the four years since its initial launch with Code Orange, the label has steadily expanded its roster by signing independent alternative, rock, and hardcore punk acts.

Roster

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The following table lists some of the more prominent artists signed to Blue Grape Music, along with their signing year, key releases, and notable background information.

ArtistYear SignedKey Label Release(s)NotesRef.
Code Orange2023The Above (2023)Hardcore punk / metalcore band. Inaugural label signing.

Album reviewed by Kerrang and Pop Matters.

 [1][10][11][12]
Spiritual Cramp2023Spiritual Cramp (2023)

Rude (2025)

 Punk / post-punk band.

Albums reviews in New Noise Magazine and Kerrang.

 [13][14][15][16]
Gel2024Persona (2024)Hardcore punk band.

Album reviewed by Kerrang and Pitchfork.

 [17][18]
Superheaven2024Long Gone (2024)Alternative rock band.

Single is first musical release in nine years, followed by self-titled album.

 [19][20][21]
White Reaper2025Only Slightly Empty (2025)Garage rock / garage punk band.

Album reviewed by SPIN and Kerrang.

 [22][23][24]
Bike Routes2025Prairie (2026)Indie / alt / emo rock band.

Reviewed by Hive Magazine.

 [25][26]
Fugitive2025"Spheres of Virulence" (2025)Thrash metal / crossover thrash band.

Single

 [27][28]
Silly Goose 2025 Keys to the City (2025) Nu metal / rap rock band.

Reviewed by New Noise Magazine

 [29][30]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 Brandle, Lars (2023-02-17). "Roadrunner Vets Dave Rath and Cees Wessels Launch New Rock Label Blue Grape Music". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-07-31. Former Roadrunner Records executives Dave Rath and Cees Wessels are spearheading a fresh rock label, Blue Grape Music (BGM), Billboard can exclusively reveal.
  2. ↑ "Roadrunner veteran Dave Rath's vision behind new rock label Blue Grape Music". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  3. ↑ "The Orchard acquires dance distributor Above Board: 'We're supercharging our standing in the genre'". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  4. ↑ Brandle, Lars (2023-02-17). "Roadrunner Vets Dave Rath and Cees Wessels Launch New Rock Label Blue Grape Music". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-07-31. Rath spent 21 years in the A&R and creative departments of Roadrunner, where he A&R'd albums by Slipknot, Korn, Gojira, Coheed and Cambria, Slash, The Amity Affliction, Trivium, Stone Sour, Dream Theater, Megadeth and more.
  5. ↑ Hill, Stephen (2025-12-27). ""We weren't scared of grunge. We would see Dave Grohl wearing Sepultura t-shirts": It was built on death metal – until three iconic bands helped turn this underground record company into the most influential metal label of the 90s". Louder. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  6. ↑ "About Blue Grape". Blue Grape Music. 2026-07-30. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  7. ↑ "Blue Grape Merchandising". Discogs. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  8. ↑ "BLUE GRAPE - Official Label Store". Evil Greed. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  9. ↑ Brandle, Lars (2023-02-17). "Roadrunner Vets Dave Rath and Cees Wessels Launch New Rock Label Blue Grape Music". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-07-31. The first signing to BGM is Code Orange, the two-time Grammy Award-nominated hardcore punk band from Pittsburgh, PA, and whose first release through the label is What Is Really Underneath?, a 14-track companion to 2020's Underneath, a collection that is part-remix, part-soundtrack.
  10. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (February 17, 2023). "New Rock Label Blue Grape Music Launched By Roadrunner Records Veterans". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Album review: Code Orange – The Above". Kerrang!. 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  12. ↑ Stewart, Ethan (2023-09-28). "Code Orange's 'The Above' Is 2023's Most Ambitious Hardcore Album » PopMatters". Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  13. ↑ "Spiritual Cramp's Anxious City Sounds". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  14. ↑ "Spiritual Cramp just want to press delete on "Talkin' On The Internet"". The FADER. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  15. ↑ "Album Review: Spiritual Cramp - RUDE". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  16. ↑ "Album review: Spiritual Cramp – RUDE". Kerrang!. 2025-10-21. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  17. ↑ "GEL sign to Blue Grape Music, announce new EP Persona". Kerrang!. 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  18. ↑ Corcoran, Nina. "Gel: Persona EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  19. ↑ ""Long Gone" - Grungy alt rockers SUPERHEAVEN sign to Blue Grape Music, share first new music in nearly a decade - IDIOTEQ.com". 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  20. ↑ "Album Review: Superheaven - Self-Titled". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  21. ↑ "Album review: Superheaven – Superheaven". Kerrang!. 2025-04-18. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  22. ↑ "Digital Cover Story: White Reaper Guitarist and Vocalist Tony Esposito Talks 'Only Slightly Empty'". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  23. ↑ Menapace, Brendan (2025-09-29). "White Reaper Does It Again with 'Only Slightly Empty'". SPIN. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  24. ↑ "Album review: White Reaper – Only Slightly Empty". Kerrang!. 2025-09-24. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  25. ↑ Barber, Jim (2026-03-13). "Bike Routes Announce New Album "Prairie"". Music Life Magazine. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  26. ↑ "BIKE ROUTES — 'PRAIRIE'". HIVE. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  27. ↑ wookubus (2025-05-15). "Fugitive (Power Trip, Etc.) Sign With Blue Grape Music, Launch New Track "Spheres Of Virulence"". Theprp.com. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  28. ↑ Hadusek, Jon (2025-05-16). "Heavy Song of the Week: Fugitive's "Spheres of Virulence"". Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  29. ↑ "Silly Goose Announce New Full Length via Blue Grape". Knotfest. 2025-07-10. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  30. ↑ "Album Review: Silly Goose - Keys To The City". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
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