{{Short description|UK record label}} {{Distinguish|Nettwerk}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Use British English|date=August 2015}} '''Network Records''' (formed out of '''Kool Kat Records''') was an independent record label founded in Birmingham, England, in 1988 by Neil Rushton and Dave Barker.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2017/07/neil-rushton-interview|title=Interview: Neil Rushton|work=RBMA Daily|date=6 July 2017|author=Bill Brewster}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/26-more-pictures-birmingham-nightclubs-6712502|title=26 more pictures of Birmingham nightclubs where you danced in your teens and 20s|author=David Bentley|date=14 February 2014|work=Birmingham Mail}}</ref>
It was instrumental in first introducing Detroit techno to a British audience,<ref>{{Citation|year=2010|contribution=Techno|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nVxgs_E57_EC&pg=PA942|editor-last=Price|editor-first=Emmett George|title=Encyclopedia of African American Music|volume=3|publication-place=Santa Barbara, CA|publisher=ABC-CLIO|page=942|isbn=978-0313341991|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nVxgs_E57_EC|access-date=2013-07-13}}</ref><ref>Reynolds Simon, 1998, ''Energy Flash'', Picador, p55, {{ISBN|0-5712-8914-2}}</ref> through its early ''Bio Rhythm'' compilations, as well as house music and developing homegrown breakbeat hardcore. Network released music from artists such as Juan Atkins, Derrick May, MK, Neal Howard, Model 500, Kevin Saunderson, Rhythm on the Loose, Cyclone, Funky Green Dogs From Outer Space, SL2, Nexus 21, Altern-8 & MC Lethal.
It launched a spin-off label, Six6 (also known as 6x6), distributed by Virgin Records from 1993 to 1996.
After a hiatus, Network returned to re-release the 1991 Derrick May album ''Innovator'' in December 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/71480|title=Network Records relaunches with an expanded edition of Derrick May's 1991 classic, Innovator|work=Resident Advisor|date=22 December 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{discogs label|1326-Network-Records}} *[https://www.discogs.com/label/145496-Kool-Kat Kool Kat] discography at Discogs *[https://www.discogs.com/label/12105-6-x-6-Records 6x6 Records] discography at Discogs {{Authority control}}
Category:British independent record labels Category:Defunct companies based in Birmingham, West Midlands Category:Defunct record labels of the United Kingdom Category:English house music record labels Category:Record labels based in Birmingham, West Midlands Category:1988 establishments in England Category:1990s disestablishments in England