{{Short description|Dutch record label}} {{Other uses|Top Notch (disambiguation){{!}}Top Notch}} alt=TopNotch logo|right|300px '''TopNotch''' is a Dutch record label specializing in hip-hop.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://3voor12.vpro.nl/nieuws/2007/januari/de-osdorp-posse-houdt-uitverkoop-en-gaat-digitaal.html|title=De Osdorp Posse houdt uitverkoop en gaat digitaal|date=17 January 2007|publisher=3VOOR12|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> The label was founded in 1995, and is run by Vincent Patty.<ref name="kerkhof"/> After some commercial success (with rap acts such as De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig, The Opposites, Def Rhymz, Postmen, and Extince) it became allied with Virgin EMI Records, and since 2004 has a marketing and distribution deal with PIAS Entertainment Group. It has expanded into Dutch-language music by singer-songwriters such as Lucky Fonz III, and in 2009 signed a distribution and marketing agreement with Universal Music Group. Still praised in 2009 as "the brand for high-quality Dutch hip-hop", it sought to expand into other musical genres.
==History== Founder Kees de Koning is a former music journalist and manager of Anouk. He is credited with "putting Dutch hip-hop on the map" with TopNotch, signing acts such as De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig, Extince, and The Opposites. Initially the label, which released music that didn't automatically receive radio play, used platforms such as YouTube{{efn|De Koning commented in 2009 on reports that Universal Music Group made $100 million from YouTube videos, and said that YouTube was good for promoting artists but was not itself a "goldmine" for record companies. He could not say how much his label made from YouTube since Universal did the label's video distribution.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://3voor12.vpro.nl/nieuws/2009/januari/youtube-geen-goudmijn-voor-onafhankelijke-labels.html|title=Youtube geen goudmijn voor onafhankelijke labels|last=Hartog|first=Renee|date=26 January 2009|publisher=3VOOR12|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref>}} and Hyves to get attention for its artists, and added Instagram and Vine. TopNotch also collaborates in marketing with companies such as the brewery Bavaria and insurance company Centraal Beheer; for the latter, it made a video featuring Anouk, watched over 2 million times by August 2013.<ref name=management>{{cite news|url=http://www.mt.nl/93/79672/sales-marketing/minder-ruimte-voor-bullshit-in-de-muziekindustrie.html|title='Minder ruimte voor bullshit in de muziekindustrie'|last=Leeuwen|first=Rob van|date=20 August 2013|work=Management Team|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> After achieving commercial success with Def Rhymz, Postmen, and Extince, the label acquired a reputation such that Virgin EMI Records hired de Koning as A&R and label manager in 2000. Success with Raymzter and Opgezwolle notwithstanding, de Koning's contract was not renewed after four years, and the label was in danger of folding. In 2004, PIAS Entertainment Group signed a distribution and marketing deal with TopNotch, saving the label. The first releases after the restructuring were by VSOP, Duvel Duvel, and Kubus.<ref name="pias">{{cite news|url=http://3voor12.vpro.nl/nieuws/2004/april/hiphop-label-top-notch-vindt-onderdak-bij-pias.html|title=Hiphop-label Top Notch vindt onderdak bij PIAS|date=16 April 2004|publisher=3VOOR12|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> In 2009, the label make a distribution and marketing agreement with Universal Music Group (owners of Virgin EMI) and signed a non-hip-hop act, gabber punk band Aux Raus.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.parool.nl/parool/nl/23/MUZIEK/article/detail/240292/2009/05/01/Topnotchbaas-Ik-wil-me-niet-vastpinnen.dhtml|title=Topnotchbaas: 'Ik wil me niet vastpinnen'|last=Loorbach|first=Liedewij|date=1 May 2009|work=Het Parool|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref>
Their fifteenth anniversary, in 2010, was celebrated with a two-day festival in the Melkweg.<ref name="kerkhof">{{cite news|url=http://3voor12.vpro.nl/nieuws/2010/december/kees-de-koning-over-15-jaar-topnotch-shine-lucky-fonz-kempi-en-lange-frans.html|title=Kees de Koning over 15 jaar TopNotch, shine, Lucky Fonz, Kempi en Lange Frans|last=Kerkhof|first=Sander|date=27 November 2010|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> That same year the label signed Lucky Fonz III, a Dutch-language singer, in a more comprehensive effort to expand beyond hip-hop which also included signing Surinamese singer Damaru; de Koning had personally pursued the artist, whose monthly performances in the TV show ''De Wereld Draait Door'' he admired.<ref name="zwennes">{{cite news|url=http://3voor12.vpro.nl/nieuws/2010/april/lucky-fonz-iii-tekent-bij-top-notch.html|title=Lucky Fonz III tekent bij Top Notch|last=Zwennes|first=Erik|date=21 April 2010|publisher=3VOOR12|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> Their biggest commercial success to date is Gers Pardoel, whose "Ik neem je mee" is referred to as the most successful Dutch song ever; the song's video had 15 million views by 15 August 2013, a Dutch record.<ref name="unen">{{cite news|url=http://www.spitsnieuws.nl/archives/entertainment/2013/08/15-miljoen-views-voor-hitje-gers-pardoel|title=15 miljoen views voor hitje Gers Pardoel|last=Unen|first=D. van|date=20 August 2013|work=Spits|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref>
De Koning started another company in 2006, Good Life, with Jerry Leembruggen and Ruben Fernhout (founders of The Partysquad and owners of the production company F & L Entertainment). Good Life aimed to produce more pop-oriented, rhythm and blues artists (such as Wudstik) through record deals and events.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://3voor12.vpro.nl/nieuws/2006/maart/achter-nieuw-label-good-life-schuilen-partysquad-en-topnotch-anchorman-de-koning.html|title=Achter nieuw label Good Life schuilen Partysquad en TopNotch anchorman De Koning|date=22 March 2006|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref>
==Artists== ===Current artists=== * Appa * Adje * Cho * Damaru<ref name="zwennes"/> * Extince<ref name=management/> * Gers Pardoel<ref name="unen"/> * Jack Parow<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kindamuzik.net/interview/jack-parow/jack-parow-een-wereldtour-kost-mij-meer-dan-het-oplevert/22830/|title=Jack Parow: Zuid-Afrikaans sarcasme vindt zijn roots in Nederland|last=Arendonk|first=Femke van|date=28 April 2012|publisher=Kindamuzik|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> * Lange Frans * Lefties Soul Connection * Lil' Kleine * Lucky Fonz III<ref name="zwennes"/> * The Opposites<ref name=management/> * Salah Edin<ref>{{cite news|url=http://3voor12.vpro.nl/lokaal/tilburg/nieuws/2007/november/salah-edin-en-winne-geven-rauwe-hiphopshow.html|title=Salah Edin en Winne geven rauwe hiphopshow|last=Bommel|first=Koen van|date=2 November 2007|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> * Typhoon * U-Niq<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4324/Nieuws/article/detail/1522337/2006/08/06/U-Niq-rapt-recht-op-zijn-punt-af-en-smijt-de-realiteit-zo-van-de-straat-op-de-plaat.dhtml|title=U-Niq rapt recht op zijn punt af, en smijt de realiteit zo van de straat op de plaat|last=Nauta|first=Hans|date=6 August 2006|work=Trouw|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> * Tourist LeMC
===Artists produced together with Magnetron Music=== * De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig<ref name=management/>
===Former artists=== * Ronnie Flex<ref name="Ronnie Flex">{{cite news|url=https://www.nu.nl/muziek/6129184/ronnie-flex-voelde-zich-bedrogen-door-platenlabel-top-notch.html|date=22 April 2021|publisher=NU.nl|language=Dutch|accessdate=22 April 2021|title=Ronnie Flex voelde zich bedrogen door platenlabel Top Notch }}</ref> * Bilal Wahib<ref name="bilalwahib">{{cite news|url=https://www.nu.nl/muziek/6123761/top-notch-stopt-samenwerking-bilal-wahib-zapp-en-rtl-reageren-geschokt.html|title=Top Notch stopt samenwerking Bilal Wahib, Zapp en RTL reageren geschokt|date=24 March 2021|publisher=NU.nl|language=Dutch|accessdate=24 March 2021}}</ref> * Cilvaringz<ref name="cilvaringz">{{cite news|url=http://3voor12.vpro.nl/nieuws/2007/maart/cilvaringz-belooft-het-ouderwetse-wu-tang-geluid-op-langverwacht-debuut.html|title=Cilvaringz belooft het ouderwetse Wu Tang geluid op langverwacht debuut|date=15 March 2007|publisher=3VOOR12|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> * Def Rhymz<ref name="pias"/> * K-Liber * Kempi<ref>{{cite news|url=http://3voor12.vpro.nl/nieuws/2006/mei/draaideurrapper-kempi-tekent-bij-topnotch-vanachter-de-tralies.html|title=Draaideurrapper Kempi tekent bij Topnotch vanachter de tralies|last=Makkinga|first=Andrew|date=10 May 2006|publisher=3VOOR12|language=Dutch|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> * Opgezwolle<ref name="pias"/> * Postmen<ref name="pias"/> * Raymzter<ref name="pias"/> * Robert Lee * Joost Klein
==References== ===Footnotes=== {{notelist}}
===Reference footnotes=== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://www.top-notch.nl/ Home page] (Dutch)
{{Authority control}}
Category:Dutch record labels