Dirty Hit

• Name — Dirty Hit • Founder — * Jamie Oborne • Brian Smith • Ugo Ehiogu • Status — Active • Distributor — * Virgin Music Group (digital) • Polydor (only The 1975) • Universal Music Group (physical) • Interscope Records (The 1975 and Beabadoobee) • Genre — Various, with a focus on alternative and electronic • Country — United Kingdom • Location — * London, UK • Los Angeles, US • Sydney, Australia • Tokyo, Japan • Website — dirtyhit.co.uk

Jamie Oborne began working in artist management after founding his company, All On Red Management. When Drive Like I Do, a Manchester-based band later known as The 1975, remained unsigned despite meetings with several record labels, Oborne decided to establish his own record label with Chuck Waite, Brian Smith and former England footballer Ugo Ehiogu. The 1975 signed to the label for £20. The 1975 and Benjamin Francis Leftwich were the company's first signings, with the former becoming the label’s first act to achieve mainstream success by reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart in September 2013 with their eponymous debut album. In February 2019, The 1975 signed a new three-album deal with the label. In May 2017, the label launched the Dirty Hit Tour, featuring Superfood, King Nun and Pale Waves. Since its inception, Dirty Hit’s releases have been distributed to digital platforms by Ingrooves Music Group. Since January 2019, the members of The 1975 – Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald – have been shareholders in the company. Healy served as creative director for four years before stepping down from the role in April 2023.

On 17 June 2024, Dirty Hit announced a new imprint label, DH2, focused on electronic music and run by George Daniel of The 1975. Artists signed to the label include Kelly Lee Owens, Oscar Farrel and TimFromTheHouse. Owens's album Dreamstate, released on 18 October, was her debut for the label.

Dirty Hit expanded its presence beyond the UK market through growing critical acclaim and a strong social media presence. Following the success of artists such as The 1975, the label gained increased attention for signing younger acts including Beabadoobee and Rina Sawayama. This led to the opening of new offices in the United States and Australia in 2020. The label partnered with Ingrooves (now folded into Virgin Music Group) to support international distribution and marketing efforts. Ingrooves provides digital marketing services, analytics, rights management and promotional tools for independent labels and artists. The partnership was made official in late 2019. Two notable members of Dirty Hit’s international team are Greg Carr and Rachel Jones-Williams. Carr joined the Los Angeles office in May 2020, and has been credited by Oborne with bringing significant expertise to the company. Jones-Williams, based in Sydney, also joined during the same period.

• Illustration — The 1975, known in 2010 as Drive Like I Do, is the main reason co-founder Jamie Oborne set up Dirty Hit