Music for Nations
Music for Nations (MFN) is a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. Originally a subsidiary of Zomba Records, which was a division of BMG, the label was closed in 2004 and later revived in 2015 by Sony Music Entertainment. Launched in 1983 by Martin Hooker, Music for Nations established itself as a European leader in the rock and metal world, with early signings like Tank, Exciter, Metallica (who had three gold albums while on MFN), Slayer and Megadeth paving the way.
Music for Nations
- Name
- Music for Nations
- Founded
- 1983
- Headquarters
- London
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Music for Nations. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q1808682 · wikipedia · Music for Nations
In this article
Overview
Overview
It released albums by artists including Paradise Lost, Opeth, Anathema, Cradle of Filth, Testament and countless other metal bands. In 2004, the label closed down. The company's catalogue which had also previously included titles from artists as varied as Lost Horizon, Tigertailz and Frank Zappa was transferred to parent company Zomba Records Group. In December 2011, The End Records signed a distribution deal for 50 of MFN's catalog albums. In February 2015, MFN relaunched through Sony's commercial department, with plans to reissue albums from their catalogue including Anathema, Paradise Lost, Opeth, Spiritual Beggars, Cradle of Filth and others. They also intend to, in the spirit of the label's original purpose, sign original heavy talent for singles, EPs and compilation albums. In October 2017, MFN signed two newcomers, metalcore band Bury Tomorrow and ambient rock band Blanket. In June 2018, American metalcore band Killswitch Engage joined MFN's UK roster; the band's forthcoming album will be marketed by Metal Blade Records in the United States, and internationally through Columbia/Sony.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Music for Nations • Parent — Sony Music Entertainment (SME) • Founded — 1983 (original) 2015 (relaunch) • Defunct — 2004 (original) • Founder — Martin Hooker • Distributor — The Orchard (United States) Sony Music UK (United Kingdom) Sony Music (International) • Genre — Heavy metal, doom metal, speed metal, thrash metal, glam metal • Country — United Kingdom • Location — London, England • Url — musicfornations.co.uk
Roster
Roster
• Acid Drinkers (1990–1992) (Subsidiary label – Under One Flag) • Agent Steel • Alaska • Amplifier • Anathema • Anthem • Anthrax • Apes, Pigs & Spacemen • Apocalypse • Astroid Boys (Subsidiary label – Under One Flag) • Baby Tuckoo • Battleaxe • Bury Tomorrow • The Beyond • Candlemass • Chrome Molly • Cradle of Filth • Creation of Death (1991–1992) (Subsidiary label – Under One Flag) • Darkmoon • Dispatched • Dead Potatoes (2003–2006) • Dearly Beheaded (1995–1998) • Dragon (1990–1991) (Subsidiary label – Under One Flag) • Drive She Said • Earthshaker • Entombed • Exciter • Exodus • The Exploited (Subsidiary label – Rough Justice) • Freak of Nature • Godflesh • Hed PE • Hellion • Helstar • Hot Milk • InMe • Killswitch Engage • Juster • Legs Diamond • Lost Horizon • Loudness • Lowfive • Manowar • Eric Martin • Maruja • Meanstreak • Megadeth • Mercyful Fate • Metallica • Mike Tramp • Milk Teeth • Mindfunk • Nightshade • Nuclear Assault • Onslaught • Opeth • Paradise Lost • Simon Phillips • Porcupine Tree (2021-present) • Q5 • Ratt • RIO • The Rods • Rogue Male • Rox • Sarcófago • Savatage • Sirrah (1995–1999) • Spiritual Beggars • Jack Starr • SugarComa (2001–2003) • Sugarcreek • Suicide Squad • Surgin • Tank • Testament • Thrasher • Tigertailz (1990–2005) • TKO • Tyketto • Turbo (1990–1991) (Subsidiary label – Under One Flag) • Robin Trower • Twelfth Night • Tygers of Pan Tang • Venom (1989–1992) (Subsidiary label – Under One Flag) • Virgin Steele • W.A.S.P. • Wolf Spider (1990–1991) (Subsidiary label – Under One Flag) • Waysted • Wendy O. Williams • XisLoaded
Institutional history
Dated record
Institutional history
The full dated record · 2 entries
1983
Music for Nations established.
1983
Music for Nations is recorded from 1983.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- United Kingdom
Named but not plotted · 1
Music for Nations is associated with United Kingdom.
Country
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Music for Nations, revision 1315812334 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.BBC. BBC Wales Tigertailz Page.
- 2.Music For Nations closes its doors. Metalstorm.ee.
- 3.Exclusive: The End Records To Rerelease Music For Nations Catalog. Billboard. 2011-12-05.
- 4.Legendary Label Relaunches. Kerrang.com.
- 5.Music For Nations signs Bury Tomorrow and Blanket. Complete Music Update.
- 6.Garner, George. "We are honoured and excited to be a part of this campaign": Music For Nations welcomes U.S. metal act Killswitch Engage | Labels. Music Week. 2018-06-05.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
44,023 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Mushroom RecordsOrganisation
- Music & ArtsOrganisation
- Music FarmOrganisation
- Music for a CauseOrganisation
- Music for PleasureOrganisation
- Music from MemoryOrganisation
- Music Minus OneOrganisation
- Music of LifeOrganisation
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own an object connected with Music for Nations?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.