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The Circle

Type Music Coalition from 2002 - 2004
Founded 2002
Organisations Audio Asylum, Cataclysm Records, Flatline Entertainment, Nine Music, Sin Movement Records
Production 21 products 8, 6, 7
Key People Jerome ‘Legend’ White, Dean ‘Nine’ Simon, Marshall Bautista, Ben, Kalai,
Population 45 in 2002, 34 in 2003

The Circle was a music coalition that consisted of Cataclysm Records (record Label), Flatline Entertainment (record label), Sin Movement Records (record label), Audio Asylum (Production company) and Nine Music (record Label). It existed between Autumn 2002 Winter 2004.

At it’s height this community consisted of about 45 musical artists (most being rappers). It was believed to be the biggest (in term of population) and most productive (in terms of musical releases) music communities in East London.


The 5 Circle Organisations

Audio Asylum
Production Company headed by O2 and Goldarloshivich. Representing the crew Phobia (including O2 and Goldarloshivich).
Releases:0
Size:8

Cataclysm Records
Record Label headed by Marshall Raw.
Releases:6
Size:6

Flatline Entertainment
Record Label head by Aggrovation.
Releases:0
Size:11

Nine Music
Record Label head by Nine Taurus.
Releases:8
Size:14
Contribution: Heavy Television & Radio rotation, 2 music videos, packaging, web entertainment source

Sin Movement Records
Record Label head by Rap Raven.
Releases:7
Size:9
Contribution: Influence, Shows

History

The Circle was founded when Sin Movement Records approached Nine Music with the idea to create a coalition of music organisations. The Circle organisations would have monthly meetings at Sin Movement Records head quarters in Forest Gate. Meetings would consist of;

The progression of The Circle Organisations
Trading Standards
Collaboration standards and scheduling

The 5 Circle Organisations became 4 in 2003 when Flatline Entertainment was elected out due to lack of commitment. Sin Movement Records (the most influential of the circle organistions) would propose many new concepts, most notably The Circle Album. Nine Music (the largest of the organistions) would object to the Album because of the Nine Corporation (It’s parent organistion) and it’s sister organizations.

Audio Asylum Started to slip on it’s commitments also, in 2004 they discontinued all collaborations with Nine Music to shock of the entire Circle. The circle started to deteriorate shortly after that as the other organisations started to slip on commitments (apart from Sin Movement Records).

After the Circle closed in 2004, Cataclysm Records grinded to a halt and two of there lead artists (Marshall Raw and Kaizen) joined Sin Movement. Nine Music entered it's most successful part of the Second Generation. Sin Movement entered it's most successful period up until the Great Depression. After the Great Depression, Nine Music emerged as the only post Circle record label to continue and grow, and become the regional hegemony.

Regional Effects

Much like the First Generation, The Circle was fairly enclaved. There were few collaborations with artists outside of the Circle and The East London Underground Rap Scene, but majority was was internal. Although the majority of it's population was drawn into it due to the alluring recording, performances and music video features.

Due to it's enormous catalogue, many regional artists entire career has existed in this era. Sin Movement had a monopoly over the shows, and Nine Music had a monopoly over TV and Radio. This led to many regional artists having to go through the Circle to gain a possibility to use these outlets.

Dynamics

Sin Movement brought all the other labels to the circle and for this fact it was arguably the most influential label. Nine Music was the largest and most extravigent due to the quality of it releases and the only label that was a subsidiary to a media conglomerate. Nine Music had the most resourses because of its media connections. Many of the circles decisions were influenced by Nine Music because it would often flex these resources.

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