ZE Records
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Overview
Tagline Brand's website · 2026-11-07
ZE Records is an independent record label founded in New York in 1978, known for boundary-pushing underground music and a catalog spanning new wave, punk, no wave, disco, funk, and mutant disco.
Description Brand's website · 2026-11-07
ZE Records was created in 1978 in New York by Michael Zilkha and Michel Esteban. The label developed an independent, surrealist identity and released music by artists including Suicide, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Lydia Lunch, Alan Vega, James Chance, Cristina, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, and Was (Not Was). After its original run, ZE Records was relaunched by Michel Esteban in 2003 and began remastering and reissuing its back catalog in CD and digital formats, alongside selected new material.
Identity
Mission Brand's website · 2026-11-07
To provide artists with creative freedom and release distinctive music without being constrained by conventional music-industry categories or strategies.
Founders & leadership Brand's website · 2026-11-07
Founded by Michael Zilkha and Michel Esteban. Michel Esteban relaunched ZE Records in 2003 and continues to lead its reissue and release activities.
Website Brand's website · 2026-11-07
https://zerecords.com
Voice & tone Brand's website · 2026-11-07
Arty, independent, irreverent, experimental, visually conscious, and anti-categorical.
Founded Brand's website · 2026-11-07
1978
Parent ownership Brand's website · 2026-11-07
Independent record label; founded by Michael Zilkha and Michel Esteban.
Offerings
Problem solved Brand's website · 2026-11-07
Preserves and makes accessible historically important and previously unavailable recordings through remastering, reissues, and digital releases.
Core capabilities Brand's website · 2026-11-07
- Record label operations
- Music production
- Artist selection and development
- Audio remastering
- Catalog reissues
- Physical and digital music releases
- Music distribution and licensing
- Graphic and visual art direction
Products / SKUs Brand's website · 2026-11-07
- Remastered ZE Records back-catalog albums
- CD reissues
- Digital music releases
- Vinyl releases
- Mutant Disco compilation volumes
- New artist releases
- ZE Records newsletter with release, event, and artist updates
Audience
Target industry Brand's website · 2026-11-07
Music and recorded entertainment
Customer base Brand's website · 2026-11-07
Music listeners, record collectors, fans of independent and underground music, and audiences interested in ZE Records' historic catalog.
Use cases Brand's website · 2026-11-07
- Discovering historic new wave, punk, no wave, disco, funk, and mutant disco recordings
- Listening to remastered and reissued catalog music
- Collecting physical vinyl and CD releases
- Accessing ZE Records releases in digital formats
- Following artist, event, and release updates through the newsletter
Customer outcomes Brand's website · 2026-11-07
- Access to remastered versions of recordings produced since 1978
- Discovery of influential independent and underground music
- Preservation and continued availability of ZE Records' historic catalog
- Access to selected new music alongside archival releases
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Claim ZE Records — free →Page last updated 2026-11-07.