Illegal Musik

Illegal Musik is a New Zealand lifestyle and entertainment company whose principal activity has been the development, production, and release of music. Founded in 2007 by Mark Arona and Eddie Bennet, the company established its profile through artist development, particularly the promotion of R&B singer J.Williams. It subsequently expanded its roster across R&B, hip-hop, pop, and rock, presenting itself less as a narrowly specialized record imprint than as a broader entertainment platform. The company's early development was closely associated with J.Williams and singer Erakah. Both were recognized at the 2010 Pacific Island Music Awards, where J.Williams received the Best Male Artist award and Erakah received the Best Female Artist award. J.Williams also achieved a number-one single with "You Got Me," a release that became one of Illegal Musik's most visible commercial and creative projects. Illegal Musik also pursued music-production and audiovisual projects. Its production house was managed by Inoke Finau, known professionally as N.O.X. and associated with the rock band Junipah. In partnership with New Zealand company 3D Live and director Damien Caine, the label produced what was described as the first all-live 3D music video, for J.Williams's "You Got Me." The project received a New Zealand music innovation award in 2010, while the single's video won Best Hip-Hop Video at the Juice TV Awards in May of the same year. The company's roster and associated acts have included DJCXL, Erakah, Vince Harder, J.Williams, K.One, Tyson Tyler, Brooke Duff, Junipah, and television presenter Erin Simpson. Titanium, a pop group known for the number-one song "Come On Home," is identified as a previous artist rather than a current act. This roster reflects the company's broad genre coverage and its links to the New Zealand and Pacific music scenes. Illegal Musik later formed a partnership with Warner Australia, and the relationship supported releases including J.Williams's "You Got Me" in 2010, "Take Me Higher (Illegal Remix)" in 2011, and "Live It Up" in 2011. The company is also described as having a partnership with Warner Music. Its record-label operations and album activity are based in New Zealand. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about its current corporate structure, financial performance, full catalogue, or present artist roster.

Illegal Musik was founded in New Zealand in 2007 by Mark Arona and Eddie Bennet. The company was created as a lifestyle and entertainment venture with a primary focus on music. Its early strategy emphasized identifying and developing performers rather than operating only as a catalogue label. R&B singer J.Williams became the company's most prominent early success, while Erakah was another important early signing. The two artists gained significant recognition at the 2010 Pacific Island Music Awards. J.Williams was named Best Male Artist and Erakah was named Best Female Artist. Their recognition helped establish Illegal Musik within the New Zealand and Pacific music ecosystem. J.Williams's single "You Got Me" subsequently became a number-one release and served as the label's defining early recording. Illegal Musik extended its activity into music-video production and technical innovation. Its production house was managed by Inoke Finau, who worked under the name N.O.X. and was also associated with the rock band Junipah. The company collaborated with New Zealand firm 3D Live and director Damien Caine on an all-live 3D music video for "You Got Me." The project was recognized with a New Zealand music innovation award in 2010. The same release also won Best Hip-Hop Video at the Juice TV Awards in May 2010, giving the company visibility beyond audio recordings. The label developed a multi-genre roster. In addition to J.Williams and Erakah, associated or signed acts included DJCXL of Ill Semantics, R&B singer Vince Harder, rappers K.One and Tyson Tyler, pop singer Brooke Duff, the rock band Junipah, and television presenter Erin Simpson. This range suggests that Illegal Musik operated as a wider entertainment platform with interests in artist representation and media projects. Titanium, a pop boy band known for the number-one single "Come On Home," is listed among the company's previous artists. The company also pursued international distribution and commercial relationships. It established a partnership with Warner Australia and is described as having a partnership with Warner Music. Through this relationship, Illegal Musik released three identified J.Williams singles: "You Got Me" in 2010, followed by "Take Me Higher (Illegal Remix)" and "Live It Up" in 2011. The company's record-label headquarters and album activity remained based in New Zealand. Available reference material does not provide a complete discography, detailed corporate filings, revenue information, a confirmed current executive roster, or a fully documented account of operations after the early 2010s. Accordingly, the company's present artist roster, ownership structure, and operating scale remain insufficiently documented in the supplied sources.

• 2011

  Further J.Williams releases

  [1]Illegal Musiken.wikipedia.org

  Illegal Musik released "Take Me Higher (Illegal Remix)" and "Live It Up" by J.Williams.

• 2010

  Early artists win Pacific Island Music Awards

  [1]Illegal Musiken.wikipedia.org

  J.Williams and Erakah won Best Male Artist and Best Female Artist awards, respectively, at the Pacific Island Music Awards.

• 2010

  Release of "You Got Me"

  [1]Illegal Musiken.wikipedia.org

  J.Williams's "You Got Me" became a number-one single and emerged as Illegal Musik's signature early release.

• 2010

  All-live 3D music video project

  [1]Illegal Musiken.wikipedia.org

  Illegal Musik worked with 3D Live and director Damien Caine on an all-live 3D video for "You Got Me," receiving New Zealand music innovation recognition.

• 2010

  Juice TV award for "You Got Me"

  [1]Illegal Musiken.wikipedia.org

  The "You Got Me" video won Best Hip-Hop Video at the Juice TV Awards in May.

• 2007

  Company founded

  [1]Illegal Musiken.wikipedia.org

  Mark Arona and Eddie Bennet founded Illegal Musik in New Zealand as a lifestyle and entertainment company focused primarily on music.

A New Zealand-focused independent entertainment and music company combining artist development, record releases, production services, and audiovisual innovation across multiple popular-music genres.

• Record-label catalogue · 2007

  Recorded music catalogue

  Illegal Musik's principal product is its catalogue of singles and albums issued through its artist roster. The documented catalogue is centered on New Zealand and Pacific artists and spans R&B, hip-hop, pop, and rock. Public reference material identifies several J.Williams singles but does not provide a complete album list or comprehensive discography.

• Singles · 2010

  J.Williams releases

  J.Williams was Illegal Musik's most prominent documented artist. The identified releases include "You Got Me" in 2010, "Take Me Higher (Illegal Remix)" in 2011, and "Live It Up" in 2011. "You Got Me" became a number-one single and was supported by an award-winning 3D music video.

• Audiovisual production · 2010

  Music-video production

  The company has undertaken music-video and production work in addition to releasing recordings. Its best-documented audiovisual project is the all-live 3D video for J.Williams's "You Got Me," made with 3D Live and director Damien Caine and recognized in New Zealand music awards.

• 2010J.Williams "You Got Me" 3D video project

  New Zealand

  Illegal Musik collaborated with 3D Live and director Damien Caine to create an all-live 3D music video for J.Williams's "You Got Me," combining a single release with an experimental audiovisual format.

  Outcome. The project received an award for innovation in New Zealand music, and the video won Best Hip-Hop Video at the Juice TV Awards.

  Source

• 2010

  Launch of "You Got Me" and its 3D videoProduct launch

  Background

  Illegal Musik used J.Williams's recording as a major artist-development and audiovisual project.

  Action taken

  The label released "You Got Me" and commissioned an all-live 3D music video in collaboration with 3D Live and Damien Caine.

  Aftermath

  The single reached number one, while the video earned innovation recognition and a Juice TV award.

  Source

• Partnership with Warner AustraliaM&A

  Background

  Illegal Musik sought a broader commercial and distribution relationship for its recordings through a partnership with Warner Australia.

  Action taken

  The companies partnered on the release and distribution of J.Williams material, including singles issued in 2010 and 2011.

  Aftermath

  The partnership is associated with the release of three documented J.Williams singles. The supplied reference does not specify its financial terms, duration, or current status.

  Source

1. 1Illegal Musiken.wikipedia.org