German-born !K7 is a widely known unbiased music firm that operates an in-house label in addition to publishing and artist administration providers and has achieved B Corp standing.
The corporate stated the milestone “underscores” its “dedication to social accountability, transparency and environmental efficiency”.
B Corp certification is official recognition of corporations that meet strict requirements of social and environmental accountability, accountability and transparency.
The certification is issued by a non-profit group referred to as B Lab. B Corp certification evaluates how an organization’s operations and enterprise mannequin influence its workers, communities, setting and prospects.
Reaching this certification (which could be seen right here) implies that !K7 is acknowledged for its dedication to moral practices and sustainability in all points of its enterprise.
The corporate stated it’s dedicated to recertification each three years to make sure “we keep these excessive requirements.”
!K7 was based in 1985 as a music video manufacturing firm, working with artists corresponding to Nick Cave and Mudhoney.
In 1993, following a number of X-Combine albums, it launched the DJ-Kicks combine sequence, which finally launched DJ-Kicks: Kruder & Dorfmeister, and collaborations with artists corresponding to Peggy Gou, Disclosure, 4 Tet and Haai.
By 1996, !K7 started releasing artist albums, and expanded in 2001 when London-based skilled label Strut joined, adopted carefully by digital label AUS.
In 2017, !K7 added modern classical label 7K!, adopted by Everlasting Supply of Mild and Soul Financial institution Music, devoted to jazz and soul, whereas rising its artist and label providers, sync and licensing groups, and artist administration.
Over time, !K7’s international presence has grown, with places of work in New York and London along with its flagship workplace in Berlin. The corporate’s music releases embrace Solar Ra, Nubiyan Twist, Mulatu Astatke, Eddington Once more, Zara McFarlane and Laurel Halo.
“We’re proud to be a part of a worldwide group of companies that meet these excessive requirements and hope to encourage others within the music market to do the identical.”
Horst WeidenMueller, founding father of !K7
Commenting on B Corp certification, Horst WeidenMueller, founding father of !K7, stated: “We imagine that taking up this accountability will create a greater, extra helpful firm for our total workforce, stakeholders and shareholders.
“Organizational transformation has a a lot higher influence than particular person efforts, which is why we have now been working since 2019 on a carbon discount plan and carbon footprint reporting to trace our progress.”
He added: “We’re proud to be a part of a worldwide group of companies that meet these excessive requirements and hope to encourage others within the music market to do the identical.
“Turning into B Corp licensed means we’re a part of a worldwide motion of companies dedicated to the best requirements of social and environmental influence.
“Turning into B Corp licensed means we’re a part of a worldwide motion of companies dedicated to the best requirements of social and environmental influence.”
Tom Nivepol, !K7
!K7 Chief Working Officer Tom Nieuweboer added, “Reaching B Corp certification required a complete analysis of our enterprise mannequin, operations, construction and processes.
“This requires steady enchancment and a dedication to recertification each three years to make sure we keep these excessive requirements.
“Turning into B Corp licensed means we’re a part of a worldwide motion of companies dedicated to the best requirements of social and environmental influence. We imagine companies generally is a pressure for good, creating lasting, optimistic change that goes far past the efforts of people.
!K7 acknowledged that it’s “dedicated to social accountability within the music trade, together with [its] enterprise, the setting and our communities”.
“We imagine taking up this accountability will create a greater, extra helpful firm for our total workforce, stakeholders and shareholders,” the corporate added in an evidence accompanying the brand new B Company standing announcement. .
The corporate additionally highlighted a number of of its efforts, together with accountable and sustainable practices and variety and inclusion, that it stated helped obtain its B Corp standing.
!K7 defined that it really works with trade our bodies corresponding to AIM and IMPALA to develop range, fairness and inclusion requirements and has set out clear tips to forestall discrimination and harassment as a part of its code of conduct.
In the meantime, !K7 stated it has set a company-wide goal to realize net-zero emissions within the close to future and considerably scale back its environmental influence as a part of its technique. carbon discount plan.
firm’s Carbon Footprint Report, which incorporates Monitoring its progress since 2019 could be seen right here.
The corporate’s efforts to cut back its environmental influence embrace powering !K7 places of work by a 100% inexperienced vitality cooperative, and its servers additionally run on inexperienced vitality. The corporate additionally says it makes use of a “100% renewable vinyl urgent initiative” and shops its information in FSC-certified recycled sleeves.
Elsewhere, !K7 helped discover Impala Sustainability Strike Drivewhich goals to make the European unbiased music trade extra sustainable.
The corporate additionally famous that it holds a seat on the advisory board Noiseis a climate-focused registered charity based by “leaders in local weather technique and the inventive industries”.
Moreover, for the second consecutive yr, !K7 Music collaborated with Ernst-Reuter-Schule (ERS) on a social challenge for a Berlin marriage ceremony.
The collaboration gives instruments and sources to college students going through excessive ranges of inequality, which the corporate notes “permits[s] We give again to the area people.”
international music enterprise
