The record industry may still be struggling, but that's not stopping Kiss man Gene Simmons from relaunching his record label, Simmons Records, albeit with elements of that 360 approach in it. The label is a joint venture with Universal Music Canada and Canadian businesswoman and politician Belinda Stronach, and the aim is to sign three Canadian acts per year, working with them on recordings and merchandise projects.
Announcing the label's launch, Simmons told reporters in Toronto the label would work with artists to develop their sound and songwriting, only releasing an album (via Universal) when he thought the band were really ready. He said: "This is going to be about career songs that define who and what a band is".
A previous incarnation of Simmons Records operated as part of the now defunct Sanctuary Records group, and released both Simmons' own solo work and some other Canadian material.