Because Group was established in May 2004 by Emmanuel de Buretel and Eric Bielsa, and now stands out as one of the top-five leading independent labels in the European music industry and a pioneer of the 360° model. It is also one of the few companies that can provide artists with the full range of services they need to develop every aspect of their craft and build a successful career.
Consequently, Because Group operates within four business lines:
Production
Music publishing
Tour Management and Festivals
Concert venues
Production
The Because Music label was launched in Paris in November 2004, immediately achieving global success when it released “Dimanche à Bamako”, an album by Amadou & Mariam, which was co-produced by Manu Chao. The catalogue soon expanded with prestigious names such as Keziah Jones, Manu Chao, Les Rita Mitsouko and Camille, followed by new signings including Charlotte Gainsbourg, all of whom went on to achieve international success after coming on board with Because. At the same time, the label signed a partnership with Ed Banger, the Parisian electronic music label that discovered artists such as Justice, Sebastian, Breakbot and Myd, all major names in world music.
In 2005, Because Group went on to open a branch in London, immediately signing internationally acclaimed artists such as Metronomy and Django Django. In 2017, Because UK was named “Best UK Indie Label” at the AIM awards.
The phenomenal success of Selah Sue in Europe built on this momentum, which was further boosted by the signing of international artists such as Moby, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Calypso Rose and, more recently, top acts such as London Grammar, Parcels and Jorja Smith.
Because Group reinforced its leading international position with hits by Diplo and Major Lazer, as well as the breakthrough success of Christine and the Queens, who went on to achieve global recognition.
In 2017, Because Music acquired a number of prestigious catalogues, including London Records (Happy Mondays, Fine Young Cannibals, Bananarama, etc.) and a portion of the Parlophone catalogue (Mano Negra, Les Rita Mitsouko, JJ Cale, Les Negresses Vertes, etc.), before it re-released the Stardust project in 2019.
The label continued its international expansion when it opened a Los Angeles office in 2019.
This year, the label is actively pursuing its strategy, signing promising artists such as Shygirl, Logic1000, Alewya, Crystal Murray, Saint DX, Timothée Joly, Denzo and Joysad, as well as electronic music label Deewee. At the same time, Because is strengthening its foothold in urban music with hits by Marwa and Lartiste, followed by the new Booba-sponsored label La Piraterie Music, the Art de Rue project in 2020, and the signing of rap artist Shay in April 2021.
Today, Because Music defines itself as an integrated framework for artistic creation that takes an independent, boutique approach to provide turnkey solutions for conception and promotion, from content production through to the new global distribution model launched in 2018, which interfaces seamlessly with digital platforms.
MUSIC PUBLISHING
Because Éditions was founded in 2005 and has become one of the biggest independent publishers in France signing artists such as Daft Punk, Justice, Selah Sue, Christine and the Queens, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sebastian, Stromae, Metronomy, Les Rita Mitsouko and Thomas Dutronc, and acquiring the catalogues of Claude François (“My Way”), Cerrone, NTM, Carla Bruni and Dan Levy, as well as some high-profile urban signings including the Wati B catalogue (Gims, Dadju, Sexion d’Assaut), Vald, Heuss L’Enfoiré, Soolking, Kery James, Lacrim, Vegedream, Lartiste and Kaaris, with its most recent acquisition being the Anteprima jazz catalogue (Manu Katché).
It also acts as sub-publisher for the prestigious catalogues of Concord, CTM Outlander, Fuji Pacific, Bonatarda (Rosalia), the JJ Cale catalogue, Big Deal, Native Tongue and Mushroom, and has just taken on the Spandau Ballet catalogue.
Because Éditions won the 2018 Sacem Grand Prize for Music Publishing.
TOUR MANAGEMENT AND FESTIVALS
In 2004, Because Group started out by acquiring a majority stake in the Corida Group, set up by Jacques Renault and Assaad Debs to manage tours for French artists (Manu Chao, Catherine Ringer, Phoenix and, more recently, Gaetan Roussel, Justice, Selah Sue, Christine and the Queens and Charlotte Gainsbourg) and international artists (Radiohead, Ben Harper, Chris Rea, Texas, Mark Knopfler /Dire Straits, Rammstein, Duffy and Charlie Winston).
The following independent concert promoters have since joined the Corida Group:
Talent Boutique : London Grammar, Fontaines D.C., Metronomy, L'Impératrice, Yoa, Iliona, Myd…
Pi-Pole : Rosalia, Jorja Smith, LCD Soundsystem, Parcels, MGMT
Super! : Bon iver, Connan Mockasin, Jungle, M83, Rex Orange County
Finally, the success of We Love Green, an eco-friendly festival launched in 2010 that attracts some 80,000 people every year, continues to demonstrate the diverse breadth of talent of Because Group artists, which was further enhanced with the acquisition of a stake in the Peacock Society Festival in 2017.
CONCERT VENUES AND RESTAURANT
Because operates two concert venues in Paris (La Cigale, La Boule Noire) and the adjoining restaurant La Cantine de la Cigale
About Emmanuel de Buretel
Emmanuel de Buretel is a music executive and entrepreneur whose career has spanned every facet of the music industry since the late 1980s, from publishing and recorded music to artist development, live entertainment, and catalogue management.
A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he returned to Paris in the early 1980s and became actively involved in the city’s emerging music scene. He notably organized concerts at the legendary Les Bains Douches, a venue that played a pivotal role in introducing groundbreaking British and American artists to French audiences, including Sade, The Pogues, Eurythmics and The Cure.
In 1986, Richard Branson appointed him Managing Director of Virgin Music Publishing France. He subsequently co-founded Delabel in partnership with Virgin Records, helping shape a new generation of French and international artists, including Mano Negra, IAM, Les Rita Mitsouko, Youssou N’Dour and Cheb Khaled, while contributing to the emergence of French rap as a major cultural force.
In 1992, he became President of Virgin France and established Delabel Publishing. During the late 1990s, he played a key role in the international development of a new wave of European artists through Virgin Music Europe, including Manu Chao, Air, Daft Punk, Phoenix and David Guetta. His growing responsibilities within the group led to his appointment in 2001 as Chairman of Virgin Europe and later EMI Europe, based in London, where he oversaw a network of 21 subsidiaries. During this period, he helped build one of the strongest European rosters of the era, working with artists such as David Guetta, Tiziano Ferro, Aaliyah and Röyksopp. He also led the acquisition of Mute by EMI and pioneered new structures designed to support and distribute independent labels within the Virgin network.
Following his departure from EMI in 2004, Emmanuel founded Because Group, an independent music company active across recorded music, publishing, artist management, live entertainment and rights management. With offices in Paris, London and Los Angeles, Because has grown into one of Europe’s leading independent music groups through artist development, strategic partnerships and catalogue acquisitions.
The group’s flagship label, Because Music, gained international recognition with its first release, Dimanche à Bamako by Amadou & Mariam, co-produced with Manu Chao. Since then, the company has worked with a diverse and influential roster including Charlotte Gainsbourg, J.J. Cale, Christine and the Queens, Manu Chao, Prince, Metronomy, London Grammar, Major Lazer, Parcels, Jorja Smith, Shygirl, Shay, Stardust and Angèle for her single "What You Want » featuring Justice. Recently, the label has also been developing a new generation of successful artists such as RNBOI, Snow Strippers, OKLOU and Sébastien Tellier.
A long-standing partnership with Ed Banger Records brought artists such as Justice, SebastiAn, Breakbot and Myd into the Because ecosystem. The company has also expanded significantly through strategic catalogue acquisitions, notably London Records, home to artists including Bronski Beat, Happy Mondays, Fine Young Cannibals, Bananarama and Goldie, as well as part of the historic Parlophone catalogue. Since 2022, Because has overseen the catalogue and artistic legacy of Daft Punk.
Through Because Éditions, one of France’s leading independent music publishers, Emmanuel de Buretel manages a catalogue that includes works by Daft Punk, Claude François (co-writer of “My Way”), Cerrone, Tiakola, Justice, Christine and the Queens and Fally Ipupa, among many others. The publishing company has become one of the most respected publisher in pop / urban music with a catalogue including Stromae, RnBoi and Wati B’s copyright.
Beyond recorded music and publishing, Because Group has established a major presence in live entertainment through Corida, representing artists such as Justice, Radiohead, AIR and Texas, as well as through its network of independent live companies including Talent Boutique, Super! and Pi-Pole. The group also owns two of Paris’s most iconic venues, La Cigale and La Boule Noire, and has been instrumental in creating and developing some of France’s leading music festivals, including We Love Green, Yardland, Peacock Society and Pitchfork Music Festival Paris.
In 2026, Emmanuel de Buretel was named to Billboard’s Indie Power Players list, recognizing the most influential executives shaping the global independent music sector today. He is also a Chevalier (Knight) of France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) and the légion d’honneur (Legion of Honour).
Over nearly four decades, Emmanuel de Buretel has built a reputation as one of Europe’s most respected music entrepreneurs, consistently championing artistic innovation, independent culture and long-term value creation across the global music business.