Brooklyn, NY. 12/27/11.

Genre-bending instrumental ensemble Snarky Puppy has teamed up with Ropeadope Records to form GroundUP Music, a new label under the Philadelphia-based company's imprint.

According to Snarky Puppy bandleader and GroundUP president Michael League, the label is being set up as an oasis for artists in the ever-changing world of independent music. "Our goals are to keep music business away from the music, empower each artist with the tools they need to successfully tour and sell records on the road, and match each group with their ideal listening audience," says League. "GroundUP is outwardly independent of restrictions on genre, style, or geography. The basic ethos of the label is that if it sounds good, people will listen."

Ropeadope founder and head of A&R Andy Hurwitz adds: "Michael League is part of the foundation of new musicians taking the baton passed down by the ropeadope jazz innovators like Charlie Hunter, Steven Bernstien, and John Medeski. We love everything he does and have full faith in him as a leader of his band, and his own imprint".

GroundUP Music will officially launch with the pre-release of Snarky Puppy's much-anticipated new CD/DVD at the end of February. The first releases on the label alongside Snarky Puppy will come from Dallas groove heavyweights Funky Knuckles, Norwegian vocalist Hildegunn Gjedrem, and New York City-based songwriter Alison Wedding.