"Grade 9 Records is a non-profit record label.
Our aim is to recreate those long-lost development deals that labels used to offer young artists/bands that had the raw talent but needed to develop their skills, knowledge and experience before they could be launched into the music industry.
All proceeds are donated to Music for Africa and Buskaid, two registered charities that provide music lessons and instruments to children in the townships of South Africa, my home country. The income generated from Grade 9 Records is trivial in the UK, but once converted into South African currency, it can pay for many township children to learn musical instruments.
Behind the Name: I have an ongoing joke with my students about Grade 9 Records, as it does not actually exist; the highest graded music examination is Grade 8. In their their final year, I teach advanced theory and composition that is not in the syllabus, and every year someone always asks me, "What grade is this?" and my answer is always "Grade 9!". On a serious note though, the students tend to focus all their attention on learning the theory and passing the Grade 8 exam, so I like to make them think about life after Grade 8. Musical life begins at Grade 9, as only after you have learnt the language of music can you begin to truly express yourself in a creative and unique way. This is a very magical stage of a musician’s life, and I refer to this stage as Grade 9 Records."
Ray Holroyd, Founder of Grade 9 Records
http://grade9records.com/