Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins (often abbreviated as B&W) is a British loudspeaker manufacturer, established in Sussex in the 1960s and producing a wide range of hi-fi equipment, from headphones and iPod dock stations to hi-end loudspeakers. In 1988, Bowers & Wilkins launched their own record label B&W Music dedicated to jazz, latino and fusion electronica music. For a few years, B&W Music was sponsoring famous Montreux Jazz Festival and releasing annual compilations for it. In 1996 the label went independent and was renamed to M.E.L.T. 2000, focusing mostly on world music and South African jazz. It was finally shut down in 2002. In 1995 Bowers & Wilkins started sponsoring another record label Blue Room Released, dedicated to Goa/psy-trance and ambient. Later Blue Room was merged by M.E.L.T. 2000. In 2000s B&W returned to music business, launching Society of Sound/B&W Music Club and now offering high-quality music in digital format on subscription.