Black Market Music is an independent Australian record label based in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1991, it began as an importer and retailer specializing in international blues and roots music before shifting focus to recording and releasing Australian artists. The label has become an important platform for contemporary Australian blues, roots, and related styles, helping local musicians gain national and international recognition.
History and Ownership
Black Market Music started in Melbourne with the goal of making high-quality international blues and roots recordings more accessible to Australian audiences through importation and retail sales. The depth of local talent soon led the company to begin producing and releasing its own recordings. Its first locally produced album was Sassy Mama by the Melbourne blues band The Mojos in 1995. Since then the label has issued nearly 200 albums across blues, roots, folk, and world music.
The label has remained independent and Melbourne-based, supporting artists through recording, promotion, and distribution. Its roster has regularly appeared on ABC and community radio, and several acts have achieved significant industry recognition, including ARIA Award wins and strong showings at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
Notable Blues Artists and Recordings
Black Market Music’s catalog is particularly strong in Australian blues. Key artists and releases include:
The Mojos The label’s early flagship blues act.
- Sassy Mama (BMM 202.2, 1995) — their debut and the first local album released by the label.
- Mumbo Gumbo (1996)
- Swing O’Clock Blues (1999)
These albums established the band’s energetic, traditional-leaning blues sound and helped launch the label’s recording program.
Fiona Boyes One of Australia’s most acclaimed blues artists and a major figure on the label.
Buy from Amazon Blues in My Heart (BMM 239.2, 2000)- Gimme Some… Sweet Jelly Roll (BMM 271.2, 2003)
Boyes won first place in the solo/duo division at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2003. Her recordings blend traditional blues with strong original songwriting and guitar work, earning her both national and international recognition.
Cabbageleaf & Gravy A roots and blues-oriented act that achieved major industry success.
- Their second album More Gravy won the ARIA Award for Best Blues and Roots Album in 2001.
- Silver Bird (their third album) won the “Best Self-Produced CD” award at the 2005 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
These achievements highlighted the label’s ability to support artists who could compete at the highest levels both in Australia and overseas.
Jan Preston Piano-focused blues and boogie.
- Back Door Woman (BMM 216.2, 1997)
- Wild Mood Swing (BMM 283.2, 2004)
Preston’s work brought a strong piano-blues and roots flavor to the catalog.
Other notable blues and related artists
- Jimi Hocking — Winner of the solo/duo division at the International Blues Challenge in 2005; released material through the label.
- The Detonators — Live at the East (BMM 334.2, 2008), capturing energetic live blues performances.
- Anni Piper — Texas Hold ’Em (BMM 324.2, 2007).
- Additional artists associated with the label include Ash Grunwald (early career connections in the broader Melbourne roots scene), Phil Manning, Brian Fraser, Maria Forde, and others working in blues, roots, and related styles.
Legacy
Black Market Music has played a significant role in the Australian blues scene since the mid-1990s. By providing a dedicated platform for local artists at a time when major labels showed limited interest in traditional and contemporary blues, the Melbourne company helped nurture a generation of performers. Successes at the ARIA Awards and the International Blues Challenge in Memphis demonstrated that Australian blues could compete internationally. The label’s focus on authentic blues and roots recordings continues to make it an important part of Melbourne’s and Australia’s independent music landscape.
