World Circuit (record label)

The record label World Circuit was founded in the mid-1980s in London and specializes in world music. Its roots lie in the Artist Agency Arts Worldwide, headed by Mary Farqharson and Anne Hunt, who wanted to fix mainly the lack of nationally available recordings of the artists they support. Their first productions appeared in 1986, and next year the Afrikanistikstudent Nick Gold to care for the label was discontinued activities.

1987 was also the year in which Malian guitarist Ali Farka recordings of Touré the label first brought attention. License images from Latin America and with the Orchestra Baobab from Senegal followed.

In the early 1990s separated the partners. Anne Hunt joined the label Corason in Mexico, and Nick Gold initiated World Circuit alone.

The big success came when in 1993 Ry Cooder showed more interest to take for the label with Ali Farka Touré together. It originated Talking Timbuktu, a resounding success in the world music charts. The crossover to the general public succeeded in 1996, again with Ry Cooder and other musicians of the label, Juan de Marcos González: the projects to the Buena Vista Social Club.

World Circuit in the U.S. has always been a solid partnership with Nonesuch.