Along with some musician friends we established Magneoton Ltd. in 1990.  The record company’s essential goal was to provide the artists with tailor-made qualitative support in the process of creating and assure promotion and sales.  Having experience of our own we knew exactly what the ideal circumstances are for a musician to work undisturbed.

After some stumbling in the beginning the system started to work properly and by the end of the year 1992 Magneoton became the No 1 record label of Hungary with best-selling artists like Rapülők, Róbert Gergely, Edda and Jimmy Zámbó …

The achievements could not be kept private and enquiries from abroad started to flow in.  After successful negotiations Magneoton became part of Time Warner media empire’s music wing (Warner Music) as the Hungarian affiliate in 1993.

We both worked as Warner Music Hungary employees until July 2004, as managing director and head of marketing.  In the Warner era – besides distributing one of the strongest record catalogues in the world – we kept expanding the Hungarian repertoire.  Among others, Tátrai Band, Hobó, Animal Cannibals, Sub Bass Monster, Zséda and from a producer’s agreement with Rózsa Records Zsuzsa Cserháti, Charlie, Miklós Fenyő and Tankcsapda became our recording artists as well.

In 2004 new owners took over Warner Music Group and an opportunity opened up for Magneoton to keep on existing again as an independent label – under the company name mTon Ltd. 

Because of the ever deteriorating circumstances in the recording industry, Warner made a decision to close the Hungarian affiliate along with other small countries offices in 2010.

Making the most out of the situation Magneoton (mTon) became the exclusive licensee of the Warner Music catalogue and in line with this we also started releasing classical albums under the label Magneoton Classics.

Currently our biggest stars are Zséda, Magna Cum Laude, Adrien Szekeres and Back II Black, but we also have several rising ones such as Viktor Varga, Adri and Noémi Virág.

The twenty-year-old Magneoton – with its extended activity – is still on top in the Hungarian recording industry, being the biggest independent label.

Our motto is: Constancy and innovation!

László Pásztor and István Joós

founders