# Central Processing Unit

> record label

**Wikidata**: [Q100255571](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100255571)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/central-processing-unit-q100255571

## Summary
Central Processing Unit (also known as CPU Records) is a record label founded in 2012 and based in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Operating under the aliases "CPU Records" and associated with founder Dominic Davi, the label is an active entity in the phonographic industry with a significant digital presence across platforms like SoundCloud, YouTube, and Bandcamp.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Record label (brand/trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and videos).
- **Founded:** 2012.
- **Headquarters:** Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom.
- **Country:** United Kingdom.
- **Also Known As:** CPU Records, Dominic Davi.
- **Website:** http://cpurecords.net (English).
- **Social Media Handles:** 
  - Twitter: @CPURECORDS (Joined May 7, 2012; 4,016 followers as of Jan 2, 2021).
  - YouTube: @cpurecords (Channel ID: UCED67nNROo0ccaRUNVfbNyg; 8,750 followers/subscribers as of Nov 24, 2025).
  - Instagram: @cpurecords.
  - Facebook: cpurecords.
  - Tumblr: cpurecords.
- **Streaming & Music Platforms:** 
  - SoundCloud: cpurecords (Verified account, 14,156 likes, 102 tracks as of start date May 7, 2012).
  - Bandcamp: centralprocessingunit.
  - Resident Advisor: Label ID 8684.
  - Discogs: Artist ID 424941.
  - MusicBrainz: Label ID 5344da81-e10e-48d1-8798-8ac9ac34d4d4.
  - Rate Your Music: central_processing_unit.
  - Jaxsta: Profile ID 3b22ba9b-7252-400a-8c8d-1fc3d354c1da.
- **Audience Metrics:** 
  - YouTube Views: 1,770,569 cumulative views as of Nov 24, 2025.
  - YouTube Subscribers: 457 subscribers and 5,910 videos listed as of Dec 7, 2020 (Note: follower counts vary by snapshot date, see social media handles for latest).
- **YouTube Channel Inception:** June 18, 2012.
- **Context - Record Label Definition:** A record label is a brand and trademark (a subclass of trade name, brand, trademark, and commercial name) operating in the phonographic industry to market music recordings and videos. It is distinct from a record company (the operational entity).
- **Context - Sheffield:** The label's headquarters, Sheffield, is a city in South Yorkshire, England, UK. It has a population of 577,800 (as of 2017), covers 142.06 sq mi, sits at an elevation of 75m, and was founded circa 0701.
- **Context - United Kingdom:** The label's home country, the United Kingdom, is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy in north-west Europe with a population of approximately 67 million (2021).

## FAQs
**What is Central Processing Unit?**
Central Processing Unit, often referred to as CPU Records, is a record label headquartered in Sheffield, United Kingdom. It was established in 2012 to market and distribute music recordings.

**Where is Central Processing Unit located?**
The record label is based in Sheffield, a major city in South Yorkshire, England, within the United Kingdom. 

**How can I find Central Processing Unit online?**
The label maintains an official website at cpurecords.net and is active across multiple social and music platforms under the handle @cpurecords or "cpurecords", including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Bandcamp, and SoundCloud (where it holds a verified profile). 

**What distinguishes a record label like CPU from a record company?**
As defined by industry standards, a record label like CPU is the brand and trademark used for marketing music, whereas a record company is the underlying corporate operational entity that handles the logistical and financial business functions.

**What is the digital footprint and audience size of Central Processing Unit?**
As of late 2025, the label's primary YouTube channel has accumulated over 1.77 million total views and maintains a following of 8,750 subscribers. Historically, it has also built a significant listener base on SoundCloud, featuring 102 tracks and over 14,000 likes.

## Why It Matters
Central Processing Unit operates as a crucial node within the modern phonographic industry, utilizing the distinct brand identity of a record label to market music within the global ecosystem. Founded in 2012, the label leverages its base in Sheffield—a major UK metropolitan area with a rich cultural history—to contribute to the region's ongoing musical output. 

By establishing a verified and multi-platform digital footprint spanning YouTube, Bandcamp, Resident Advisor, and Discogs, CPU exemplifies how modern record labels adapt to technological shifts, from physical distribution to streaming and digital marketing. The label's ability to amass millions of digital views while maintaining active profiles across major music databases highlights its relevance in artist promotion, digital music distribution, and the broader commercialization of music culture. 

## Notable For
- **Verified Digital Presence:** Maintains a verified profile on SoundCloud, solidifying its authenticated status in the digital music space.
- **Significant Audience Reach:** Accumulated over 1.77 million historical views on its YouTube channel (@cpurecords) as of November 2025.
- **Early Digital Adoption:** Established its Twitter and SoundCloud accounts in May 2012 and its YouTube channel in June 2012, aligning closely with its founding year.
- **Sheffield Heritage:** Based in the historic English city of Sheffield, contributing to the local economy and cultural landscape of South Yorkshire.
- **Extensive Platform Integration:** Officially registered and indexed across major music industry databases including MusicBrainz, Discogs, Resident Advisor, Jaxsta, and Rate Your Music.

## Body

### Identity and Definition
Central Processing Unit (operating as CPU Records) is a record label founded in 2012. In the phonographic industry, a record label functions as the brand, trademark, and commercial imprint under which music recordings and music videos are marketed. It is explicitly distinct from a "record company"—while a label serves as the public-facing identity for music distribution, the company handles the operational and financial aspects. CPU Records embodies this definition as a registered brand for marketing music.

### Geography and Location
CPU Records is headquartered in Sheffield, England, within the United Kingdom. Sheffield is recognized as the capital of its metropolitan area, a status it has held since 1974. The city is situated in South Yorkshire (historic county: Yorkshire, West Riding) at coordinates 53.38 latitude and -1.47 longitude, covering an area of 142.06 square miles at an elevation of 75 meters above sea level. As a major urban center, Sheffield supports a population of 577,800 (as of 2017) and shares international twinning relations with cities such as Bochum, Pittsburgh, Kawasaki, and Chengdu.

The broader operational context of the United Kingdom provides the national framework for the label. The UK is an island country in north-west Europe with a population of approximately 67 million (2021). It operates as a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, utilizing the pound sterling (£) as its currency and Greenwich Mean Time (UTC±00:00) as its timezone.

### Digital Presence and Social Media
CPU Records maintains a robust and multi-faceted digital presence, utilizing standardized handles (typically @cpurecords) across major social and audio platforms:
- **Twitter:** @CPURECORDS (joined May 7, 2012). The account had 4,016 followers as of January 2, 2021.
- **YouTube:** The channel (ID: UCED67nNROo0ccaRUNVfbNyg) was started on June 18, 2012, under the handle @cpurecords. By November 24, 2025, it had accumulated 1,770,569 total views and 8,750 subscribers. Earlier snapshots from December 2020 noted 457 subscribers and 5,910 videos.
- **SoundCloud:** Operating under the ID "cpurecords", the account is verified and has been active since May 7, 2012. It hosts 102 tracks and has garnered 14,156 likes.
- **Other Platforms:** The label is also active on Instagram (@cpurecords), Facebook (cpurecords), and Tumblr (cpurecords). Its official website is http://cpurecords.net.

### Industry Database Integration
Reflecting its professional status in the music industry, Central Processing Unit is registered and cataloged in numerous semantic web, library, and music databases:
- **MusicBrainz:** Label ID 5344da81-e10e-48d1-8798-8ac9ac34d4d4.
- **Discogs:** Artist ID 424941.
- **Resident Advisor:** Label ID 8684 (referenced in the label's founding data as early as October 2020).
- **Rate Your Music:** Listed under the ID central_processing_unit.
- **Jaxsta:** Profile ID 3b22ba9b-7252-400a-8c8d-1fc3d354c1da.
- **Bandcamp:** Hosted under the profile ID centralprocessingunit.

### Contextual Classifications
The label’s categorization aligns with global ontological standards for music organizations. "Record label" is a subclass of trade name, brand, trademark, and commercial name. Within linked data systems (like DBpedia and Wikidata), the concept of a record label is mapped to standardized classifications (e.g., `http://dbpedia.org/ontology/RecordLabel` and `http://purl.org/ontology/mo/Label`). The concept is well-documented globally, with Wikipedia content for "record label" available in 63 languages, categorized under Library of Congress classification ML3792.A-ML3792.Z. CPU Records operates entirely within this global framework of the phonographic industry.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.residentadvisor.net/record-label.aspx?id=8684)
2. [Source](https://soundcloud.com/cpurecords)
3. YouTube API