Other Record Labels

Kou Records - (Record Label Interview)

“How you present something affects how you hear it.”
Presented by HELLBENDER VINYL - www.hellbenderviny.com
In this episode, I sit down with Charmaine and Randall of Kou Records — one of the most ambitious and creative indie labels I’ve come across — to break down their “cohort” model: multiple records released together as a unified body of work.
We talk about:
Why they reject genre, algorithms, and streaming-first thinking
How they combine music + visual art into a single experience
The philosophy behind releasing 4–5 records at once
Why physical products matter more than ever in the age of AI and “content”
How constraints (like recording an album in 4–5 days) actually unlock creativity
This is a masterclass in thinking differently about what a record label can be — and why the future might belong to labels willing to take creative risks.
Kou Records: www.KouRecords.com
 
Proudly Supported by Infinite Catalog: www.infinitecatalog.com
 

Does Your Music Have to Be Good to Succeed?

Does the music you release actually need to be good?
Not just “good enough.” Not just “interesting.” But truly great?
PRESENTED BY HELLBENDER VINYL - www.hellbendervinyl.com
In this episode, we unpack a question that sits right at the heart of indie music—but often goes unspoken. If DIY culture is about freedom and expression, does quality even matter? Or are we sometimes hiding behind “lo-fi” and “experimental” as an excuse not to push ourselves?
This is a challenging conversation—for you, and for me.
We’ll explore:
Whether indie labels should have standards (and how high they should be)
Why great music is actually harder to find than you think
How to curate your catalog with intention
The role of taste, accountability, and creative pressure
Practical ways to raise your bar as a label owner
This episode isn’t about perfection. It’s about honesty.
And asking yourself: are you doing your best work?
 
Learn More at OtherRecordLabels.com
 
Get Easy Royalty Management with Infinite Catalog - http://infinitecatalog.com/otherrecordlabels
 

Bar/None Records - (Record Label Interview)

What does it actually look like to take over a legendary indie label?
In this episode, I sit down with Emmy Black, the new owner of Bar/None Records—a label with nearly 40 years of history and a roster that helped launch artists like They Might Be Giants and Yo La Tengo.
PRESENTED BY LANDR - get.landr.com/otherrecordlabels
We talk about what it means to inherit a legacy, how to modernize an indie label without losing its identity, and the real, behind-the-scenes work of running a record label in 2026.
This is a conversation about stewardship, taste, relationships, and the long game of building something that lasts.
If you’re running (or dreaming of running) a record label, this episode is essential listening.
 

Social Media Observations for Record Labels

Social media feels like a necessary evil for most indie artists and label owners.
You know you should be posting… but what’s actually working? What matters? And is any of it even worth your time?
*PRESENTED BY LANDR*  get.landr.com/otherrecordlabels
In this episode, I’m not coming to you as an expert—I’m coming to you as someone figuring it out alongside you.
I break down 5 things I’ve personally noticed about social media that have helped me make sense of it all—from short form vs long form, to why quantity might matter more than quality, to why curation could be the most important skill moving forward.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, frustrated, or just completely uninterested in playing the social media game… this episode is for you.

Crestfallen Records - (Record Label Interview)

In this episode, Scott talks with Bryce, founder of Crestfallen Records, a Pittsburgh-based DIY metal label that has quietly become one of the most respected names in the modern deathcore and metalcore vinyl scene.
***Presented by LANDR - get.landr.com/otherrecordlabels ***
In just five years, Bryce has released 60+ vinyl titles, many with 4–6 variants each, turning Crestfallen into a destination label for collectors who want beautiful physical editions of heavy music.
What makes the story remarkable is how it started: Bryce launched the label right after college with almost no experience, a small internship at another DIY label, and a willingness to email bands he loved and ask if he could press their albums on vinyl.
The risk paid off.
Today Crestfallen is embraced by the scene it serves, with fans praising the label’s quality, design, and commitment to physical media.
 
Learn More: www.crestfallenrecords.com
 
Resources for Record Labels: www.otherrecordlabels.com
 

Email Lists for Record Labels: The 5 Simple Steps

Email marketing might be the most boring topic in the music industry… and also the most profitable.
PRESENTED BY LANDR - get.landr.com/otherrecordlabels
In this episode, Scott breaks down why email lists remain the most powerful marketing tool for record labels and indie artists — even in a world obsessed with TikTok, reels, and algorithms.
While platforms come and go, email has quietly remained the most reliable way to reach fans, sell records, and stay top of mind.
Scott explains why email consistently outperforms social media in ROI and conversions, and walks through the five simple steps any label can use to start building an email list today.
If you run a record label or release music as an independent artist, this might be the most important marketing strategy you're overlooking.
Step 1. Gather Any Email Address You Have
Step 2. Get New Emails
Step 3. Get an Email Tool
Step 4. Create an Email Schedule
Step 5. Stay Consistent And Grow Slow
 
***Get FREE Email Marketing Resources at http://otherrecordlabels.com/emailmarketing
 

Weird Fruit Records - (Record Label Interview)

“Here’s some weird fruit. Trust me — once you bite into it, you’ll love it.”
What if your record label operated like a farmers market for strange, exotic fruit?
PRESENTED BY LANDR - get.landr.com/otherrecordlabels
In this episode, I sit down with Aaron of Weird Fruit Records, a Santa Cruz-based label born out of pandemic farming, unconventional recording spaces, and a love for music that’s just a little… weird.
We talk about:
Why “weird” is a compliment
Recording inside hollowed-out redwood trees
Building a label around production and collaboration
The per-project label model (instead of restrictive long-term deals)
Balancing artistry, engineering, and marketing
Why some music needs to slow down before it’s released
This is a conversation about creativity without handcuffs — and how to introduce listeners to music they didn’t know they were ready for.

4 Rules Every Label Owner Must Live By

In this episode, I break down four deceptively simple rules inspired by Make Your Own Rules by Andrew Huang — rules that every creative entrepreneur, indie artist, and record label owner needs to understand:
Do things you want to do
Don’t do things you want to do
Do things you don’t want to do
Don’t do things you don’t want to do
Confusing? Good.
PRESENTED BY LANDR: landr.com/otherrecordlabels
 
These four ideas will completely reshape how you prioritize your time, evaluate opportunities, set boundaries, and build something truly original.
If you run a label, make records, or consider yourself DIY — this episode is about the daily decisions that quietly determine your long-term success.
 
Book Recommends: http://otherrecordlabels.com/books
 

Alt Dub - (Record Label Interview)

“Twenty years as an artist prepared me to serve other artists better.”
This week on Other Record Labels, Scott sits down with Chris Kelly, founder of Alt Dub Records, a UK-based dub techno label that’s been quietly selling out vinyl releases and building serious momentum in under two years.
Presented by LANDR - landr.otherrecordlabels.com
 
Chris is an artist-first label owner with decades of experience in sound, design, and culture — and it shows. In this wide-ranging, unplanned conversation, we dig into Chris’s musical roots, his obsession with imperfection, how strong branding and genre focus fuel demand, and why patience (especially with vinyl) is one of the hardest skills to learn as a label owner.
www.altdub.com
bandcamp.altdub.com
 

Why Your Records Aren't Selling

Why aren’t your records selling?
This week, I’m breaking down five common reasons your CDs, tapes, vinyl (and even your streams) might be stuck… and what to do about it.
----Presented by LANDR - http://landr.com/otherrecordlabels
----
No, I’m not promising you’ll magically sell out overnight. But I do believe in the compound effect: a bunch of small 1% improvements that add up—going from no sales → a few sales → more sales → “okay wait… this is working.”
Everything in this episode comes from a mix of my own experience, the labels I’ve interviewed and learned from, and one underrated perspective: I’m also a buyer. I’m constantly checking out new music, adding albums to Apple Music, ordering on Bandcamp, digging through stores… and I can’t tell you how often a label makes it weirdly difficult to even listen to the music, let alone buy it.
So here are the five reasons your records aren’t moving:
You make it really hardIf people can’t instantly hear what you do and instantly find where to buy it, you’re losing them. Fast.
You’re not asking (explicitly)Press is great—but are you actually selling to retailers, distros, and your buyer list? One post isn’t a campaign.
Your package is unappealingArtwork, presentation, bundling, and the whole campaign vibe matter more than most labels want to admit.
Your pricing structure is offToo high, too low, shipping friction, perceived value—pricing is psychology and math.
Your music is bad (or not interesting yet)Sometimes it’s not ready. Sometimes it’s the wrong fit. Sometimes it’s “good” in the worst way: forgettable. Let’s talk about aiming for interesting.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, this episode is meant to give you practical tweaks you can make immediately—without turning your label into some salesy corporate robot.
Listen now and pick one change to implement this week.