Other Record Labels

What does starting a record label actually look like? James Nixon is documenting the entire process. James is a pianist, working parent, and the founder of Fern Rose Records. What began with sharing piano ideas online eventually turned into a plan to record the music he plays for his family, press it to vinyl, and build an independent record label around it. In this episode, we talk about why he d...

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What if releasing more music is actually more important than making every release perfect? In this episode, I make the case for quantity over quality—and why independent artists and record labels may need to rethink the traditional album cycle altogether. We’ll talk about release frequency, building a catalogue, perfectionism, streaming momentum, and why we’re probably not very good judges of whic...

Presented by Hellbender Vinyl - http://www.hellbendervinyl.com Poison Furrows is an underground label releasing black metal, dark folk, dark ambient, dungeon synth, and other music from the darker corners of independent music. In this conversation, we talk about building a label around personal taste, why physical formats still matter in niche music communities, and the different roles of cassette...

What if the best way to figure out how to promote music is to look at how you discover music yourself? -- PRESENTED BY HELLBENDER VINYL Vinyl pressing for independent artists and record labels. hellbendervinyl.com --  In this episode, I share a simple exercise for reverse engineering the last few records you discovered — and using those discoveries to rethink how you promote your own releases. We...

This week I’m talking with Patrick McCarthy and Yosuke Kitazawa of Temporal Drift, celebrating five years of one of the most fascinating independent labels around. PRESENTED BY HELLBENDER VINYL - http://hellbendervinyl.com We talk about building a two-person label, reissues vs. new music, licensing, release schedules, Hiroshi Yoshimura’s incredible Surround, Les Rallizes Dénudés, and how they’ve b...

Presented by Hellbender Vinyl - http://hellbendervinyl.com

25 Ways to Sell More Vinyl — Sponsored by Hellbender Vinyl Pressing vinyl is the exciting part. Selling every last copy? That can take a little more creativity. In this episode, I share 25 simple, unique ways to sell more vinyl—from hand-numbering and local variants to golden tickets, bundles, influencers, listening parties, and more. None of these ideas will sell 1,000 records overnight, but if e...

What if record labels become more important in the age of AI—not less? In this bonus episode, I explore why trusted, human-curated indie labels could become a safe harbor for music fans in a world increasingly flooded with AI—and why now might be the perfect time to build yours. Learn more about Labelmates here: http://otherrecordlabels.com/labelmates

What happens when you combine an enormous record collection, live radio, and the community of Twitch? In this episode, I sit down with Sam from Vinyl Junkies, the creator and host of a live vinyl stream that has grown into a remarkably active online community of music obsessives. PRESENTED BY HELLBENDER VINYL - www.hellbendervinyl.com   Sam broadcasts regularly from a collection of more than 13,00...

Before hundreds of copies of your record get pressed, there’s one very important step: the test pressing. PRESENTED BY HELLBENDER VINYL - http://hellbendervinyl.com   In this episode, Scott breaks down everything artists and indie labels need to know about test pressings — what they are, where they come from, when you receive them, what they cost, and most importantly, what you should actually be...

Why do people love vinyl? It's easy to point to the sound, the artwork, or the nostalgia—but those are really just symptoms of something much deeper. PRESENTED BY HELLBENDER VINYL - http://hellbendervinyl.com In this episode of For the Love of Vinyl, we explore the five pillars of vinyl: Ritual, Preservation, Luxury, Intimacy, and Discovery. These five ideas help explain why records continue to ca...

Pressing a vinyl record is one of the most exciting moments in releasing music—but it's also one of the easiest places to make expensive mistakes. ----more---- PRESENTED BY Hellbender Vinyl - www.hellbendervinyl.com ----more---- In this episode, Scott breaks down the five biggest mistakes he sees artists and indie record labels make when producing vinyl records. From underestimating timelines and...

What separates a good record store from one you can't stop thinking about? In this episode, I break down the ten things I believe every great record store has in common—from friendly staff and fair pricing to thoughtful displays, clear identity, and those little details that keep you coming back. Presented by Hellbender Vinyl - http://hellbendervinyl.com   Whether you're a lifelong crate digger, o...

Presented by Hellbender Vinyl - www.hellbendervinyl.com In this episode, Scott sits down with Cory Giordano of Inner Ocean Records to explore what independent labels can learn from today's vinyl market. Together they discuss why records continue to thrive, why customers are buying more physical music than ever, and how running a record store has completely changed Cory's approach to running a reco...

Vinyl isn't making a comeback anymore. It already came back. Welcome to the very first episode of our For the Love of Vinyl Summer Series—a nine-part deep dive into everything independent record labels need to know about making, selling, collecting, designing, and celebrating vinyl records. Presented by Hellbender Vinyl - http://www.hellbendervinyl.com In this opening episode, I make the case for...

What happens when you build a record label around a single idea—and commit to it for years? This week I'm joined by Spencer Zahn, founder of Sudden Quarterly, one of the most thoughtfully designed new labels I've come across. 🚨 Presented by HELLBENDER VINYL - http://hellbendervinyl.com Every year follows a different creative theme. Every release is visually connected. Every record is a brand-new...

We're officially halfway through 2026, and before you start planning the next release, stressing about Q4, or comparing yourself to other labels, let's take a moment to celebrate something far more important: You're still here. Presented by HELLBENDER VINYL - hellbendervinyl.com In this episode, Scott reflects on the most admirable quality shared by the best independent labels and artists—not stre...

This week, Scott sits down with Enrico, founder of Inertial Music, an independent label based in Italy specializing in progressive metal, ambient, electronic, and atmospheric music. Presented by Hellbender Vinyl - www.hellbendervinyl.com In just two years, Enrico has built a catalog of physical releases, secured international distribution, and developed a reputation for thoughtful curation and tra...

There’s a lot to keep track of when you're releasing music. Release dates. ISRCs. Lyrics. Artwork. Press photos. Streaming links. Download links. Metadata. Songwriter information. And somehow, years later, you still need to find all of it again. In this episode, I share one of the most useful systems I've ever created for managing releases: Release Central.   PRESENTED BY HELLBENDER VINYL - www.he...

In this episode, Scott sits down with Groover co-founder Dorian Perron to discuss how artists and record labels can get their music heard in an increasingly crowded music landscape. Presented by: Hellbender Vinyl (www.hellbendervinyl.com They explore the evolution of playlist pitching, why streaming numbers have become such a powerful metric, the role of blogs and tastemakers today, and how Groove...

PLAYBACK EPISODE! Let's revisit one of my favorite interviews of all time, Terry Cole of Colemine Records! Presented by HELLBENDER VINYL - hellbendervinyl.com

In this episode, we explore 10 real reasons why indie artists and record labels should seriously consider pressing vinyl records — even in a world dominated by streaming. Presented by HELLBENDER VINYL www.hellbendervinyl.com   From stronger profit margins and long-tail inventory to legitimacy, fandom, and discovering new audiences, vinyl continues to prove itself as more than nostalgia. Scott shar...

“DIY shouldn’t mean being ashamed of excellence.” In this episode, I sit down with the founders of http://hellbendervinyl.com We talk about the modern Seattle music scene, DIY culture, youth creativity, recording music with teenagers, physical media, and why “real life experiences” still matter in a hyper-online world. Check out The Big Dark Records - http://thebigdarkrecords.com Support provided...

If you’re an artist or running a label, is CD actually the smartest physical format right now? If you’re a fan, is it worth collecting, or just nostalgia? We’re digging into the real pros and cons on both sides—no hype, no nostalgia bias. Because this isn’t just about a format… It’s about understanding where the next opportunity might be hiding. Get Books for Record Labels: http://otherrecordlabel...