Other Record Labels

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...

In this episode, I sit down with Brady (Alaskan Tapes), the artist and mind behind We All Speak In Poems—a project that exists somewhere between a label, a creative platform, and a philosophy. PRESENTED BY HELLBENDER VINYL - www.hellbendervinyl.com   We talk about the quiet power of ambient music, building a world around your art, and what it really means to create without chasing numbers. Brady s...

Most music releases fail before they even come out. Not because the music isn’t good — but because there’s no real strategy behind it. Presented by HELLBENDER VINYL - www.hellbendervinyl.com In this episode, I walk through 5 essential principles every artist should follow when preparing a new release. These are simple, practical shifts that turn scattered “drops” into focused campaigns that build...

“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, a...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 t...

“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...

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   T...

“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 expe...

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...

AI is showing up everywhere in the music industry — writing emails, summarizing deals, generating marketing plans… and now, drafting contracts. But just because AI can help with music law, doesn’t mean it should. ---- Presented by LANDR - http://landr.com/otherrecordlabels ---- In this episode, I sit down with Cassandra Spangler, a New York–based music and entertainment attorney, to talk honestly...

You should download my free TOOLKIT for new record labels... http://otherrecordlabels.com/toolkit   Thanks to LANDR for sponsoring this episode. landr.com/otherrecordlabels Starting a record label is exciting—but sticking with it is where the real work begins. In Episode 8 of How to Start a Record Label This Year, Scott focuses on one of the most important (and underrated) qualities of successful...

You should download my free TOOLKIT for new record labels... http://otherrecordlabels.com/toolkit   Thanks to LANDR for sponsoring this episode. landr.com/otherrecordlabels   Contracts and royalties are where a lot of people get stuck—and for good reason. Record labels have a long history of bad deals, broken trust, and artists getting the short end of the stick. In Episode 7 of How to Start a Rec...