Mordam Records was a

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

record distribution company for

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small and medium-sized enterprise, small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels ...

s. It was founded in

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

1983 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to TCP/IP is officially completed (this is considered to be the beginning of the ...

as an independent

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

distribution company by Ruth Schwartz (one of the original co-editors of ''

Maximum RocknRoll ''Maximumrocknroll'', often written as ''Maximum Rocknroll'' and usually abbreviated as ''MRR'', is a not-for-profit monthly online zine of punk subculture and radio show of punk music. Based in San Francisco, ''MRR'' focuses on punk rock and ...

).'' Mordam was the exclusive distributor for dozens of punk rock and independent record labels throughout the 1980s and 90s, gaining a reputation as one of the few "distros" that paid their labels on time. Following the departure of Lookout! Records and Man's Ruin from its distribution network in 2000, Schwartz moved the company to

Sacramento Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...

. She subsequently sold Mordam outright to Lumberjack Distribution in 2005. It continued as a part of the Lumberjack Mordam Music Group. With record sales in decline throughout the industry, the company went out of business in 2009.

History

Background

Independent record companies are frequently started by music fans, for many of whom commerce is secondary and financial skills are minimal.Todd Taylor, "The Lumberjack Mordam Music Group Debacle, Part 1," ''Razorcake,'' whole no. 53 (Dec. 2009/Jan. 2010), pg. 34. Customarily such record labels send their finished products to intermediaries known as "distributors" on

consignment Consignment is a process whereby a person gives permission to another party to take care of their property while retaining full ownership of the property until the item is sold to the final buyer. It is generally done during auctions, shipping, ...

, with these middlemen adding an additional markup and selling these goods in bulk to retail outlets. The label is thus placed in a position of making a loan of its products to its distributors, hoping that sales will be made and money returned in compensation. Prior to 2005 the bulk of the recorded music purchased in the United States happened through major retail chains such as

Borders A border is a geographical boundary. Border, borders, The Border or The Borders may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film and television * ''Border'' (1997 film), an Indian Hindi-language war film * ''Border'' (2018 Swedish film), ...

Barnes & Noble Barnes & Noble Booksellers is an American bookseller with the largest number of retail outlets in the United States. The company operates approximately 600 retail stores across the United States. Barnes & Noble operates mainly through its B ...

and

Walmart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other ...

, and the like.Taylor, "The Lumberjack Mordam Music Group Debacle, Part 1," pg. 35. The only way for an independent record label to gain access to these channels was through well-connected distributors. With many retail chains and large, corporate distributors slow to pay and demand for new and fresh products driving the market, it was frequently only the fear of being denied the expeditious delivery of new releases that motivated payment — a coercive mechanism difficult for a small label to generate. Explains independent record industry veteran Todd Taylor:

"The ideal label works on making and releasing quality music it believes in. The ideal independent distributor works toward creating a safe umbrella for smaller labels to survive under and uses their strength in numbers. Distributors then use that collective strength to send the music out and collect the money that comes back in. They take a fee or percentage of sales for their services and cut the labels a check at regular intervals. In turn, the labels are supposed to pay
royalties A royalty payment is a payment made by one party to another that owns a particular asset, for the right to ongoing use of that asset. Royalties are typically agreed upon as a percentage of gross or net revenues derived from the use of an asset or ...
to their artists from those music sales."

Mordam Records was one such independent record distributor, concentrating on the

wholesale Wholesaling or distributing is the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers; to industrial, commercial, institutional or other professional business users; or to other wholesalers (wholesale businesses) and related subordinated services. In ...

sale of

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

records, compact discs, and magazines.

Establishment

Mordam Records (the name a play on "More Damn Records") was established in 1983 in San Francisco, California, by Ruth Schwartz, an original co-editor of ''

'' ''(MRR).'' The company's survival and growth was fueled by its exclusive distribution agreements with ''MRR'' and Alternative Tentacles, the record label owned by

Dead Kennedys Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band that formed in San Francisco, California, in 1978. The band was one of the defining punk bands during its initial eight-year run. Initially consisting of lead guitarist East Bay Ray, bassist Klaus Fl ...

frontman

Jello Biafra Eric Reed Boucher (born June 17, 1958), known professionally as Jello Biafra, is an American singer, spoken word artist and political activist. He is the former lead singer and songwriter for the San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys. Init ...

. The label quickly gained a reputation with its associate labels for fair-dealing and timeliness, with Lee Joseph of Dionysus Records recalling that "checks arrived the same time every month with a statement" from the beginning of his association with Mordam in 1985 until its termination — a situation which Joseph categorized as "fabulous."

Structure

The company depicted itself as a wholesale producers' cooperative — or in its own words, "a group of record labels and publishers who sell their products together."Mordam Records, ''Fall 1992 Catalog.'' San Francisco, CA: Mordam Records, 1992; inside cover. Labels associating themselves with Mordam granted the company exclusive distribution rights, with the company selling products to other wholesale distributors around the world as well as dealing directly with hundreds of record stores. The company produced monthly photocopied flyers detailing "new releases" of associated labels as well as semi-annual catalogs depicting and describing all available titles each fall and spring. Building its business upon the lucrative

catalog of San Francisco's

Alternative Tentacles Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label established in 1979 by Dead Kennedys vocalist Jello Biafra and guitarist East Bay Ray in San Francisco, California, with the intention to release the Dead Kennedys' self-produced single " C ...

records and monthly sales of the popular ''Maximum Rocknroll'' magazine, Mordam initially concentrated on labels hailing from the

Pacific coast Pacific coast may be used to reference any coastline that borders the Pacific Ocean. Geography Americas North America Countries on the western side of North America have a Pacific coast as their western or south-western border. One of th ...

, including

labels Allied Recordings,

Lookout Records Lookout Records (stylized as Lookout! Records) was an independent record label, initially based in Laytonville, California, and later in Berkeley, focusing on punk rock. Established in 1987, the label is best known for having released Operatio ...

, Flipside Records, Dr. Strange Records, and

Sympathy for the Record Industry Sympathy for the Record Industry (also known as Sympathy Records or Sympathy 4 the R.I.) is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by John Mermis, known as Long Gone John. Notable artists who started on Sympathy and went ...

as well as Empty Records and

Kill Rock Stars Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in February 1991 by Slim Moon and Tinuviel Sampson, and based in both Olympia, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, but it was orig ...

from the state of

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

. Mordam Records also manufactured and distributed a small number of titles under its own name, featuring such punk-noise bands as

Victims Family Victims Family is a hardcore punk band formed in 1984 in Santa Rosa, California, by bass guitarist Larry Boothroyd and guitarist and vocalist Ralph Spight. Devon VrMeer completed the trio as drummer. Their sound blended punk, heavy metal and jaz ...

and

Rhythm Pigs The Rhythm Pigs were an American punk band, originally from El Paso, Texas, United States, later relocated to San Francisco. Their first two albums were among the first to be released by the influential independent Mordam Records label. Their ...

. Through 2000 Mordam maintained a warehouse and sales office located at 2020 Cesar Chavez Blvd. in San Francisco.

Move to Sacramento

Late in 2000, with sales declining throughout the music industry, Mordam moved from costly San Francisco to a lower cost location in

. Sales for the company, which had peaked at approximately $10 million per year steadily atrophied due to a lessening demand for physical products across the music industry. The departure earlier that year of Lookout Records with its highly marketable catalog, featuring such bands as Green Day,

Screeching Weasel Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band consisting of Ben Weasel (vocals), Mike Kennerty (guitar), Mike Hunchback (guitar), Zach "Poutine" Brandner (bass) and Pierre Marche (drums) founded in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Pierson (music ...

The Queers The Queers are an American punk rock band, formed in 1981 by Portsmouth, New Hampshire native Joseph “Joe” P. King (a.k.a. Joe Queer) along with Scott Gildersleeve (a.k.a. Tulu), and John “Jack” Hayes (a.k.a. Wimpy Rutherford). With the ...

, and

Mr. T Experience The Mr. T Experience (sometimes abbreviated MTX) is an American punk rock band formed in 1985 in Berkeley, California, United States. They have released eleven full-length albums along with numerous EPs and singles and have toured internationall ...

, was an important contributing factor in the faltering financial fortunes of the company which necessitated a change of location. The new Mordam site was 731 N Market Blvd., Unit R in Sacramento from the end of 2000 onwards.Mordam Records, ''Mordam Records 2001.'' Sacramento, CA: Mordam Records, 2001; back cover. In a further effort to economize, catalog production shifted from a semi-annual to an annual basis beginning in 2001.

Sale to Lumberjack

After about 20 years in the record business, Mordam owner Ruth Schwartz began to feel alienated from her job and the record industry as a whole. Moreover, digital music distribution had begun to entrench itself, shifting the form of the production-distribution business model. In a 2009 interview Schwartz recalled:

"I was tired and pissed off.... I did not have a good attitude any more. 'I hate my job. I hate the industry. I gotta get out of here'....
here was Here may refer to: Music * ''Here'' (Adrian Belew album), 1994 * ''Here'' (Alicia Keys album), 2016 * ''Here'' (Cal Tjader album), 1979 * ''Here'' (Edward Sharpe album), 2012 * ''Here'' (Idina Menzel album), 2004 * ''Here'' (Merzbow album), ...
also a generational divide with a lot of younger people coming into the music scene. People born after 1980 are jumpy. They move fast. When businesses were going down 20 percent, people started to bail."

Schwartz recognized that the future of Mordam, if it was to survive, would be as a service company — a digital aggregator and distributor. Exhausted and unwilling to adapt to the changing business environment, Schwartz began to seek a purchaser for Mordam Records.Taylor, "The Lumberjack Mordam Music Group Debacle, Part 1," pg. 36 She found it difficult to sell the firm, however, since affiliated labels contractually retained the right to walk away from the exclusive distribution agreement with the Mordam at will. A suitor was found in the form of

Lumberjack Distribution Mordam Records was a California record distribution company for independent record labels. It was founded in San Francisco in 1983 as an independent punk distribution company by Ruth Schwartz (one of the original co-editors of '' Maximum RocknRoll) ...

, a somewhat younger wholesale distribution operation built around

Doghouse Records Doghouse Records is an American record label currently based in New York City.Alan O'Connor, ''Punk Record Labels and the Struggle for Autonomy''. Lexington Books, 2008, p. 41Google Books/ref> The company was founded by Dirk Hemsath in late 1987 ...

which CEO Dirk Hemsath declared had been built "in what we perceived as Mordam's image."Dirk Hemsath, ''

AMP Amp or AMP may refer to: * Ampere, a unit of electric current, often shortened to amp * Amplifier, a device that increases the amplitude of a signal Arts and entertainment Music * After Midnight Project, Los Angeles alternative rock band * A ...

'', whole no. 33, quoted in Taylor, "The Lumberjack Mordam Music Group Debacle, Part 1," pg. 36. Price of the sale was said to be in the range of $200,000 to $300,000. The new combined entity adopted the name Lumberjack Mordam Music Group (LMMG), with Hemsath taking on the role of CEO and President. The purchase meant a change of business terms for the Mordam-affiliated labels, with Mordam's former voluntary "at will" affiliation agreements to be replaced by contractual exclusivity agreements. A handful of labels including

Dirtnap Records Dirtnap Records is an independent record label specializing in punk rock. It was founded by Ken Cheppaikode while he was living in Seattle, Washington, in 1999. He bought Green Noise record store in Portland, Oregon, in 2005 and then ran the labe ...

and

Adeline Records Adeline Records was an American record label that was formed in Oakland, California in late 1997 and closed in August 2017. History In 1997, Adeline Records was founded by Billie Joe Armstrong, lead singer of Green Day, Screw 32's Doug Sangal ...

exited as a result of the merger. At least some existing labels were allowed to keep their former "at will" exclusive distribution contracts.Taylor, "The Lumberjack Mordam Music Group Debacle, Part 1," pg. 37.

Lumberjack Mordam Music Group

With the comparatively small Lumberjack Distribution (owned by Dirk Hemsath of

) absorbing the powerful and established Mordam to form LMMG, a revamped and expanded system of sales and shipping was needed. A contract was signed with WEA, the distribution arm of

major label "Big Three" music labels A record label or record company is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and t ...

Warner Brothers Music Warner Music Group Corp., commonly abbreviated as WMG, is an American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the " big three" recording companies and the third-largest in the gl ...

calling for WEA to directly pick, pack, and ship music to certain national chain store accounts via a WEA-affiliated entity called Cinram.Taylor, "The Lumberjack Mordam Music Group Debacle, Part 1," pp. 37-38. In accordance with this agreement, affiliated labels (including those formerly under the Mordam umbrella) were to ship physical goods directly to Cinram warehouse. LMMG hoped for first year sales in the $15 to 20 million range, thereby growing business and income of its affiliated labels. LMMG found itself hamstrung by plummeting CD sales and a shift to digital music sales and by a difficult financial relationship with Warner Brothers, which in exchange for money loaned to LMMG had negotiated a favorable compensation agreement for itself, ultimately to the detriment of affiliated labels.Taylor, "The Lumberjack Mordam Music Group Debacle, Part 1," pg. 39. As 2007 progressed LMMG began to find its financial situation untenable as the retail record industry contracted wildly, and the unfavorable financial situation with respect to WEA became ever more tangled.Taylor, "The Lumberjack Mordam Music Group Debacle, Part 1," pg. 41. CEO Hemsath retreated from the wholesale operation to dedicate attention to his successful label, which had since moved to New York City. By 2008 payments to labels had fallen well behind schedule.Todd Taylor, "The Lumberjack Mordam Music Group Debacle, Part II," ''Razorcake,'' whole no. 54 (Feb.-March 2010), pg. 70. As payments were missed and contracts expired, labels would leave the distributor, further contracting revenue. New labels were added in an attempt to fill the gap, with a total of 116 independent labels ultimately attached to LMMG by the time of its termination in May 2009.Taylor, "The Lumberjack Mordam Music Group Debacle, Part II," pg. 72. LMMG was notified by the Ohio Secretary of State on April 20, 2009 that its articles of incorporation had been canceled by the state and that it was "not in good standing."Taylor, "The Lumberjack Mordam Music Group Debacle, Part II," pg. 73. The company's operations were abruptly halted shortly thereafter with the company remaining in arrears to many of its affiliated labels.Taylor, "The Lumberjack Mordam Music Group Debacle, Part II," pp. 73-75.

Mordam Records releases

* MDR-1

Faith No More Faith No More is an American Rock music, rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1979. Before September 1983, the band performed under the names Sharp Young Men and later Faith No Man. Bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist/rhythm guitarist ...

We Care a Lot ''We Care a Lot'' is the debut studio album by American Rock music, rock band Faith No More, originally released in 1985 and distributed through Mordam Records. On the original vinyl release, the band is credited as Faith. No More. on the album ...

'', 1985 * MDR-2

self-titled, 1986 * MDR-3

Victim's Family Victims Family is a hardcore punk band formed in 1984 in Santa Rosa, California, by bass guitarist Larry Boothroyd and guitarist and vocalist Ralph Spight. Devon VrMeer completed the trio as drummer. Their sound blended punk, heavy metal and jaz ...

''Voltage and Violets'', 1986 * MDR-4

''Choke on this'', 1987 * MDR-5 The Ex ''

Too Many Cowboys ''Too Many Cowboys'' is the second double-album Dutch anarchist punk band The Ex. Released in 1987, it mixes live and studio recordings and marks the band's beginning of a collaboration with British anarchist group Chumbawamba. Background In 19 ...

'', 1987 * MDR-6 Mannequin Beach ''Don't Laugh, You're Next'', 1988 * MDR-7

''Things I Hate to Admit'', 1988 * MDR-8

''White Bread Blues'', 1990 * MDR-9

''Son of a Church Card/Quivering Lip'' 7"

Exclusive labels (1987-2005)

5 Rue Christine 5 Rue Christine (also known as 5RC) is a semi-defunct Olympia, Washington based independent record label, formed as a spin-off from the Kill Rock Stars label in 1997. Before its dormancy, it had become a premier label for experimental rock bands ...

(1998- ) *

A-F Records A-F Records was an American independent record label founded by punk rock band Anti-Flag – namely the band's drummer Pat Thetic, their rhythm guitarist Chris Head, and their lead vocalist Justin Sane – and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ...

(2002- ) *

Ace Fu Records Ace Fu Records is an independent record label founded in 1998 by Eric Speck. It is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The label went on indefinite hiatus in 2007. Roster *Acid Mothers Temple * Annuals * An Albatross * Aqui * The Dears * Devotchka ...

(2003- ) * Acute Records (2004- ) *

(2000- ) *

Alive Records Alive Naturalsound Records (also known as Alive Records) is an independent record label formed in 1993 in Los Angeles, California by Patrick Boissel, specializing in garage rock, punk rock, punk, psychedelic rock, psychedelic, and blues rock. It ...

(2002- ) * Allied Recordings ( -1999) *

(1983- ) * American Pop Project (1998-2001) * Amity Records ( -1994) *

Amphetamine Reptile Records Amphetamine Reptile Records (or AmRep Industries) is a record label founded in 1986 by Tom Hazelmyer in Washington state. The label specializes in noise rock and also released ''Strap It On ''Strap It On'' is the debut studio album by Amer ...

(1993-1995) * Archive International Productions (2003- ) *

Asian Man Records Asian Man Records is a DIY record label run by Mike Park in Monte Sereno, California. Park started a record label and began releasing music in 1989 under the name Dill Records, with the Asian Man label established in May 1996. History Asian Man ...

(1997- ) *

Au-Go-Go Records Au Go Go Records is a Melbourne, Australia based independent record label. It was founded by Bruce Milne and Philip Morland from a house in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy in 1979 and was later operated by Greta Moon. The label started releasing ...

(1997-2002) *

Bacchus Archives Bacchus Archives is a record label that has often released previous unreleased recordings. Some of the recordings it has released, includes recordings by artists such as The Controllers, Evan "Funk" Davies, The Dils, Peter Miller and Bob Thomps ...

* Bomp! Records (2003- ) * Broken Rekids *

Carpark Records Carpark Records is an independent record label based in Washington, D.C. History Carpark Records was established by Todd Hyman in 1999 in New York City. In 2005, the label relocated to Washington, D.C. Carpark has subsidiary labels. Acute Re ...

(2004- ) *

Chunksaah Records Chunksaah Records is an Asbury Park, New Jersey, formerly New Brunswick, New Jersey–based independent record label founded in 1993 by The Bouncing Souls. The label started as a means for the band to release their own recordings, but ended up ...

(2003- ) * Coalition Records (2004- ) *

Crypt Records Crypt Records is an independent record label founded by American-born Tim Warren in 1983. The label has been headquartered variously in Hamburg, Germany and in several locations in the United States. Crypt is perhaps best known for issuing the ten ...

(2000- ) * Desolation Row Records ( -1993) * Dionysus Records *

(2002- ) * Disaster Records (2002- ) * Dr. Strange Records * Eccentric Pop Records (1996- ) * Empty Records *

Estrus Records Estrus Records is an independent record label from Bellingham, Washington that makes surf, garage and trash rock music. They have released such bands as Mono Men, The Drags, The Mummies, Supercharger, Impala, Man or Astro-man?, the Makers ...

(1996-1998) * File 13 Records (2001- ) * Flipside Records ( -1996) *

Frontier Records Frontier Records is an independent record label, started in 1980 in Sun Valley, Los Angeles by Lisa Fancher, a former employee of BOMP! Records and writer of the liner notes for the first album by The Runaways. History Frontier Records first ...

(2003- ) *

Gearhead Records Gearhead Records is an independent record label based in Northern California which grew out of ''Gearhead'' magazine. Magazine and festivals The organization, originally a magazine, has also hosted festivals. Wrote ''Exclaim!'' in 2003: Art ...

(2000-2001) * Gern Blansten Records (2000- ) *

Gold Standard Laboratories Gold Standard Laboratories or GSL was an independent record label which was founded in 1993 in Boulder, Colorado by Sonny Kay. In 2000, it was relocated to San Diego, California, United States, and two years later, to Los Angeles. It was headqu ...

(2001- ) *

Gravity Records Gravity is an underground independent record label from San Diego.Trevor Kelley, "California Screaming". ''Alternative Press'' 17 (2003), pp. 84-86. It was formed in 1991 by Matt Anderson, a member of the influential underground band Heroin. It ...

(1996- ) * Hell Yeah *

Initial Records Initial Records was an independent record label in Louisville, Kentucky, that was founded in 1992. The label released music by Falling Forward, Boysetsfire and Ink & Dagger, and created the annual weekend long music festival, Krazy Fest. Histor ...

(2003- ) * Jade Tree (1990- ) *

Johann's Face Records Johann's Face Records (a.k.a. JFR) is a Chicago-based record label which was started by Marc Ruvolo and Gar Brandt in 1989. Ruvolo had been working at Roadkill Records and was looking to start a label with his friend, Brandt. The label has releas ...

(1997- ) *

( -2001) * Kirbdog Records ( -1996) *

Level Plane Records Level Plane was an American independent record label based in New York City that was founded in early 1997 by Greg Drudy for the release of Saetia's first 7". Drudy ran the label until it ceased to exist in 2009. It released records in a vari ...

(2003- ) *

Load Records Load Records was an American experimental music-oriented independent record label based out of Providence, Rhode Island. "Load Records might possibly be in possession of the world's most challenging record roster," writes Mark Hensch of Thrash Pi ...

(2003- ) *

(1988-2000) *

Man's Ruin Records Man's Ruin Records was an independent record label owned and founded by San Francisco Bay Area artist Frank Kozik. In total, the record label released over 200 singles and albums, with most of the artwork designed by Kozik. After the 1995 rele ...

(1996- ) * Maximum Rockroll Records(1983- ) * Mordam Records *

Mr. Lady Records Mr. Lady Records (or Mr. Lady Records and Video) was a San Francisco-based lesbian-feminist independent record label and video art distributor. (Press release of a 2001 art show at the Weisman Art Museum) Artists on the label included Le Tigre an ...

(1999-2004) * New Day Rising (2004- ) *

New Red Archives New Red Archives is an American independent record label based in California's San Francisco Bay Area, mainly home to punk rock bands. Started in 1987, the label began by releasing punk and hardcore punk records on coloured vinyl. Starting in sum ...

(2001- ) * Orange Sky Records (2001- ) * Other People's Music (1997- ) *

Polyvinyl Record Company Polyvinyl Record Co. is an American independent record label headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. The label has satellite offices in New York City, New York, Austin, Texas, Austin, and the San Francisco Bay Area, Bay Area. Polyvinyl has put out ...

(1999- ) * Prank Records (1996- ) * Punk In My Vitamins Records (1999- ) *

Punkcore Records Punk Core Records was a record label founded in 1989 by Dave Amcher (also known as Dave Punk Core). Based in Long Island, New York, the label originally started as a punk zine/distributor in the late 1980s, becoming a record label in the mid-19 ...

(2001- ) * Rip Off Records (1996- ) *

Second Nature Recordings Second Nature Recordings is an independent record label based in Kansas City, Missouri. It specializes in indie rock and co-releases vinyl pressings for other labels. The label has released material by Coalesce, The Blood Brothers, Waxwing, Thes ...

(2004- ) * Scooch Pooch Records (2001- ) *

Seeland Records Seeland Records is an independent record label created by Negativland in 1979 to release their own recordings. It is a reference to the song "Seeland" by the band Neu!, who also gave Negativland the basis for their name, Sea-Land Corporation, a ...

* Shredder Records ( -2001) *

Six Weeks ''Six Weeks'' is a 1982 American drama film directed by Tony Bill and based on the 1976 novel of the same name by Fred Mustard Stewart. It stars Dudley Moore, Mary Tyler Moore, and Katherine Healy. Plot Charlotte Dreyfus, a wealthy cosmetic ty ...

(1999- ) * Slowdance Records (2004- ) * Sound Pollution Records (1997- ) * Substandard Records (2002- ) *

Suicide Squeeze Records Suicide Squeeze Records is a Seattle, Washington-based independent record label that releases rock music, rock, pop music, pop, and metal music, metal music. Suicide Squeeze releases content on vinyl, CD, cassette, and digital. The label has als ...

(2001- ) *

Swami Records Swami Records is a San Diego–based independent record label specializing in punk rock and rock music. The label was founded in 2000 by John Reis, who also has his own radio show, ''Swami Sound System'', on station 94.9FM KBZT KBZT (94.9 F ...

(2003- ) *

TKO Records TKO Records is an independent punk rock record label in Portland, Oregon. The label is primarily known for its role in the late 1990s American street punk scene and has continued its notability as a source of new releases, reissues, and archival ...

(2000-2003) *

The Committee to Keep Music Evil Anton Alfred Newcombe (born August 29, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and founder of the music group The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Newcombe was the subject of the 2004 documentary film '' Dig!'', alo ...

(2002- ) * Three-One-G (2001- ) * Total Energy Records (2002- ) *

Troubleman Unlimited Troubleman Unlimited Records was a record label specializing in indie rock and similar genres. Founded in 1993, the label was based in Bayonne, New Jersey and owned by Mike Simonetti. History The label started as an offshoot of a fanzine called ...

(1999- ) * Vengeance Records (2002- ) *

Vermiform Records Vermiform Records was an American independent record label that specialized in releasing punk rock music from 1990 until 2002. Vermiform released 58 albums and relocated many times, being headquartered in New York (state), New York, New Jersey, Vi ...

(1993- ) * Vinyl Communications ( -2002) * Voxx Records (2003- ) * Wrong Stuff Records (1992- )

Footnotes

External links

* {{Authority control Record labels established in 1983 American record labels Punk record labels Alternative rock record labels

History

Background

Establishment

Structure

Move to Sacramento

Sale to Lumberjack

Lumberjack Mordam Music Group

Mordam Records releases

Exclusive labels (1987-2005)

See also

Footnotes

Further reading

External links