NPR
Carrie Brownstein (formerly of Sleater-Kinney) moderates a panel of Indie Labels who discuss how the music industry has changed over the last decade and what they see their role being in the future. Portia Sabin, of local label Kill Rock Stars, identified labels biggest problem stating, “I think labels are caught in a cultural bind: No one really wants to know what a label does; it’s like the sausage factory. Even long-established bands have a hard time talking about what labels do.”
Weekly Volcano
Flashback to the early ’90s. Music and Olympia were synonymous. There was an explosion of artists and labels that created the Olympia we know and love. Music geeks were having their day. From the renown K Records to the Riot Grrl sound. Even Sub Pop started as a cassette/fanzine at The Evergreen State College. But the decline of grunge hasn’t hampered Olympia’s independent distribution scene. The city has recently seen an increase in indie labels that thrive on internet savvy. Calvin Johnson, father of K Records, comments on this new generation of labels. “It’s the healthiest it’s ever been. It’s very active. Records are coming from everywhere.” These new labels are able to survive a harsh economy by utilizing the internet to distribute across the globe. “People overseas are interested in our music because it’s good and partly because of the history and reputation of the Northwest,” said one label owner.
