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

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 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.

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 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

“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.

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

“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