The music industry today is falling apart. Record companies have begun treating fans as enemies rather than friends and mainstream radio is a complete disaster. More and more artists are leaving conglomerate labels behind and joining or even starting their own record labels. I think it is these indie labels that hold the future of the music industry. They offer artists who are in the business not for fame or fortune but for the love of the art. It is these labels that I'd like to shine light on. With luck, I'll be able to continue this column and bring new indie labels to your attention. Fingers crossed.
The first label profiled in this feature is Aux Records.
Located in Syracuse, NY, Aux Records was founded by Ulf Oesterle as a way to work with and support bands playing music he enjoys and bring it to your ears. This is anything from Emo to Indie Rock. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the catalog from Aux Records and they feature some promising bands in the rock genre. While Aux is concentrating on local venues and artists, the bands on their label have toured nearly half the country, including some stops on the Warped Tour.
Aux is a small label with a small staff that is entirely dedicated to their artists. It is this type of dedication and support that is sorely missed and needed in the music industry today. Seeing the bands on your labels as Artists and not ATMs is exactly what the industry should be doing. Instead we have bands that are used as commodities and the quality of music and artistic expression is fading.
Aux Records is nurturing their artists to embark on a successful career. Artists all have major input in their music from recording to marketing as opposed to being over produced and restricted as the case with most major labels. I think this is key to keeping a band successful.
Give Aux Records a look, if you're a fan of rock or any of the sub genres of rock (indie, emo, screamo) you will certainly enjoy the bands Aux has to offer. I've included a list of the bands currently on the label with links to their MySpace pages for you to check out. (Personally, I really enjoyed Anorexic Beauty Queen and The Pilot Lies. Merit is the next on my list to listen to.)
In honor of this new feature, I am pleased to announce the FIRST Pop Culture Beast contest!
The first person to email me with AUX in the subject line will win signed posters of Aux Records artists: Anorexic Beauty Queen and Merit.
If you know of an Indie Label who should be profiled here, please have them contact me or send me the info.
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