Syracuse Ska Forum

Most of the Syracuse Ska Mob knows far more about this than they really want, but for the benefit of the rest of you ...

After talking about it for far too long, I'm finally launching my own little indie label Kingston Beat Records now. I don't want anyone to get any funny ideas about this. My role models are Mike Park with Asian Man Records and Chuck Wren with Jump Up Records. Both are strictly DIY operators that do only non-exclusive deals with bands and that's my plan as well.

The Great Distraction by Razbari Sumthing is the first release on the label. I'm sending 100+ promotional copies of The Great Distraction to radio stations around the country, primarily based on legitimate interest in airing it. Obviously, ska radio shows are a natural target, but quite a few indie stations are expressing interest and a handful of commercial stations as well. I'll be following up with some indie distro channels as well, which will include mailorder and indie distro at shows (including bands from other parts of the country and world).

The 2nd release will be a compilation of Upstate NY bands, primarily ska & reggae, but marketed essentially as an indie rock release. Focusing on Upstate gives us a definitive area to base support. I want to emphasize quality of the songs on this release, but the local Syracuse bands will definitely have an inside track.

The 3rd release in 2006 will be a history of ska & reggae in Syracuse, starting with Wesley Rogers Band in 1987 up through Too Hectic, Short Round, Douglas Leader Orchestra and to the present. I'm really excited about this little project, because it's going to be very fun.

More details soon, but that gives you a general idea where I'm going with this ...

Very cool idea and good luck.

congrats. i think you should sign up for RAW
http://www.reggaeambassadors.org

they offer great networking ops w/ radio and industry people across america and around the globe.
ras adam RAW#1530

Awesome.

Everything sounds great and this I'm REALLY exited about!

Also very stressful.

So are you going to register the label as a business so you can take tax cuts and what not? Or will this strictly be a side project?

Why do I forsee people trying to take MORE money from Danny if he went this route?

i think it would make sense to run it as a business because record labels have almost no start up cost and they are pretty easy to set up.

There aren't really any additional tax benefits when it comes to being an "official business." In fact, if he manages to gross over 7 grand a year and has declared himself to the state and gotten a tax ID, he'll get pounded.

I do, however, recommend spending the 30 or so dollars to get a DBA. Don't bother with a tax ID until it gets rolling.



It depends what you consider start-up cost...basic overhead is a bitch, and you spend a hell of a lot of time spending money before you make any back.

My girlfriend, who goes to SUNY Geneseo, now has a segment on the college radio and is planning on doing strictly ska. If you want to send a copy of Raz Sum's cd i can get it to her for you. Or I'll just burn a copy of the onee I have...

Nate, I'd be grateful if you'd send me her contact info. I'd like to send her a copy of Skannotto's new album, as well as stuff from acts coming to town and other Rochester bands.

aka.twitch@gmail.com

Geneseo was a major fanbase in our region, back when The Blackouts were still together. I'd love to see folks up from there again.

Ok, tell me when her show's on. I can get this radio station from my house.

Which is why I didn't think it'd be a problem for the tax ID.

Running a record label, one that actually puts out decent records and sells merch and blah blah blah, is crazy if you want it to be completely DIY.

I personally think you'd have to be slightly eccentric to want to try such a thing.

Then again, I would LOVE to run a record label all for myself. However, with life being as hectic as it is already, I think I'll just stick to dating a guy that runs a record label for now.

There's lots of em.

Plan It X, really successful. Against Me, This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb, Defiance Ohio... anyone?
Punks Before Profits, for a locally owned one. Rochester based. Has put out some really killer records.
Reaper Records, for another locally owned one. Liverpool. Black SS anyone?
Alone Records, another locally owned one. Oswego. All the screamo your heart could ever desire.
Hex Records, another locally owned one. I just bought The Helm 7" off of it, and it's brutal.

There's a lot more than just those too.


Jus' sayin.

Well yeah..

That's another problem with indie labels. There's about 320498120439824 x 10^10342014398.324 of them around these days. You barely have to look to find a label that's putting out some record or another.

Labels try to find a good band, and a good band trying to find a good label. Good luck with that.

I'll stick to my behind the scenes work, thank you very much.