This Week in the Mercury
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
News I Don't Want to Live in a World Without Touch and Go Records
Posted by Ezra Caraeff on Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 10:58 AM
How the fuck is this happening? Touch and Go, the ultimate domestic indie record label looks to be closing their doors. The Chicago label that is responsible for, more or less, laying the foundation of indie music over the past few decades—this includes everything from handshake deals, to CD/LP price points—is supposedly going to announce their demise sometime today, at least according to this TimeOut NY article.
If a label that released the finest works from Slint, Jesus Lizard, Shellac, Black Heart Procession, Ted Leo, TV on the Radio, and tons more, is closing up, what hope does any indie labels have? Also, how does this affect local label Kill Rock Stars, who is distributed by Touch and Go?
Ugh, this is depressing.
Update: 10:58 am. Looks like the label will remain on a smaller scale, but the distribution wing will cease to exist. Here is the quote from TnG president Corey Rusk, via the Chicago Tribune:
"It is with great sadness that we are reporting some major changes here at Touch and Go Records. Many of you may not be aware, but for nearly 2 decades, Touch and Go has provided manufacturing and distribution services for a select yet diverse group of other important independent record labels. Titles from these other labels populate the shelves of our warehouse alongside the titles on our own two labels, Touch and Go Records, and Quarterstick Records."Unfortunately, as much as we love all of these labels, the current state of the economy has reached the point where we can no longer afford to continue this lesser known, yet important part of Touch and Go’s operations. Over the years, these labels have become part of our family, and it pains us to see them go. We wish them all the very best and we will be doing everything we can to help make the transition as easy as possible.
"Touch and Go will be returning to its roots and focusing solely on being an independent record label. We’ll be busy for a few months working closely with the departing labels and scaling our company to an appropriate smaller size after their departure. It is the end of a grand chapter in Touch and Go’s history, but we also know that good things can come from new beginnings."
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Horrible dead canary. O! You know the shit is bad when Paul Krugman is throwing his hands in the air: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/1…
Soon, all our music will come from rubberband-endowed cigar boxes plucked next to barrel fires.
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