Business Sub Pop’s New Label, Hardly Art
posted by on March 12 at 14:30 PM
Sub Pop’s Jonathan Poneman has launched a new label, called Hardly Art, which will operate out of the same offices as Sub Pop and is, according to a press release, rather broadly focused on “offering quality records for people to enjoy.” Their first signees, Seattle’s Arthur & Yu, are considerably more specific, and they’ve “made an album that grapples with the idea of growing up and of letting go,” called In Camera, which will be the label’s first release and is “the reason why Hardly Art exists.” It’s odd that their easy folk would need a new label, since Sub Pop has lately been “growing up and letting go” of its punk roots in favor of the mellower fare (or “easy listening for Grups” as one person here put it) represented by their big money-makers, Band of Horses and the Shins, for years now.
why don't you call and ask?
here's a good guess: the new label will probably offer a really nice split for the bands and low overhead (reduced marketing and recording budgets) making it a good starting point for young bands.
sub pop tried this in the '90's with Die Young, Stay Pretty, the imprint label on which the murder city devils recorded and released their first record.
an imprint will also allow sub pop to work with bands without labeling them as "sub pop bands." while this isn't as much of a concern now that the label isn't known exclusively for "grunge," it does free signees from assumptions that may be made based on the label's other offerings.
but, yeah. call 'em and ask 'em. they are nice humans.
Thanks, Kerri. I'm sure you're right about the business end of things.
Also, I've edited this post to remove that troublesome rhetorical question.
Asking Stranger writer to actually make a call?
Kerri, you have some nerve!
That said, Eric, don't dismiss A&Y, it's good stuff.
I hit up Nick at Hardly Art and go some more info from him since the press release said more about the first album to be released than the label itself. See link.
More info on the HA launch:
http://www.seattlesteez.com/news.html#38
Hi Jim. You letter i received. Thanks! Photos is GREAT!!!!
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