{{{Five local labels that really matter
Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune
Published October 3, 2003 M03BAR

The Destijl and Freedom-From record labels are great freak-show attractions, but the proprietors behind them know they could never grow beyond small, niche operations. Here's a look at the local labels that have far broader appeal -- and real offices. These are the companies working hardest to revive the Twin Cities's image as a hub for independent albums.}}}

1. LIQUID 8 RECORDS

Roster: Daryl Hall, V-Ice (Vanilla Ice), Silk, Clyde Stubblefield, Ben Sidran, G.B. Leighton, James Grear & Company and "Minnesota Idol" winner Elizabeth Keeney.

Sales pitch: Led by Michael Catain, a former Sony Records executive, this Minneapolis label started in 2001 with a crop of '80s-'90s has-beens, including Midnight Oil. It has quickly (and wildly) expanded with the purchase of the R&B and hip-hop imprint Riveria/D3 (home to Silk), the creation of the Sidran-led Nardis Music roster (Stubblefield) and its own roster of new talent (Leighton and Grear).

Success rate: Liquid 8 showed its distribution muscle by selling some 5,000 copies of Keeney's record in one week in local Target stores. However, it has failed to garner much radio support for either of Leighton's and Grear's radio-geared albums.

2. RHYMESAYERS ENTERTAINMENT

Roster: Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Musab, Eyedea & Abilities, Micranots.

Sales pitch: Started as co-op of sorts among friends wanting to release cassettes and promote shows, this full-grown operation -- based in the Fifth Element store in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood -- has grown into one of the most successful indie-rap labels in the country, thanks largely to Atmosphere, whose MC Slug is a co-owner. It sells to college kids and maturing fans who grew up on hip-hop but outgrew the gangstas and clowns.

Success rate: Atmosphere's 2002 CD "God Loves Ugly" sold about 75,000 copies -- enough to demand a distribution alignment with one of the biggest indie labels in the country, punk imprint Epitaph Records, for the group's new CD. Younger acts Ali and Eyedea are growing with equal gusto.

3. RED HOUSE RECORDS

Roster: Greg Brown, Lucy Kaplansky, Loudon Wainwright III, John Gorka, Martin Simpson, Adrian Legg, Eliza Gilkyson.

Sales pitch: Have song, will travel -- and probably sell a decent amount of records along the way. Founded by current president Bob Feldman in 1984, this St. Paul company is a mainstay of the American folk scene and works especially well for regularly touring singer-songwriters.

Success rate: It found a niche audience long ago and continues to serve it well. Also succeeded on a higher level with last year's charity CD, "Going Driftless," a tribute to Brown. Red House recordings have won several awards in indie circles, and Ramblin' Jack Elliott's "South Coast" earned a best traditional folk album Grammy in 1996.

4. SUSSTONES

Roster: Faux Jean, Mark Mallman, Melismatics, Astronaut Wife, Polara.

Sales pitch: With Polara frontman and studio wiz Ed Ackerson as its leader, this two-year-old upstart focuses on Internet and college-radio promotion for its hip indie-rock bands. It has a great reputation for being artist-friendly.

Success rate: Great records so far, but outside the Twins Cities not much press or radio -- with acts that seem like prime picking for either medium.

5. NPG RECORDS

Roster: Prince.

Sales pitch: Sure, it's only a one-artist operation, but it's the Artist, and he's generally more active than a half-dozen other acts put together. So far this year, NPG's releases included the instrumental "N.E.W.S." CD and the "Live at Aladdin" DVD (distributed through Hip-O/Universal), plus lots of nuggets on the Internet-only NPGMusicClub.com.

Success rate: Pretty good, considering the lack of advertising and Prince's aversion to the media. U.S. sales of last year's "One Nite Alone" three-CD set were estimated around 100,000 copies, admirable for an indie boxed set.

Chris Riemenschneider is at chrisr@startribune.com.

hELLO!! EVERYBODY CAN EAT MY PUSSY!!! BYE!

the prior comment on this article not withstanding, doesn't it strike any1 else as kind of kool that even though its been three years since Prince went back 2 using his royal title (as it were) that people still refer 2 him as "the artist"? RESPECT

rhymesayers is pretty well-known here...hip-hop artists from that label do shows at first avenue all the time. pretty hot shit.

gotta get int contact with those labels

Atmosphere plays my town tomorrow. I might go if I have cash. I've heard they are quite good.

Rhymesayers!!!

y'all gotta check it out if you have not!!!

Brother Ali's new LP as well as the new Atmosphere are great starting points!

Brother Ali is gonna be in nc in 2 weeks... now i really want to go...

EVERYBODY CAN EAT MY PUSSY---BYE!!!










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Underthecherrymoon said: