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Changes to Data Protection Laws
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Where do you see Independent Record Labels heading in the future?
I have no idea where other Independent record labels are headed in future. Perhaps I can give you an idea of where I may take Iron Man Records if anything goes to plan. Which often, it doesn’t. But the quote “When all music is digital, all independence ceases” continues to permeate my thoughts. I want to keep the record label focused on releasing records, digitally and also on Vinyl. I want to leave the artists to work on writing, rehearsing, touring and recording. I’m not interested in getting more involved with the artists beyond releasing their music. I don’t like the idea of taking more control or involvement in what they…
What are your thoughts on Vinyl? Are the costs of Vinyl production affordable to Independent labels?
“When all music is digital, all independence ceases.” I suppose, what I’m trying to say is that whoever controls the digital platform controls the market. Whether it’s Google, Apple, Spotify, YouTube or Amazon, if all music is digital then at some point you will have to engage the digital platform for access. If you lose access to the platform, you lose access to the music. From an artists perspective, either you place your music where the people are, or you have to encourage people to find your music where you are. The first one is easy, the second is not so easy. But either way, the lack of scarcity in the…
How has Iron Man Records adapted to the growth of digitalisation?
Iron Man Records has had little choice, it has had to learn to adapt to digitalisation regardless. From 2004 until 2014 the label has seen a steady decline in physical sales both online and through physical outlets. From 2014 until 2017 this has continued at a faster rate and from 2017 to 2018 there has been a sharp drop, the decline has got much worse and deteriorated rapidly. This decline, which has accelerated in recent times, has effected not just Iron Man Records products, but all physical products the label makes available for sale. The physical distributors who take stock from Iron Man Records and distribute across the UK, Europe and…
What does the term ‘Independent’ mean to Iron Man Records?
“In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: Not necessarily to Win, but mainly to keep from Losing Completely.” Hunter S Thompson — Gonzo Papers, Vol. 1: The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a Strange Time (1979) Hunter S. Thompson had many wise words that can be useful to anyone wanting to work in the music business. But I’ve always puzzled over a simple question “How did he know?” Independent can mean many different things. For Iron Man Records, an independent record label, it often means working hard and trying to turn available time and resources into…
The Dark Side Of The Road: Gimpo’s M25 25hr Spin 24th-25th March 2018
I met Gimpo at the Vans For Bands depot at the back of Heathrow. We spent some time cross loading gear before locking up and heading out. I set the padlock code to 2525 before our departure. Gimpo’s M25 25hr Spin was about to begin. Sometimes I do things I don’t fully understand. I like to take my nonsense seriously. Gimpo was in good spirits and had already started unpacking all sorts of paraphernalia in the back. We headed out and joined the M25 heading north at Junction 15. All I could hear was rustling, and Gimpo muttering to himself about HD Cards as he went. The plan was to get…
A Conversation with John Sinclair and Cary Loren – Saturday, March 31st 2018 at MSU Erickson Kiva (Erickson Hall, 620 Farm Lane)
Join John Sinclair and Cary Loren as they discuss the 1964 formation of the Detroit Artists’ Workshop, providing a unique glimpse into this revolutionary artistic moment. In the years between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Walk to Freedom down Woodward Ave. in July of 1963 and the Detroit Uprising of 1967, a dedicated group of artists led by John Sinclair banded together to make a difference in their community. Artifacts provided by Cary Loren, including photographs by Leni Sinclair and writing by John Sinclair are currently featured in the MSU Broad exhibition, Detroit Artists’ Workshop, on view through May 13, curated by Cary Loren with MSU Broad Associate Curator Steven L.…
What was the last record you bought on Vinyl, and when was that?
Would you enjoy becoming an Iron Man Records Patron? Do you like listening to music on Vinyl? Would you feel happy supporting the cause and contributing to the next release on Vinyl? Do you want to Immanentize the Eschaton? Are you a risk taker? To be honest, I have NO idea what questions to ask or how much to ask for. What would you be able to give? It's probably none of my business. Iron Man Records needs more Patrons and you're exactly the sort of person. You're even reading this stuff. We all spend money on nonsense. This is not nonsense. I would like to invite you to become a…
John Sinclair – Beatnik Youth (Double CD) 2018
John Sinclair - “Beatnik Youth" on Double CD Released 2018 by Iron Man Records. All Press enquiries to Sean Newsham Catalogue Number: IMB6032 Release date: 2018 Label: Iron Man Records Distribution: Cargo Disc 1 Testify (9.10) Good Stuff (4.32) Everybody Needs Somebody (7.09) Change My Life (5.14) Ain't Nobody's Business (3.36) My Buddy (5.13) That Old Man (3.53) Disc 2 Brilliant Corners (11.29) Culture Cide (11.38) Red Dress (Ruby My Dear) (6.25) Sitarrtha (6.16) Do It (6.16) War On Drugs (6.18) Read a brilliant review of Beatnik Youth by Gus Ironside for Louder Than War here Saby Reyes-Kulkarni interviewed John Sinclair and Youth and wrote a fantastic piece for Bandcamp here…
The Imagine Nation
“Under the present system of mass education by classes too much stress is laid on teaching and too little on active learning. The child is not encouraged to discover things on his own account. He learns to rely on outside help, not on his own powers, thus losing intellectual independence and all capacity to judge for himself. The over-taught child is the father of the newspaper - reading, advertisement - believing, propaganda - swallowing, demagogue - led man – the man who makes modern democracy the farce it is.” – Aldous Huxley, Proper Studies (1927) Culture Industry is a term coined by Theodor Adorno (1903–69) and Max Horkheimer (1895–1973), who argued…
Seth Faergolzia of Dufus: Loop Paintings and European Tour 2018
Seth Faergolzia will be making his yearly round of Europe this Winter (Jan/Feb 2018) with his new album "Loop Paintings", this time with a different sort of concert. Jan 5 Bugjar (Sendoff Show!) - Rochester, NY Jan 17 East Side Tavern - Dublin, Ireland Jan 19 Black Box - Belfast, Northern Ireland Jan 20 House show - Galway, Ireland Jan 21 Waggon - Offenbach, Germany Jan 22 Benderhof - Kaiserslautern, Germany Jan 24 TiG7 - Mannheim, Germany Jan 25 House Konzert - Bochum, Germany Jan 26 House konzert - Kamen, Germany Jan 27 Haldern Pop Bar - Haldern, Germany Jan 28 Private Show - Cologne, Germany Jan 30 Die Wohngemeinschaft…
John Sinclair – Beatnik Youth – Double CD – review by Steve Fly Amsterdam, 2017
The story of the Beatnik Youth album begins in London. John Sinclair was visiting to perform with guitarist Al Clayton and his band The Dirty Strangers, Gigs organised in part by Ian Grant, including a double bill with Zodiac / Youth. Martin ‘Youth’ Glover came into John’s orbit and found a kindred spirit in John, proposing they work on a jazz project together. Sure enough plans were laid out for John to travel to Kingston College Of Music in London, to a recording session set up by Youth. The list of musicians in the large room was staggering: George Butler, Hugo Wilkinson and Steven Pratt on drums, Al Clayton and Brian…
Ritual Mass Burn – 23rd October 2017, The Cockpit, London. 7pm. FREE
Burn Your Money - The Cockpit, London, NW8 8EH. October 23rd 2017 Ritual Mass Burn..... Experience the pure primal intensity of Sacrifice at the World's only annual Mass Money Burning Ritual Produced and presented by The Order of the Sacred Immolation Hosted by The Cockpit The second annual Ritual Mass Money Burning is FREE to attend. NO TICKET NEEDED. JUST TURN UP AT 7.00PM for 7.30PM START. The Service will last about an hour and will consist of scriptural readings and sermons from some very special guests. The Ritual itself will be conducted by an Iron Man Records Patron. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BURN IF YOU ATTEND. But we recommend…
Malignant Tumour, The Nerks, Police Bastard, 1000 SCARS, The Castle & Falcon, Birmingham, Wed, 27th Sept, 2017
Malignant Tumour, The Nerks, Police Bastard, and 1000 SCARS at Castle & Falcon, Birmingham Wed 27th September 2017. £8 on the door. www.punksalive.co.uk
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