Touch and GO!

Following on from the DIY or Die post, it seems ironic that today saw the sad news that the most stubbornly independent rock an label our generation make this announcement:

“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.

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.

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.”

This news, just three years after celebrating 25 years of indie-pendence, is sad news even in the current climate.

Touch & Go founder Corey Rusk:
“The current state of the economy has reached the point where we can no longer afford” to provide manufacturing and distribution services for the labels, including stalwarts such as Chicago-based Drag City, All Natural, Overcoat. Flameshovel and Atavistic Records; Delaware’s Jade Tree; and Kill Rock Stars in the Pacific Northwest.”

Mac McCaughan (Superchunk main man and co-founder of Merge Records) said. “If a company that did everything the right way can’t survive in this environment … then who can?”

The good news is T&G will continue to operate as a label, with releases planned for the foreseeable future. Here’s some highlights from the lost labels:

Superchunk – Hyper Enough (Merge)

Stereolab - Les Yper Sound (Drag City)

Alkaline Trio – Calling all Skeletons (Jade Tree)

The labels we’re talking about here are important to the worldwide music scene but remember – Supporting independent music starts at home!