For those of you who don't know me this particular news story hits very close to home. I may have begun my music industry career working in record stores (in turn dealing with many of the best indie distributors from around the planet) but I have spent the last 13 years of my life working in indie music distribution.
In simple language I was a sales and marketing rep who had the honor of selling CDs, LPs. 7"ers, 12"ers, and at one time even cassettes by such legendary labels as Mute, K, Kill Rock Stars, Ninja Tune, Kranky, Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Earache, Ipecac, Domino, Astralwerks, Touch and Go, Dischord, Epitaph, Sub Pop, Matador, Warp....just to name a few.
Scoff if you will...apparently this is the digital age and the death of physical product is welcomed by many; it still represents 1/3 of my life. A month ago I suffered my first lay off ever - no less from a music distro and to be honest I have no idea what to do next as my skill set doesn't exactly transfer into the normal world no less into a secondary market like the city of Richmond.
Save your snarky fuck physical product - go digital comments- I don't need to hear them. I have not only faced the slow death of an industry I have been very passionate about for my entire adult life but am now a part of the carcass rather than its beating heart. There are so many amazing people attached to this world of indie music and it breaks my heart to read yet another company is calling it quits. Enter Touch and Go.
Here is the press release from Touch and Go from earlier today that further explains their closing its distribution company.
"“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.
“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.”"
I can't image what those "good things" could possibly right now but I can only hope they present themselves with Godspeed.
And I remind you that I am looking for work so if you know of anything or have suggestions for me, please please please let me know.
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