Ben Kweller Forms Record Label
Ben Kweller can now add “record label boss” to his resumè. The 30-year-old singer-songwriter has announced the formation of the Noise Company, his new independent imprint based in Austin, Texas. It will release all of his future albums, including next February’s Go Fly a Kite, his fifth record.
“There’s a lot of geeky stuff involved, but as a diehard music junkie and record collector, these things get me excited,” Kweller said in a statement. “It’s the real deal, not just an artist self-releasing his music. We have a real staff, real funding, real distribution, and I look forward to eventually helping other artists achieve their goals, too.”
The Noise Company will also release its products internationally via partnerships with Lively Up in Japan and Shock in Australia. With its formation, Kweller hopes to become more familiar with the processes of radio programmers, disc manufacturers and other industry employees.
“I’ve worked with some great people, most of whom I remain friends with today. Unfortunately, we’ve all been operating within an antiquated system that doesn’t work anymore,” Kweller added. “The Noise Co. is another step in creating my own system. It gives me the opportunity to work directly with people in the industry who were previously off-limits.”
Kweller, who signed his first label deal at the ripe age of 15, has recorded previously for Mercury Records and ATO and toured with Juliana Hatfield and Guster.
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