It’s a well-known secret of sorts that many musicians feel the need to sign themselves to nonexistent labels. Usually, it’s in the form of an emblem on album packaging or an insignia on a press release. So what’s the problem?
Enter Misty Dawn, founder of the No More Fake Labels project and manager for local group Western Civ. For this week’s 5 Questions, Diversions Editor Linnie Greene met up with Dawn at Carrboro’s Open Eye Café to get the scoop on why musicians make up fake labels and why it’s an issue.
Diversions: So, first off — can you explain what No More Fake Labels is?
Misty Dawn: That’s always a mouthful. Basically it’s a way for self producing artists to be able to work together and gain some of the benefits of having a label without losing the rights early on in their career. So a large percentage of what we’ll be doing is taking artists who have a great product and who have a great album and just don’t know how to get it out there — being able to help them with the power of a label that has a collection of artists, to help them with booking and distributors and all that. So that hopefully by the time they’re able to jump on board with an actual, straight-up label, they’ll have a better feel for what’s going on and how to handle their career.
Dive: What compelled you to start the campaign?
MD: Friends, really — that’s what it comes down to. I have a lot of friends who are musicians and I’ve watched a lot of them spinning their wheels because they just don’t know how to reach out and get something going. These days labels aren’t going to pick you up and do a development deal like they did ten years ago. It’s all about making yourself ever-present so they can see what’s going on. I kind of watched every band that puts out their first album and isn’t affiliated with a label — they make up these fake label names. I think that floods the market with names of labels, half of which don’t exist, which turns the focus away from the real baby labels that are out there trying to do some good.
Dive: What kind of response have you gotten from local musicians and labels?
MD: I’ve been surprised at the level of support I’ve gotten thus far. It’s been a concept for a year but I really just took it to the public two weeks ago. The local labels that I’ve spoken to have been very, very supportive. The artists I’ve spoken to have been supportive. So far it’s just Western Civ and Salt to Bitters that are on No More Fake Labels. I’m talking to New York bands at the moment so we can help each other with touring up there. Mel [Thomas] at 307 Knox [Records] was phenomenal. She called me in to just sit down and get to know each other, and she was incredibly supportive.
Dive: What kind of changes do you hope to see in the local scene as a result of No More Fake Labels?
MD: I don’t really want to change the local music scene. It’s phenomenal. I just want to be there to help it as much as I can, to throw my two cents in there and do what so many people are already doing — to lift up some of the amazing artists we have around here.
Dive: Do you get the sense that fake labels are pretty common in local music? How does it compare to the national level?
MD: I’m sure there are tons of them. In this area we’ve got a lot of really legitimately good baby labels, so artists have the opportunity of aligning with those in this region. Across the country, it’s not necessary the same. Coming out uof Muscle Shoals, Alabama, there is no support for upcoming artists, as far as label support and booking support. It’s just kind of — everyone that lives in this area that works in music sould be so thankful for the community they have here. I hope to be able to lend that kind of support outside of the Triangle as well as inside the Triangle.
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