LET IT BURN – The end of an era…

no worries, LET IT BURN is neither gonna stop, nor slow down. I just have the feeling that the end of the year also marks the end of the way this label used to work over the past 9 years. Let me explain…

LET IT BURN RECORDS always used to be some crazy mixture of diy and professionality. I never had the feeling that one excludes the other. We traded records with small labels from the Czech Republic and at the same time we bought ad-space in big magazines. We set up contracts for bands and at the same time helped them out quick and dirty when they were in trouble. We sold albums for 12,00 Euro and we sold them for 5,00 Euro. All in all a pretty ambivalent label management.

Especially during the past 2 years the label was forced to make a decision. Basically, there were three options:
1.) Call it a day like so many other record labels did
2.) Narrow all label activity down to straight up hobby-level with 1 or 2 friendship releases per year
3.) Become even more professional and try to stay alive

Since the label is still around and our release-schedule still is packed, it’s not hard to guess what choice we made. However the sole fact of working professional is not gonna save anyone’s ass. As a record label owner you also have to be extremely flexible and innovative. A tough call in an industry that is desperately trying to sell a worn-out product which has passed it’s boom years ago.

Don’t get me wrong, we still LOVE to put out records, work with bands, press people and other partners… It’s just so annoying that noone really knows how to effectively run a label-business on an independent-level these days. A straight up blindflight…

Anyway, 2010 is coming and we’ve already scheduled a lot of cool stuff for the new year. We really appreciate everyone’s support, no matter if you buy cds, go to our bands’ shows, buy their merch or spread the word. We don’t take any of this for granted, never will. Thanks!

Have a good start in 2010!