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G.L.O.S.S. Plans to Stay Independent

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by Melody Bot, Sep 12, 2016.

  1. Melody Bot

    Your friendly little forum bot. Staff Member

    This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply.

    As first reported on PunkNews, according to an Instagram post from Sadie Switchblade of G.L.O.S.S., they recently turned down a record offer from Epitaph Records and are choosing to remain independent for now. The full statement can be found below, but the other great news is they’re thinking of how to release a full-length G.L.O.S.S. album.

    For those who have been asking: G.L.O.S.S. will not be signing to Epitaph Records. It’s hard to say no to a $20,000 advance and $30,000 to market our album–“marketing” could include buying ourselves a new van, for example–but as Epitaph is distributed by Warner Music Group, we can’t ethically partner with them.
    I would be lying if I said that this isn’t tempting or that it’s not deeply validating to be pursued by the label that put out the bands that got me through high school–Rancid, The Distillers, Osker, etc. I spent those years with a frown on my face and headphones on my ears, walking the halls and holding on to that music for dear life. But we want G.L.O.S.S. to be a threat to entrenched models– at the very least to be exciting.

    We floated the idea of cutting a radical organization into the profit-sharing model if we were to sign with Epitaph. How cool would it be to make thousands of dollars for the homeless shelter here in Oly, for AMP in San Jose, Black Lives Matter groups, disabled queers? But if we can do the work of self-releasing an album, we will not only refuse to enrich corporate music but also in the long run make more money.

    G.L.O.S.S. started casually in a basement and has grown to a level of popularity that feels overwhelming at times. Having our house in constant disarray with thousands of records strewn about is chaotic and becoming untenable. If we can come up with the startup money to rent a space and hire a couple friends, we can use Total Negativity (our guitarist’s label) to support our scene without having to turn to an outside entity.

    When we get around to recording a full-length we’ll probably be doing a first press of 20,000 copies. That’s not a bedroom operation anymore. While signing to a label like Epitaph would be in many ways relieving, it would probably mean the death of the feeling that so many of you have told us means so much to you. We could never do that to all of you who have been so supportive and whose kind words have meant the world to us.

    What I’m trying to say is that we don’t have to jump into their world, we can create a new one. Thank you for being a part of this feeling. It means so much to us !

     
  2. LightsOut

    Regular

    Good for them
     
  3. Bryan Diem

    Trusted

    What's the ethical dilemma they have with this label?

    This bands music is pretty bad imo but I've been seeing a lot about them because of this, but no one ever talks about the music haha
     
  4. They say in the post ...
     
  5. Bryan Diem

    Trusted

    My b, I didn't expand the post, thought it was the same snippet that I saw on facebook that didn't explain
     
  6. skogsraet

    Trusted Supporter

    I'm not clear about the ethical issues with Warner. Did I miss a scandal?
     
  7. Jake W

    oh my god, I'm back on my bullshit Prestigious

    I love both their EPs, seeing them talk about a full length makes me very excited.
     
    DarkHotline likes this.
  8. Nick

    @fangclubb Prestigious

    fantastic band, great statement.
     
    DarkHotline likes this.
  9. cwhit

    still emperor emo Prestigious

    they are a major label

    i've actually read some interesting posts from some friends calling them out for even acknowledging the concept of "selling out" and how that isn't really a thing, lots of good discussion about this