Nashville Record Labels You Should Know About

Dualtone

Dualtone’s renowned roster may no longer be strictly Nashvillian (or even Southern), but you wouldn’t know it after listening to the Catskills roots rock of The Felice Brothers or the songwriting prowess of Seattleite Noah Gundersen. After years spent fostering the careers of local legends (Jim Lauderdale, Guy Clark, David Ball), founder Scott Robinson struck pop chart gold with The Lumineers’ folk single “Ho Hey, x93 which became the titular anthem for radio’s recent Americana craze. But that number one hit shouldn’t overshadow the company’s prestigious past or promising future—especially with forthcoming releases expected from Delta Spirit and Shovels & Rope.
dualtone.com

Infinity Cat

Infinity Cat is to Nashville’s garage rock as Sub Pop once was to Seattle’s grunge: a label so intertwined with—and accountable for—a hyper-buzzed scene that it’s naive to mention one without the other. Founded by Jamin and Jake Orrall (aka Jeff the Brotherhood) as teenagers with the help of their successful songwriter dad, Robert Ellis Orral (Martina McBride, Taylor Swift), the label has evolved from a basement passion project into a tight-knit artist collective that is obsessed with pressing vinyl, cassettes, and eccentric cover art. If you’ve ever wondered how a band named Diarrhea Planet managed to become a local breakthrough, Infinity Cat is to blame.
infinity-cat-recordings.myshopify.com

Jeffrey Drag

Another label that started out in a teenager’s bedroom, Jeffrey Drag began when Bad Cop frontman Adam Moult began releasing his band’s material on cassette tapes (every other medium was too expensive). Now with a staff of three, they’ve since upgraded to pressing on seven-inch vinyl—meanwhile, they still operate out of a bedroom. With local garage staples such as Turbo Fruits, Natural Child, and Pujol as proud alumni, their latest signees Promised Land Sound, Western Medication, and Penicillin Baby naturally bring high promise. Some of their roster hails from the Midwest, but others come from just west of here, like Memphis’s one-man garage-punk project Seth Sutton of Useless Eaters.
jefferydragrecords.com

Nashville’s Dead

Nashville’s Dead originated as a music blog by David Steine and the late Ben Todd but soon grew into a record label overrun by “show bookers/party throwers. x93 Now, Dillon Watson (aka D. Watusi) oversees a release schedule of exclusive singles on limited-edition vinyl from local stalwarts such as William Tyler and The Paperhead. But their greatest contribution has been the annual music festival Freakin’ Weekend. More of a rowdy bash than a concert, the event unites every garage act (and their fans) within a day’s drive at various sweaty dives over three long, loud days. Its increasing success is a testament to the community’s support and the label’s selfless pledge.
nashvillesdead.com

Plowboy Records

Binding up family ties, Shannon Pollard, Eddy Arnold’s grandson, launched an indie startup label all about preserving and extending the music of his grandfather, the “Tennessee Plowboy. x93 Since May 2012, Pollard and co-partners Cheetah Chrome (a punk legend in the Dead Boys) and Don Cusic (historian, author, professor) have housed a roster of clients including JD Wilkes and the Dirt Daubers, Bobby Bare Sr., Cheetah Chrome and Chuck Mead. With the motto, “Respect The Unexpected, x93 Plowboy honors the past and continues to support authentic, American music, regardless of genre.
plowboyrecords.com
Photo by Loganaxphotos

Readymade

Readymade is the second label to be founded by a member of The Raconteurs. Along with his manager Emily White (no relation to the other White), Brendan Benson started the imprint to release his own albums and those he’s produced. The roster now includes two brother bands and just as many British islanders-turned-Tennesseans, but their most unique record has been a collaboration between ’60s icon Eric Burden (former vocalist of The Animals) and Benson’s former bandmates, The Greenhornes. Ultimately, the label gives Benson what most seasoned musicians eventually desire: complete career control, an excuse to leave the road, and an outlet to help develop other talent.
readymaderecords.com

Ready. Set. Records

Musician Trent Dabbs and his wife, Kristen, founded Ready. Set. Records under the premise of supporting a classic Nashville staple: the songwriter. In 2005, they gathered a collective of solo musicians (including Gabe Dixon and Amy Stroup), booked a national tour, and dubbed themselves Ten Out of Tenn. The ongoing showcase exhibits an abundance of local artists who are oft left out of the spotlight as a backup player, a commercial spot, or a publishing credit. They’ve since made several compilations (like a Christmas album), and despite their moniker the roster has almost doubled to include Joy Williams, Mikky Ekko, Ashley Monroe, and Erin McCarley, among many others.
readysetmgmt.com

Serpents & Snakes

Well over a decade ago, a few brothers (and a cousin) moved their rock band to a town known better for line dancing than crowd-surfing. A few albums later, Kings of Leon became Music City’s poster children for hipster cred. And while most rock stars support their peers by merely mentioning them in magazine interviews, the Followills created a new record label just to sign them. Serpents & Snakes achieved instant clout by first inking The Features (Nashville’s most revered indie-rock act) and then recruiting younger versions of themselves (Turbo Fruits, The Weeks). We like to think they’ve done it all because they believe in this city’s potential. SandSrecords on Facebook

Tennessee Recording Company (tnrc)

Musician Kyle Cook catapulted to success in the late ‘90s as the lead-guitar player for Matchbox 20 and hasn’t stopped since. His latest ensemble is Tennessee Recording Company—which showcases some of Tennessee’s most diverse artists. Teaming up with Mike Fiorentino (longtime friend and collaborator), Ben Shaw (web developer,) and Angela Everett (Director of Operations,) tnrc has already made a daring leap by launching hip-hop artist Maurico into the city best known for country music. Watch for much more as Cook’s longtime vision is to break an artist of each and every genre of music.
tnrc.co

Third Man Records

Third Man Records is a music industry time capsule. Created by Jack White with the motto “Your turntable’s not dead, x93 the label mimics the golden era of Sun or Stax by pressing mostly vinyl singles and hosting a recording studio, live venue, and record store all under the same roof. Their releases are almost always produced by White himself and include his projects (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather), his heroes (Loretta Lynn, Wanda Jackson, Willie Nelson), his peers (The Greenhornes, The Kills, Whirlwind Heat), and his protégées (Jeff the Brotherhood, Pujol, Promised Land Sound). And after this last Record Store Day, the label now holds the record for “The World’s Fastest Record, x93 which went from studio to store in less than four hours.
thirdmanrecords.com

Thirty Tigers

More of a distributor than an actual record label, Thirty Tigers has become an integral asset for many acts by offering unique contracts which allow artists to retain their music rights while the label handles marketing and distribution. Cofounders David Macias and Deb Markland’s mission is to provide a home for independents—and with around 50 releases per year, apparently something is working. The model has attracted notable locals such as Jason Isbell, Will Hoge, and Those Darlins as well as veterans Lucinda Williams and Patty Griffin.
thirtytigers.com