"Wouldn't it be cool to release a CD?" - this was pretty much the start of it, a question that was answered by the release of a benefit album for Habitat For Humanity. Yeah, yeah, yeah, everybody and their brother has a benefit album for something or other now a days, and it did seem like a good idea at the time, but at any rate- Homeward Bound was the start of it all.
After Homeward Bound, we swore off benefit albums for an undisclosed amount of time and focused on finding great music to release. We remain here today; finding great music to release. It's hard to say what 'type' of music we want to release- Standard isn't a genre specific label. Sure, everyone here has their own preference of music, but as the saying goes: "…we'll know it when we hear it."
We are primarily interested in one thing: releasing great music (and more of it). As of mid-2002, Standard entered into a national distribution agreement with Redeye Distribution, making our releases available far and wide. In December of 2003 we voluntarily and gleefully ended our relationship with Redeye. Now our releases can be obtained exclusively from Nail Distribution, and likewise from our gracious friends at Carrot Top, Morphius, Electric Fetus, Parasol Mail order, AEC, Galaxy, etc. Our catalog, in its near entirety, is available on several download sites such as iTunes, Rhapsody, and Audio Lunchbox.
Since 2004, we've stopped releasing albums in jewel cases, opting instead for recycled stock packaging or other renewable materials. Most of our releases our hand assembled and/or hand packaged.
There are two full time people who work for Standard and a hand full of part-timers who help with various tasks. Sorry, we aren't hiring anyone at the moment but when we need additional help, we often post job listings on Craigslist.
We accept them and most of the time, listen to them as well.*However, we don't have the time to reply or comment on every submission we get. Sorry- that's just the way it is. If we're interested in what you're doing we'll be in touch. If we aren't interested... you're probably right: we just don't get it and wouldn't know what good music sounded like if it arrived on our door step. Please don't send lyric sheets: no one here reads them. Feel free to include whatever you like, but remember: try not to waste paper AND we really want to know about your music, tour history, and something about your personality. Heart felt letters are nice. Heart felt letters with coupons to fine dining establishments are even better. We have released albums in the past based solely from a submission. However, we no longer will accept submissions via postal mail. Our mailbox is flooded with pointless and wasteful packages, that's a waste of your resources and ours - if you would like to submit to us, please send a link or 1 or 2 mp3's to us here.
*We reserve the right to, and most likely will, immediately delete and laugh at any submission that the following applies to:
1. One or more members of the band's clothing is 50% leather or is wearing any variation of leather pants.
2. There is a massive cross incorporated into your album art.
3. Your submission gives the impression that your band is following in the foot steps of Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, or any other nu-metal band that all the Clear Channel "X" stations can't seem to get enough of these days.
Sure, this may sound elitist but that's one of the few benefits to owning your own label. Plus, we have a style to what we do- at least an emerging style. Take some time to learn what kind of music we release before spending money and sending a submission our way.
Our releases are distributed by Nail Distribution and likewise carried by Carrot Top, AEC, Morphius, Electric Fetus and others. You likely won't find our releases at Target or Best Buy. You will, however, be able to find our releases at any of the countless mom & pop record stores across the country.
Booking for every Standard artist can be arranged directly through us. Contact Kevin for the artist availability- be sure to include as many specifics as possible.
We've used AAM, Pirate, and TinderBox in the past and we'll probably use them again. If you would like to be added to our radio promo list, hit us up here.
We handle most press send-outs in house. From time to time, we will use additional publicity folk like Fanatic, Forcefield, or Yarr! PR. If you would like a review copy of a specific release or would like to be added to our promo list, please tell us and we'll send it out. (One other thing: don't try to sell the promos we send on eBay or Amazon. That's just not cool! Consider giving the CD away to someone who might listen.)
We offer discounted pricing on our releases to all libraries. Please contact us for details. Our
releases are currently available for check-out, free of charge to the patrons of the
following libraries:
If you have an event, project, whatever that you want us to sponsor - please contact us and let us know all the details. Be sure to include what you want us to do and how much it will cost.
1. CD's should not cost more than $10.
2. The end desire is to discover the shortest distance between the artist and the listener.
3. We have no idea how to run a record label. We make it up as we go along.
4. No one else seems to either.
5. Do whatever you can afford to do and then figure out how to do a little more.
6. Great music is even greater still when you happen to stumble across it and discover it for yourself.
7. There are few winners in the game of skinny ties and slick promotion.
8. Relax.
01. Everyone who has spent money on our releases, opened their homes to our artists, and attended one of our shows.
02. Jim Peters, Pavintheway
03. Cheryl Andrey, Graphic Artist
04. Jes, Ben, April, and Andrew
05. Joe Whiteford, Calibretto & Harley Poe
06. Castle Oldchair
07. Everything, Now!
08. Rev. Peyton & His Big Damn Band
09. Deric, Wooden Man Records
10. Indy CD & Vinyl
11. Margot and The Nuclear So & So's
12. Jason, Todd & everyone at Luna Music
13. Matt Chandler, The Freezone
14. Killjoy Confetti
15. Chris Haskett
16. Dave & Michele at Locals Only
17. Kevin Fitzpatrick
18. Christian Kiefer and the boy of the Of Great and Mortal Men project
19. Daniel Fahrner of Everthus the Deadbeats and Transpanther Booking
20. many more to come....