Strikin' Out Records
Diamond In The Rough
By: Amanda Markell
Last updated December 14th , 2009

101D.com is taking a break from highlighting two new artists and, instead, giving some shine to a young label. This week, in our exclusive Diamonds In The Rough Series, we're giving you the goods on Strikin' Out Records, a mighty independent with a hardnosed DIY attitude.


Background Check: For the past four years, Strikin' Out Records has solely operated from a small apartment in Boston, Mass. Bradley has headed the operation during his years in college. An ambitious move for an undergraduate, Bradley said he started the label to work with artists that he loves and not actually be in a band. "I didn't start the label as a means of financial stability," he explained. "I just wanted to  put out awesome music by bands that I would want to be a part of." Now that Bradley has graduated and re-located to Northern California, he can finally put all his efforts toward expanding the label.


The Goods: Right now, 101D is hosting a label sampler for Strikin' Out that includes current releases from their bands, along with older tracks that allow listeners to farmilliarize themselves with the sound. But the label isn't trying to push singles. "I hate when I buy a record and the three singles plus one or two songs are good and the rest are stinkers," he said. "We just try to promote releases as a whole."


Keepin' It Indie: Strictly an indie label, Bradley says he isn't concerned with the big four or what they do. "The music industry is rapidly transforming and the business model of those labels seems to not be keeping up with the way people are acquiring their music these days," he said. "We're too small to be concerned with them, or them with us." The process of recuiting artists for the Strikin' Out roster consists of Bradley contacting the bands individually. He said he doesn?' ignore any messages of interest but typically finds the bands he wants to work with. "In the end it's pretty much just how I feel about the music and if I dig it enough to want to release it," he explained.



To check out or to purchase the Strikin' Out sampler, click here.

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