We're officially halfway through 2026, and before you start planning the next release, stressing about Q4, or comparing yourself to other labels, let's take a moment to celebrate something far more important:

You're still here.

Presented by HELLBENDER VINYL - hellbendervinyl.com

In this episode, Scott reflects on the most admirable quality shared by the best independent labels and artists—not streams, sales, playlists, tours, or sold-out vinyl runs—but persistence.

Drawing inspiration from recent guests including Kou Records, Alt Dub, Crestfallen, We All Speak In Poems, and others, this episode explores why the labels making the biggest impact aren't necessarily the biggest labels—they're the ones willing to keep showing up, taking risks, and committing to their vision year after year.

The future of your label starts with what you do next.

Our biggest discount ever is happening this week on The Record Label Academy - http://otherrecordlabels.com/academy

This week, Scott sits down with Enrico, founder of Inertial Music, an independent label based in Italy specializing in progressive metal, ambient, electronic, and atmospheric music.

Presented by Hellbender Vinyl - www.hellbendervinyl.com

In just two years, Enrico has built a catalog of physical releases, secured international distribution, and developed a reputation for thoughtful curation and transparency.

http://inertial-music.com/

They discuss the realities of launching a label, balancing a full-time career while running a growing music business, the enduring importance of vinyl and CDs, and why physical media remains a powerful way to deepen the connection between artists and listeners.

Get 10% OFF your first GROOVER campaign by using the code OTHERRECORDLABELSVIP -- otherrecordlabels.com/groover

There’s a lot to keep track of when you're releasing music.

Release dates. ISRCs. Lyrics. Artwork. Press photos. Streaming links. Download links. Metadata. Songwriter information. And somehow, years later, you still need to find all of it again.

In this episode, I share one of the most useful systems I've ever created for managing releases: Release Central.

PRESENTED BY HELLBENDER VINYL - www.hellbendervinyl.com

Release Central is a simple Google Sheet that acts as a centralized home base for every album, EP, or single you release. It's where I keep all the important information related to a project—from metadata and promotional assets to release schedules and private links. I've used this system for years across my own releases and recently started teaching it to my Labelmates VIP coaching clients, who have found it incredibly helpful.

Download your copy: 👉 otherrecordlabels.com/releasecentral

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What Release Central is
• Why every artist and label should have one
• How centralized metadata can save you time and headaches
• What information to include in your document
• How I use it during release campaigns and years later
• How to collaborate with artists, managers, publicists, and other team members using a shared release document

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Check our Groover to help you promote your next release. http://otherrecordlabels.com/groover USE CODE: OTHERRECORDLABELSVIP for 10% off your next campaign!