Podunk Records's Interview

ATP

What’s been your biggest selling release & why do you think it was?

PODUNK RECORDS

so far both albums (Commercial Suicide -by Animal Train and Corporate Robot by Old Guy Drive-By) that are for sale are running about neck and neck -

ATP

What release that you’ve done was the most important & special to you personally?

PODUNK RECORDS

My First comp. PoDunkRadio Punk Rock Comp Vol. 1 - It is special to me because it celebrated the one year anniversary of PoDunk Radio (and subsequently my effort to help independent punk artists) and all the great bands i have had the pleasure to work with.

ATP

What is the thing all releases on your label have in common?

PODUNK RECORDS

Punk rock - small towns - keeping a dream live

ATP

What’s a record you’d like to put out that you’ll never be able to?

PODUNK RECORDS

something of my own... - i'll probably never have my own band again.

ATP

Do you think the album format is dead?

PODUNK RECORDS

album format? as in vinyl? fuck no i prefer vinyl when i can get it. i personally feel that the CD format is dying out. i can't think of an album that dropped in the past 5 years or more that i bought on CD - all my personal music purchases are digital download or vinyl or both.

ATP

Do you think the return of vinyl & cassettes is a fad?

PODUNK RECORDS

cassettes - hipster fad. vinyl - classic - timeless. hope it never goes out of format.

ATP

Is it important to have physical releases over digital ones or does it not matter?

PODUNK RECORDS

a lot of kids out there still want that thing they can hold in their hot little hands. i'd much rather release an actual record over a cd, but that's pretty cost prohibitive for me right now. we release digital downloads - physical cds - and provide out bands with download cards to sell or hand out at shows. To me the download card is a pretty great thing - i know from personal experience that it really sucks buying a cd at a live show only to have it knocked out of your hands and broken or lose it before you can even leave the venue. - the download cards go right in a pocket, wallet, or purse, can be redeemed pretty much instantly - on a smart phone on a computer - laptop or tablet.

ATP

How much music do you feel should be available free to fans?

PODUNK RECORDS

as much as possible.

ATP

What do you do about people distributing your music without financial compensation (piracy & file trading)?

PODUNK RECORDS

it's going to happen. i don't care about making a fortune for myself - btu i do like to see sales come through for the bands - it helps buy gas, food, instruments etc.. there is always going to be someone out there illegally downloading music or burning what they own to disc and sharing it with friends. it's as much a part of life as much as eating and taking a shit.

ATP

Why do you think labels are still important to artists?

PODUNK RECORDS

a band can only promote themselves so much. a decent label is at least out there doing leg work - getting contacts, spreading the band around to an area larger than their hometown.

ATP

Music has had different hotspots on the internet over the years what do you see as the place where “normal” people go to find out about & get excited by new music?

PODUNK RECORDS

i hate normal people - they make me sick - normal people are the assholes out there buying into FM and satellite radio are selling them. the people i deal with on a regular basis - (far from normal) are out there scouring bandcamp, reverbnation, websites like this one [arm the pit] and punkbandpromotions.com to find new music worth listening to.

ATP

What are your plans for the future, in a year, 5 years?

PODUNK RECORDS

my plans? to stay alive - to keep helping bright young punks get their music heard all over the world. i love doing this - i don't foresee quitting any time soon.

ATP

Finally, do have any words on what Arm The Pit means to you?

PODUNK RECORDS

i dig it - i've explored the site - i think we have similar interest - promoting independent bands, labels and internet DJs without much regard to our own selves or personal gain. that's real shit right there.