PRESS RELEASE: “FUCKING EVERYBODY SIGNS WITH KOCH RECORDS”
Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 at 10:02am by Vince Neilstein
It seems like every day we get a press release here at the MS Mansion announcing that some respectable metal band has signed to Koch Records. High On Fire, Satyricon and Throwdown are the latest crop, having all signed to Koch within the past few weeks. Add that to the already formidable metal roster of In Flames, Otep, Hatebreed and Straight Line Stitch… despite a couple of admittedly terrible bands in that bunch, from a business perspective that’s some serious fucking firepower there, all added within the last year, give or take.
So what the hell is going on over there?
It would seem the man in charge is Scott Givens, who joined up with Koch as the “VP of Metal” in March of 2007 (see the announcement on Blabbermouth). I don’t know the guy personally, but dudeman deserves a serious high-five (or several) for turning a joke of a record label into a metal powerhouse. We aren’t sure how he gets all these bands to sign with Koch — giant advances, daily blowjobs, crack, who the fuck knows — but dude, whatever you’re doing, keep at it. Any time a label like Koch is investing so heavily in metal is a good time for the metal industry indeed.
-VN
Looks like it’s time to make some friends at Koch
i’d LOVE to be able to introduce myself as “VP of Metal”
The High On Fire announcement really surprised me. I always think of Koch as a hospice for rappers dropped from their major label deals. It is the place where rap careers go to die.
I have to wonder, though, if Koch’s strategy of signing in multiple genres (rap, pop, classical, jazz, metal) is a wise one. In today’s music business climate, should indie labels emulate the business model of the crumbling majors?
Well, there are quite some different ‘recorddeals’. I think that In Flames (for example) has a distribution deal..probably the same for Satyricon. New Hatebreed is listed as an Universal record afaik. I don’t think they have many big total Metal-a&r/producing/marketing/distribution (or even 360 deals) going on.
And…no one cares.
Even the singer of Otep has bigger balls than you, Vince. And she’s a WOMAN!
I was also surprised to see HOF sign to Koch. I guess In Flames met their expectations. How about posting some Soundscan figures for that albums and others that people might be interested in?
Metal bands on Koch isn’t completely unheard of (though it’s nice to see them focusing on it so much). Opeth was signed with them (at least for distribution) for a few albums in the States.
In Flames is a distribution deal from NB. And Hatebreed was a one-off release for their live DVD.
I think William Hung was on Koch Records, too.
Well, its because they notoriously over better cash for albums than other labels. Considering what Steve Austin said about Relapse, dudes need cash.
I fucking love when dudes come on here just to say gay shit about Axl and Vince.It verifies that mine is not the most slothful existence.
Wasn’t Ephel Duath signed to some sort of deal/distribution with Koch?