The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

How This Record Label Sells More Vinyl Than Streams

Nov 29, 2023

Terry Cole, passionate about records, operates a recording studio, Colemine Records, and Plaid Room Records. They discuss the importance of retail, independent record label marketing strategies, partnering with other labels, and how Colemine sold more physical music than digital. They explore promoting music in record stores and the reliance on algorithms vs physical stores in the music industry. They also touch on music distribution, marketing strategies for independent labels, and distribution deals.

01:09:46

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Episode guests

Terry Cole

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Retail stores have a significant impact on artist success, acting as long-term ambassadors who can effectively promote records.

Colemine Records' physical retail operation, Plaidroom Records, played a crucial role in their success by providing retailers with physical records to be played in-store.

Maintaining close relationships with record stores and valuing physical distribution has allowed Colemine Records to effectively market their music and create a loyal customer base.

Deep dives

The Power of Retail Stores as Ambassadors for Music

Retail stores play a significant role in the success of music artists and labels. The importance of retail lies in the fact that when a retailer supports a record or an artist, they become long-term ambassadors. They can promote the record more effectively and for a longer duration than a PR campaign or radio promotion. This is evident from the example of Crunbin records, where their early success was achieved through retail stores, which recommended their music to customers looking for something unique. Retail stores act as a crucial filter for the overwhelming amount of music available, and their endorsement can significantly impact an artist's success.

Introduction

3min

The Success of a Record Label's Physical Retail Operation

4min

Microphone Talk and Coal Mine Records

19min

The Formation of a Partnership

7min

Enrollment Open at RE's Take Academy and Discussion on Record Label's Internal Creative Teams and A&R

2min

Working with Secretly Records

12min

Packaging and Sending Records to Record Shops

25min

Unexpected Insights and a Special Holiday Sale

2min

Learn more about Colemine Records: https://coleminerecords.com/

With a passion for everything related to records, Terry Cole operates a recording studio, a label (Colemine Records) and record store (Plaid Room Records). Terry started selling records at the age of 12, started his record label while attending college studying biology on the road to being a public school teacher, and then eventually quit teaching to open a record shop, Plaid Room Records, with his brother Bob Cole in 2015. Since then, Colemine Records has expanded and become a well respected label in the independent music industry launching artists such as Black Pumas, Say She She, Durand Jones & The Indications, Kelly Finnigan, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio and many more.

00:00 - Welcome, the importance of retail

04:49 - Microphone talk

08:06 - The story and inspiration behind Colemine Records

15:48 - Independent record label marketing strategies

21:34 - Music label management and artist development

26:58 - How Colemine works with Secretly and partnering with other labels

36:30 - How Colemine sold more physical music than digital music

43:40 - Promoting music in record stores

48:03 - Music industry’s reliance on algorithms vs physical record stores

52:51 - Music distribution and marketing strategies for independent labels

58:56 - Distribution deals and commission-based structure

01:02:40 - Distribution in physical stores