In 2003, after 11 years of running EAR/Rational Music, I decided to start a record label after listening to "The Perfume of Creosote: Desert Exotica Part 1," which had arrived in my mailbox several days before. At first I simply offered to sell "Perfume" via EAR/Rational, figuring the band would find a label or press it themselves. After thinking about it a bit more, I realized the chances were slim that much would happen without a label behind the release, so I emailed the band and told them I'd start a label and put out their album.
Aural Fixation does not advocate or inculcate a particular sound or style. If we hear something we like, we'll do what we can to give it a wider audience.
We anticipate that most of our future releases will be non-exclusive, download-only, with 50% of the proceeds going directly to the artist. Some releases may be short-run CD-Rs (100 copies, repressed as needed) with full-color printing and artwork; it all depends on what we perceive as the market for the music.
The beauty of a download-only release is that it avoids the huge up front costs, and starts funneling money to the artists immediately. Non-exclusivity means that as an artist, you are free to press your own CDs and sell them, or even sign with another label. If your new label objects to Aural Fixation selling your music, we will cut you a final check, delete your music from our servers, kiss you gently on the head, and send you on your merry way.
We're in the process of building a web shop where you'll be able to purchase MP3s (and probably WAVs as well, if we can secure more server space) and when that is completed, we'll be courting a wider array of artists. If you'd like to submit music for consideration, please use one of these three methods:
1. Upload your MP3s (128K or better) via anonymous ftp to auralfixationrecords.com/uploads (Note: This repository is write-only and you don't have to worry about anyone downloading or deleting the music you submit to us--feel free to try it to convince yourself!) Be sure your band name is part of the filename for each file or we won't know who submitted the music! Follow up with an email (see image at the top of this page) so we know how to contact you.
2. Email us (see image at the top of this page) a polite, brief email telling us who you are, the kind of music you make, and links to 1 or more MP3s we can listen to. Please send CD-Rs as a last resort (i.e., if you can't find server space for your MP3s). DO NOT under any circumstances email us your MP3s!
3. Mail us a CD-R of you music. Be sure to include contact info.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the large number of submissions we are receiving, we will contact you only if we decide to use your music.
-- Dave
