In groups we become stronger

When we first started working on Metalabel, we imagined a hypothetical situation for how groups like the ones we were thinking about would start:

Imagine a group of newsletter writers who cover the same topic. They get tired of competing against each other for likes and attention. One day decide to start making projects together instead…

Lo and behold, this vision has come true. This week a collection of musicians who publish on Substack are releasing a new project on Metalabel that closely mirrors parts of this journey. As Miter, the organizer of the group, told us in an oral history of the project:

“I first learned about Metalabel on Substack and immediately connected with the model presented of collectives and labels finding mutual support through the release of creative material. The zine that Metalabel put out called “New Creative Era” really spoke to me, especially the image that shows collectives coming together from individual creators to build a creative ecosystem… Metalabel has given the collective a place to stand… I’m thrilled about the possibilities for the future.”

The past two years Metalabel focused on establishing these ideas through releases like New Creative Era to help people see a new path ahead, as Miter describes. 

This year and moving forward, Metalabel is focused on providing tools that help people practically take these steps together, just as Miter and the group are now doing. Through these tools you can: 

• Create a label around whatever kind of output or scene you wish
• Bring together collaborators to put out work together
• Release and sell physical work, digital work, and bundles 
• Split earnings between contributors and the label according to percentages you set
• Build an audience and catalogue of work around your creative values

These tools combined with the untapped energy all around us can ignite a new creative era. Week by week, we’re getting there. Every label and every release is a step towards the culture we wish to be part of. 

This week we’re humbled to spotlight the work of a radical experiment and the people behind it, as well as celebrate a spectacular Metalabel-enabled collaboration IRL in NYC. Wires are crossing. Scenes are building. Can you feel it?