- Music - Darius Van Arman - Dead Oceans / Jagjaguwar / Secretly Canadian

TL;DR

Jack Jaguar is an independent label based in Bloomington, Indiana that has found success through careful selection of artists and a conservative approach to investment.

Transcript

today on this week in music we meet the future of the music business an independent label in bloomington indiana whose artist bonavera just debuted number two on the billboard chart stay tuned i feel good even though i shouldn't i'm chilling so hard couldn't tell you where the hood is i'm looking like a million bucks welcome to this week in music m... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🎨 Jack Jaguar's success is built on careful selection of artists and a conservative approach to investment.
• 🍳 They prioritize co-authorship with artists, sharing profits and costs, and striving for break-even.
• 🧑‍🎨 The label focuses on maintaining long-term success and supporting artists' growth in multiple spheres, including live performances and publishing.
• 🎮 Streaming and licensing have become significant income sources for the label, but they are cautious about balancing artistic control and commercial opportunities.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Jack Jaguar and Secretly Canadian merge?

Jack Jaguar started in Charlottesville and later moved to Bloomington, where they shared offices with Secretly Canadian. The two labels eventually became equal partners, along with Dead Oceans.

Q: How did Jack Jaguar find other labels to distribute?

Word of mouth and connections from the Bloomington music community helped Jack Jaguar find other like-minded labels who wanted to join forces for distribution.

Q: How did Jack Jaguar become a sustainable business?

In the early years, Jack Jaguar struggled with recouping recording advances and relied on additional revenue streams like distribution and manufacturing. They also focused on keeping costs low.

Q: What was the turning point for Jack Jaguar in becoming a sustainable business?

The turning point was the success of Antony and the Johnsons' "I Am a Bird Now," which won the Mercury Prize. This success allowed the label to grow rapidly and gain more recognition.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Jack Jaguar started in 1996 in Charlottesville, Virginia and later joined forces with Secretly Canadian.

• Early artists included Songs: Ohia, Ativan, and Julie Doiron.

• The label started a distribution arm in 1999-2000 to overcome challenges with getting their music out there.