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Visiting Output Recordings’ website, you will no longer be able to browse through the catalogue of amazing artists such as The Rapture, Black Strobe, LCD Soundsystem, Four Tet and Mu. Instead you’ll simply be smacked with the numbers 1996 – 2006, it’s untimely lifespan. That’s right folks, the label is no more. Founded in 1996 by Trevor Jackson, Output Recordings was responsible for releasing many a great records while exposing to the world many a great artists.
In an email to friends and colleagues, Jackson shares: “I never once made a musical decision based on the amount of revenue that an artist could bring into the business. And perhaps that’s partly responsible for the position I am in today. I never wanted to become flavor-of-the-whatever, or become part of any new movement or scene, But as more success and attention was thrown at us, the bigger problems became… I saw people I thought were my friends turn into monsters, sycophantic fools jump bandwagons quicker than sneaker styles, and individuals I thought were affiliates stab me in the back without even thinking twice. Babysitting grown adults is not a skill I possess, so I am more than happy to pass the gauntlet on to trust-funded pseudo-indies with fat pockets and no imagination. Let them deal with paranoid artists with inflated egos who believe their own hype and request tour riders fit for royalty… It’s not so easy living in one of the most expensive cities in the world running a label with the sole purpose of releasing music that I love (regardless of style or current musical trend). I never wanted to have all my passion and enthusiasm knocked out of me, but somehow it’s happened.”
However it’s not all bitter. Jackson thanks fans of Output. “I would like to express my gratitude to all the music lovers, buyers, record stores, radio & club DJs, journalists, labels, artists, promoters, and remixers worldwide who supported the label (many of you from day one!). I will miss all the positive feedback and kind words, which I constantly found uplifting, and which gave me the energy to carry on even in the most difficult of circumstances.”
Jackson has no plans to release any of the label’s back catalogue however on October 1st the final Output releases will be available to download as mp3s for one month only.
CM02 says...