RELEASING WITH US IS A PARTNERSHIP
Grimalkin is forging alternative pathways outside of the current music industry’s systems (labels, streaming, awards shows,for-profit corporate festivals and venues, etc.). Part of our mission is making those systems obsolete for independent working musicians in our communities.
Our goal is not to assist artists “breaking in” or “climbing the ladder” of what currently exists. We are reclaiming wealth and resources and mobilizing it back into our communities so that we can support ourselves as working musicians making a living wage.
We work with musicians who are passionate about creating opportunities and spaces of community care, mutual support and mutual aid, who are committed to our mission of working outside of industry norms, and who actively work to mobilize wealth and resources back into our communities.
Grimalkin's success, and in turn our artists’ success, depends on a reciprocal partnership of mutual support. Instead of taking large sales cuts like traditional labels, we rely on shared labor and mutual expectations to make each release a success and to schieve our mission.
We are committed to our artists’ journey. Grimalkin has several future opportunities for you to grow as an artist and to be an integral part of helping us fulfill our mission of mentoring and supporting queer and trans musicians, particularly BIPOC and disabled artists, using an artist-centered holistic approach to break down barriers, create new systems and structures of support, and expand the reach of marginalized voices by being part several initiatives, such as our production and mentoring networks, developing workshops that promote our mission, and much more.
ARTIST EXPECTATIONS:
(Mandatory): Artists agree to promote their own releases, shows, and events at least once weekly for 4 weeks. Promotion should start 2 weeks before the release/event and end 2 weeks after. Live events do not need to be promoted 2 weeks after unless it is recorded and available online. Grimalkin should always be tagged in these posts. Send a collaboration invite on IG. Help us help you! Whenever you promote yourself or your work, tag Grimalkin and add us as a collaborator when appropriate.
(must commit Additionally to at least 3 More of the following):
Like our posts on social media weekly. Set a timer on your phone weekly to go to our profile and like and share what we are doing. The algorithm hides us so intentionally go to our profile and do it.
Send us past albums, demos, artwork, songs, videos lyrics, poetry, writing, etc. to give to our monthly supporters.
Write a testimonial. We created this Google Form to make it easy. We will promote you when it is posted!
Hold a fundraiser for Grimalkin at least once yearly: by contacting people you know one-on-one, having it online and in person at an event or show.
Participate in our yearly 6 week collective grassroots fundraiser (usually in the Spring yearly. Training and guidance is provided. Sharpen your grassroots organizing skills!)
Promote, share, and/or attend our shows. They are on our calendar on our website. Set a timer to check monthly/weekly. You can click on the Subscribe button on our calendar page to add our calendar to your Google calendar.
Promote, share and/or attend our workshops. They are on our calendar on our website. Set a timer to check monthly/weekly. You can click on the Subscribe button on our calendar page to add our calendar to your Google calendar. Can't attend our workshop? RSVP, watch it later and complete the post survey. We need this data to get money to pay artists to run workshops. Plus you actually could learn something and have fun.
Host a workshop. Grim has over 20 years of teaching experience and Eli has years of experience teaching with new and emerging technologies; we can help you create an experience you’re proud of.
Join our production or mentoring networks, and agree to do some pro-bono work.
Donate resources, your time as a volunteer, connections, and/or money if you have means. You can give a one time donation, join as a Bandcamp sub or Patron. Tell everyone you know with means and interest in what we are doing to donate or join as a patron. Everyone can do mutual aid sustainably. Learn how here.
Promote and/or share our Patreon once monthly.
Join our submission team and help us decide collectively which artists we choose to work with in the future. Truly listen and give thoughtful feedback to each submission.
We’re hiring for several volunteer lead positions. Reach out if you want to strengthen your leadership skills by joining our Taiga and signing up for one of our volunteer lead positions. Training is provided. You must create a Taiga account first and then we can add you to our team.
Leadership tasks include:
Task Management Angel (Multiple People Needed)
Grant Researcher Angel (Multiple People Needed)
Monthly Fundraiser Organizer (Multiple People Needed)
Booking Angel (Multiple People Needed)
Digital Compilation Organizer (Multiple People Needed)
Grimalkin Artist Sampler: Digital Compilation Organizer (Multiple People Needed)
Volunteer Writing & Editor Angel (Multiple People Needed)
Monthly Exclusives Organizer (Multiple People Needed)
Workshop RSVP Outreach & Follow-Up Angel (Multiple People Needed)
Hangout & Solidarity Follow-Up Angel (Multiple People Needed)
Testimonial Angel (Multiple People Needed)
Quarterly Live Stream Organizer (Multiple People Needed)
Follow Up Angel: Meeting Minutes (Multiple People Needed)
Social Media Follow-Up Angel (Multiple People Needed)
Website Updates Angel (Multiple People Needed)
Volunteer Coordinator (Multiple People Needed)
Volunteer Festival Coordinator (Multiple People Needed)
Volunteer 6 Week Fundraising Check-In Lead (Multiple People Needed)
If you are interested in getting involved in a volunteer leadership role listed above, complete the following here, which will include:
A link to 5-10 pieces of your best work
Your resume
A letter of interest or cover letter, which addresses the following questions:
Why Grimalkin specifically as opposed to another company, collective or nonprofit?
What skills will you bring to Grimalkin and how will you contribute to our mission?
What are you hoping to gain from working with Grimalkin?
GRIMALKIN EXPECTATIONS (Grimalkin commits to do all of the following):
Take on the logistical ins-and-outs of releasing your project digitally, and on physical media
Handle finances and payouts with transparency and punctuality
Communicate clearly and in a timely manner about all things related to your release
Make every effort to secure press for your release and help you build connections through our community and contacts
Promote your releases/events and tag you as a collaborator
Promote your releases on anniversaries and share press quotes on our social channels
Share and offer opportunities for interviews, shows, and other events when they arise on an ongoing basis leading up to and after your release
Provide mentoring and guidance where desired about your career
RELEASE WITH US
You don’t have to be part of our collective to release with us. As a collective, we welcome artists of all genres and ages to submit their music for release consideration. What we do:
Tapes
We’ll produce a small batch of cassette tapes at no cost to you that benefits an organization of your choice (typically a non-profit or mutual aid collective/fund). We encourage you to pick one you’re genuinely engaged in or local to. We especially aim to support smaller grassroots and mutual aid organizations.
Digital Sales
75% of proceeds from digital sales can go directly to you or the organization of your choice. Beginning in 2021, we raised our digital and tape prices from $8 to $10 and 25% of digital sales and the additional $2 for tapes go to our label and mutual aid fund so we can sustain our work.
Lathe Cuts
We’ll produce a small run of lathe cuts (up to 15min per side) at no cost to you. Proceeds from lathes go back into funding the label. We break even if the entire run of lathes sell. These are currently on hold.
Please understand that it may take some time to respond because:
1) We do A&R collectively at Gr (which takes a little extra time) and
2) We've had a recent surge in interest and as such have been inundated with requests. Know that we appreciate your patience. If you have not heard back from us within a few weeks that does not necessarily mean we are not interested, but due to the volume of submissions we receive we cannot guarantee a response. This is particularly true for music we aren't considering.
Here are some tips:
1. We do not consider future releases based on music that you already have out. Please reach out to us only after you have a new, completed project.
2. We only accept streaming links. This includes but isn't limited to: Dropbox, SoundCloud, Google Drive, Bandcamp if you have a pro-account and can do private streaming, etc. Do not send us a download code or private link that only a specific person or email address can access—we will not listen to it due to time constraints.
3. We recommend that you learn about our work to make sure our values align with yours. Listen to our catalog and check out our website further to learn about our work and who we are, and then let us know why you want to release with us. When reaching out, we also like to know how you found or heard of us. Follow our social channels and engage with us to build a genuine connection!
We encourage musicians of all ages to submit their music. Most labels tend to release younger artists, and while we love to support that age group, we do actively want to support artists of all ages.
If this form is inaccessible to you due to disability or language, email us at grimalkinrecords@gmail.com.
Grimalkin is forging alternative pathways outside of the current music industry’s systems (labels, streaming, awards shows, for-profit corporate festivals and venues, etc.). Part of our mission is making those systems obsolete for independent working musicians in our communities.
Our goal is not to assist artists “breaking in” or “climbing the ladder” of what currently exists. We are reclaiming wealth and resources and mobilizing it back into our communities so that we can support ourselves as working musicians making a living wage.
We work with musicians who are passionate about creating opportunities and spaces of community care, mutual support and mutual aid, who are committed to our mission of working outside of industry norms, and who actively work to mobilize wealth and resources back into our communities.
sound good?
If all that sounds good to you, we welcome you to submit your music for consideration.