Mordam Records

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mordam Records is a record distribution company for independent record labels currently headquartered in Sacramento, California. It was originally founded in San Francisco in 1983 as an independent punk distribution company by Ruth Schwartz (one of the original co-editors of Maximum RocknRoll). Mordam was the exclusive distributor for dozens of punk rock and independent record labels throughout the 1980s and 90s, gaining a reputation as one of the few "distros" that paid their labels on time. Some of these labels included Lookout! Records, Frank Kozik's Man's Ruin, Kill Rock Stars, Jade Tree, and most notably Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles Records and Long Gone John's Sympathy for the Record Industry, two labels whose most popular releases were by the Dead Kennedys and The White Stripes, respectively. Mordam also became the exclusive distributor of Maximum Rock 'N Roll magazine in 1984. The distributor also released records on its own in-house record label in the mid-to-late 80s, detailed below. In every instance, Mordam positioned itself as an indepenent music industry entity successfully operating outside the influence of major record labels or their artists.

Following the departure of Lookout! Records and Man's Ruin from its distribution network in 2000, Schwartz moved the company to its current Sacramento location. She subsequently sold Mordam outright to major-label-affiliated Lumberjack Distribution in 2005, officially surrendering its long-running "non-majors" business orientation. Many labels (as well as MRR magazine) subsequently left Mordam for other distributors. It continues today as a part of the Lumberjack Music Group.

Bands released on Mordam (the label) include Faith No More, the Rhythm Pigs and Victim's Family. All of these releases have been out of print for years.