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about this issue Indie Label Owner Interviews with: Bunkerpop Autumnal Release Bo' Weavil Recordings Little Helpers Mantricum Emanen Saint-Loup Withering Trees Blondena Waggletone Erototox Decodings Jehu and Chinaman

Label Owner Interview with Martin Davidson of Emanem March 2013 Name: Martin Davidson Label: Emanem City: London Websites: www.emanemdisc.com   QRD – When & why did you start your label? Martin – 1974 - to document fabulous music (mainly free improvisation) that otherwise wasn’t getting to record. QRD – How many releases have you put out? Martin – About 200. QRD – How many hours a week do you work on the label & how many would you like to? Martin – Most of my waking time; less. QRD – What are the fun &/or rewarding parts about running a label? Martin – The creative aspects - putting the recordings & the visuals together. QRD – How have your motivations for having a label changed? Martin – No. QRD – What do you feel is the biggest waste of your time running the label? Martin – Dealing with bureaucracy & the associated paper word – especially accountancy & copyright. QRD – What makes you label special & unique? Martin – I like everything on it. QRD – Do you enjoy music as much now as you used to & how has running a label effected how you listen to/hear music? Martin – I enjoy it as much as ever. QRD – What’s your demos policy? Martin – I’m not able to accept demos any more. QRD – How do you find out about new artists for your label? Martin – By listening. QRD – How do most fans find out about your label? Martin – By searching. QRD – What release that you’ve done was the most important & special to you personally? Martin – Paul Rutherford’s “Gentle Harm of the Bourgeoisie”. QRD – What are some things that make you want to work with a band? Martin – The quality of the music. QRD – What are some things that would make you stop working with a band? Martin – The quality of the music. QRD – What is the thing all releases on your label have in common? Martin – I like them all. QRD – How involved are you with a band for acting as a producer as far as hearing demo ideas or selecting tracks to be on a release or mixing & mastering? Martin – It depends on the musicians - it varies from doing almost everything (except playing) to almost nothing. QRD – How involved do you like to be in the artwork design for a release? Martin – As much as possible. QRD – If a band breaks up between the recording of a release & the release date, how does that effect what you do? Martin – Not at all - the document still exists. QRD – What do you wish bands on your label would do? Martin – What they do. QRD – What’s a record you’d like to put out that you’ll never be able to? Martin – Too many to name. QRD – How is financing of a release split between artists & the label? Martin – The label nearly always finances. QRD – How do you split profits from a release between artists & your label? Martin – What profits? QRD – Do you have written contracts with your bands or handshake deals? Martin – No written contracts. QRD – Do you take a cut of a band’s publishing? Martin – I try not to, but am sometimes forced to by the copyright agencies. QRD – Do you handle promotions in house or hire out & why? Martin – What promotions? QRD – How do you maintain contact with your fanbase? Martin – Mainly by email newsletters & my website. QRD – Do you have intern & street team programs & if so, how do they operate? Martin – No idea what they are. QRD – How big of a staff do you have & how big of one do you need? Martin – One. QRD – What do you do to build relationships with record stores? Martin – Are there any left? QRD – What do you do to build relationships with radio stations? Martin – Send them promos. QRD – What do you do to build relationships with magazines & websites? Martin – Send them promos. QRD – What do you do to build relationships with bloggers? Martin – I don’t know any. QRD – Do you view advertisements as a way to generate interest & revenue or more as a way to financially support magazines & websites you like? Martin – I don’t advertise. QRD – What is the job of your distributors? Martin – To distribute to the few remaining outlets. QRD – How do you decide how big the initial pressing of a release should be? Martin – The minimum the pressing plant allows. QRD – What percentage of a pressing do you use for promotions? Martin – About an eighth. QRD – Do you sell merchandise other than the music (t-shirts, etc.)? Martin – No. QRD – Do you sell music that is not on your label? Martin – Occasionally. QRD – How has running a label effected your own artistic career? Martin – I never had one. QRD – Do you worry about search engine optimization & website traffic? Martin – No. QRD – What have you done to cut costs over the years? Martin – Not employed any staff. QRD – Do you think the album format is dead? Martin – I hope not. QRD – Do you think the return of vinyl & cassettes is a fad? Martin – Yes, it was such a relief to migrate from vinyl to CDs 20 years ago.  Maybe the next retro fad will be shellac & cylinders? QRD – Is it important to have physical releases over digital ones or does it not matter? Martin – So far, but that may change. QRD – What do you think of ultra-limited runs of releases (less than 100 discs)? Martin – I don’t think these have the same lasting quality as real CDs. QRD – What do you think of “print on demand” discs? Martin – I don’t think these have the same lasting quality as real CDs. QRD – How much content do you feel should be available free to fans? Martin – All of it, except that I have to pay to get it out, & have to eat, etc. QRD – What do you do about people distributing your music without financial compensation (piracy & file trading)? Martin – What can one do? QRD – What changes in things would cause you to stop your label? Martin – Senility &/or physical incapacity. QRD – What would you suggest to someone starting a label today? Martin – Think hard. QRD – Where do you think money is currently most available to labels/musicians & where in the future? Martin – Survival under capitalism. QRD – Why do you think labels are still important to artists? Martin – What else can they use? QRD – In 20 years what do you think/hope your label will be known/remembered for? Martin – Being one of the best presentations of free improvisation. QRD – Anything else? Martin – The mind boggles.