(02.20.06) Based on the statement posted on the Merck Records website a few months ago (read it here), several questions have poured in about the reasoning behind Merck’s closure.
This is the first public statement from Merck:
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Pietro Da Sacco :: Merck Records. Going strong for so long, producing top-notch electronics and everything tucked in between –why the closure to the label? Will Narita close also?
Gabe Koch :: Well, there are literally dozens of reasons for the closure of Merck, some business and some personal, in the interest of not leaving any bad blood, as well as not discussing my personal issues, I don’t really want too get to specific. I just feel that this is the right time for me as a person, and for the label as a music industry entity, to move on to something else. Music is changing a lot, it’s definitely becoming an even more difficult industry to stay on top of, and I foresee a lot of things even more monumental changing within the next few years. As far as Narita, I will be running it full time until the end of Merck, and then I will be handing over the control of the label to Adam Johnson to continue it as he sees fit. He’s been into techno for over a decade, DJ’ing early raves in Minneapolis. He obviously also made the premier release on Narita, that was licensed by a lot of the biggest names in techno, and got us a lot of attention.
PDS :: There are 1000’s of people very disappointed with the news of Merck’s closing. Will there be some other kind of reincarnation in another medium, or should everyone snap up the remaining titles and hold them tightly?
GK :: As of now there are no plans to resurrect Merck in any way, we will continue to sell releases digitally after we stop new releases, as well as we will sell of the rest of the physical copies that have been made during the life of Merck. But after that there are no plans to repress anymore, so there should definitely be some motivation right now for fans to grab up any releases that you have been meaning to, because they will become rarer from this point on. As far as another medium, there is of course the possibility of some very limited releases coming out in some obscure fashion, but it wont be anything on the scale of Merck, or directly associated with Merck. But there is nothing planned as of now.
PDS :: Merck’s been one of those labels with a consistent release schedule; with 2006 being the ‘grand finale’ of electronified hip-hop, where else should people turn for like-minded music? What other labels (and/or artists) have you been watching closely (other than Merck artists)?
GK :: Hmmmm…..well one of the personal reasons I’m quitting is that due to the full time nature of running a label, I really haven’t been able to have the personal time to check out a lot of music outside of the Merck realm (which is something I really enjoy doing). Thus my list of other good stuff is rather limited at the moment. I have been into a real variety of stuff over the last two years, a lot of it not necessarily created during that time period either. Just to name a few artists: Joanna Newsom, Mathew Jonson, Lusine always delivers, also heard Geoff White play a great set as Aeroc recently in Seattle, both of them should have some more good stuff coming soon on Ghostly. Also really love stuff by Tinkertoy and Beef Terminal, who are on Noise Factory records out of Toronto.
PDS :: Final statements, shout-outs, comments about the scene. Things you’ve learned along the way. Notes to fans, listeners, supporters, labels, DJ’s and artists who followed the label closely?
GK :: Just wanted to say thanks to all the fans, everyone who’s buying CD’s and records, and everyone coming out to shows, and everyone who is telling their friends about the label, and the artists and the music. You guys are the ones keeping this music alive, so stay strong and keep supporting and keep enjoying. Especially thanks to Pietro for doing this and Igloomag, you’ve been supporting the scene for longer than most of us remember.
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For more info about Merck Records, visit their website here.
