Chicago record labels explained

This is a list of record labels based in Chicago.

NameFounderFoundedLinkAddressGenresArtists
Alligator RecordsBruce Iglauer1971linkP.O. Box 60234, Chicago, IL 60640Blues, roots, folkKoko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Luther Allison, Albert Collins, Hound Dog Taylor, Johnny Winter, Shemekia Copeland, Marcia Ball
Black Patti RecordsJ. Mayo Williams1927African American jazz, blues, sermons, spirituals, and skits
Bloodshot RecordsNan Warshaw & Rob Miller1994link3039 W. Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60618Indie rock with roots inflectionsLydia Loveless, Justin Townes Earle, Wayne Hancock, Scott H. Biram, Bottle Rockets, Deadstring Brothers, Ha Ha Tonka, Jon Langford, Dex Romweber Duo, Andre Williams, Cory Branan, Barrence Whitfield & The Savages, Robbie Fulks, Bobby Bare Jr., Luke Winslow King, Murder By Death, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, Waco Brothers
Cedille RecordsJames Ginsburg1989link5355 N. Lakewood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640Classical
Chess RecordsLeonard & Phil Chess19502120 S. Michigan Avenue, 320 E. 21st St., Chicago, ILBlues, jazz, doo-wop, gospel, soul, rock and roll, comedySee List of Chess Records artists
Delmark Records1958link4121 North Rockwell St., Chicago, ILBlues, jazz, doo-wop, gospel
Drag CityDan Koretzky & Dan Osborn1989link2000 West Carroll Ave #201, Chicago, IL 60612Experimental, folkJoanna Newsom, Pavement, Will Oldham (Bonnie 'Prince' Billy), Papa M, Jim O'Rourke, Silver Jews, Smog, Royal Trux, Chestnut Station, Mantis, Palace, Plush, Edith Frost, Azita
Earwig Music CompanyMichael Frank1978link2054 W. Farwell Ave., Garden Unit, Chicago, IL 60645Blues, roots, storytelling, jazzDavid Honeyboy Edwards, The Jelly Roll Kings, Big Jack Johnson, Louisiana Red, Sunnyland Slim, Jimmy Dawkins, Frank Frost, Homesick James, John Primer
Grrr RecordsGlenn Kaiser & Tom Cameron1987link939 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago, IL, 60640Christian rock, punk, bluesGlenn Kaiser, Rez Band, Darrell Mansfield, The Crossing
HOMHOMHOMMaxwell Citron2012link5959A N. Elston Ave., Chicago, IL 60646Experimental, rock, popBlue Cloud, Hannah Mayree, Aleph Eris, New Crimes, Lords of Beacon House
Hozac Records and BooksTodd Novak2006linkPunk, Fuzz, Psychedelic, Rock
Johann's Face RecordsMarc Ruvolo & Gar BrandtlinkP.O. Box 479164, Chicago, IL, 60647Melodic punk and pop
Lengua Armada DiscosMartin SorrondeguyPilsenHardcoreLos Crudos, Limp Wrist, Charles Bronson, Severed Head of State, MK-Ultra
Minty FreshlinkP.O. Box 577400, Chicago, IL 60657Upbeat and poppyKahimi Karie
Mutant League RecordsNate Steinheimer2012linkP.O. Box 7263 PMB 21300, Chicago, IL 60699Punk, hardcore, indie
The Numero GroupRob Sevier & Ken Shipley2003link2533 S. Troy St. Chicago, IL 60623Reissues, Catalog, Boxsets, Soul, Funk, R&B, Gospel, Blues, Indie, Punk, Hardcore, Latin, Folk, New Age, Ambient, Instrumental, Singer-Songwriter, Lounge, Exotica, Girl Group, Pop, Garage, Power Pop
Red Scare IndustriesTobias Jeg & Brendan KellylinkP.O Box 13285, Chicago, IL 60613Punk
Thick RecordslinkPunk
Thrill Jockey RecordsBettina Richards1992linkP.O. Box 08038, Chicago, IL 60608Indie, post-rockTortoise, The Sea and Cake, Tom Verlaine, Califone, Fiery Furnaces, Archer Prewitt, Eleventh Dream Day
Touch & GoFounded by Tesco Vee & Dave Stimson; Owned by Corey Rusk1981linkPO Box 25520, Chicago, IL 60625Punk, hardcore, indieTed Leo + Pharmacists, TV On The Radio, Big Black, Don Caballero, Rollins Band, The Jesus Lizard, Slint, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, !!!, Shellac, Pinback, Blonde Redhead|-|style="background: #ececec;"|Trax Records||Founded by Larry Sherman & Screamin' Rachael Cain; owned by Vince Lawrence||1983||link||Chicago, IL 60625||House||Adonis, Marshall Jefferson, Mr. Lee, Mr. Fingers, Farley "Jackmaster" Funk, Phuture, Frankie Knuckles, Lidell Townsell, Jamie Principle|-|style="background: #ececec;"|Underground Communique Records||Justin Schwier||2004||link||2441 W. Gunnison St. #2, Chicago, IL 60625||Punk, hardcore, indie||Shot Baker, Big D and the Kids Table, The Copyrights, Hellmouth, The Heat Tape, The Methadones, Reel Big Fish, Mustard Plug|-|style="background: #ececec;"|USA Records||Founded by Jim Golden, owned by Paul Glass||1960||http://www.globaldogproductions.info/u/usa.html http://bsnpubs.com/chicago/usa/usa.html https://www.discogs.com/label/87642-USA-Records-2||1448 South Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60605||Blues, pop, R&B, garage band, Sound of Chicago horns and voice, rock, polka, comedy||Deltones, Rivieras, Willie Mabon, Junior Wells, Koko Taylor, J.B. Lenoir, Bobby Whiteside, Buckinghams|-|style="background: #ececec;"|Vee-Jay Records||Vivian Carter & James C. Bracken||1953||||Chicago, IL||R&B, Soul||John Lee Hooker, Memphis Slim, Jimmy Reed|-|style="background: #ececec;"|Wax Trax! Records||Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher||1980||link||Chicago, IL||Industrial, punk, hardcore, indie||KMFDM, Ministry, Front Line Assembly, Front 242, Minimal Compact, Braindead Soundmachine, Revolting Cocks, Pailhead, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult|-|style="background: #ececec;"|WTII Records||Bart Pfanenstiel and David Schock||2001||link||Chicago, IL||EBM, synthpop, industrial, electronic||Acumen Nation, Beborn Beton, Blume, In Strict Confidence, Klutæ, Melotron, Sister Machine Gun|}

References