| East Side Digital | |
| Parent: | NorthSide |
| Founder: | Rob Simonds |
| Distributor: | Alternative Distribution Alliance |
| Genre: | Rock Experimental Alternative country |
| Country: | U.S. |
| Location: | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
East Side Digital is a record label and distributor based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
ESD was started and curated by Rob Simonds (who also created Rykodisc[1]) in 1981 to import and distribute vinyl records on Japanese labels to record stores and other retailers.[2]
In 1982, ESD became one of the first U.S. distributors of compact discs, soon releasing records by rock and experimental performers on the ESD label.[3]
Subsequently, Ryko Distribution Partners took over ESD's distribution duties, allowing ESD to primarily be a record label.[4]
ESD is now a sub-label of NorthSide Records, a label Simonds created that specializes in Nordic roots music.
Due to the advent of streaming and downloads of digital music, ESD has reduced operations to only offering music by local band Halloween, Alaska.
This section contains a partial list of artists who released records on the ESD label.