Winnipeg Musicians Co-Op

As the title of this post suggests, we here in Savant land have decided to unite our fellow fuck-ups in a consorted effort to push 'real' punk rock across this country in the least coercive way imaginable. So here we are, the Winnipeg Musicians/Band Co-Op. An egalitarian "record label" (and i use the term loosely)designed to promote and distribute music and the most grass roots level. Now you may be asking yourself how this all works, so here it is.

Musicians who wish to join the program do not surrender the rights of their music to anyone. Rather, bands are put in touch with other bands and collaborate on a series of splits and compilations. Costs and responsibilities for each program are determined by the level of involvement that the musicians choose to engage in. Costs are shared between the collaborating parties, and the music is distributed by everyone involved in said project. Once an agreement is made between the parties, the music will go to pressing and copies distributed evenly. At this point, the physical product may be distributed any way the musicians see fit. Once the pressing is complete a digital copy of the split must be submitted to the WMC chairpersons, who will add the project to our online community. Any monies made through online sales will be split evenly between the collaborative members of the project.

In this way, no band is being used for private capital gain. All members involved in the WMC have there music readily available for the wider community, while the bands involved in individual projects, have the opportunity to reach a larger audience, through the combined efforts of each band. These efforts include touring, further distribution by smaller labels involved in the project, selling records at show etc. Bands involved in the WMC may also submit their full lengths if they so choose, but are under no pressure to do so. Bands also have the opportunity to buy product internally from one another, AT COST, so that they may help promote other WMC members.

Bands involved in the WMC that are not from Winnipeg can also enjoy the benefits of have an organization that will both promote and set up shows for you here. The WMC will provide you with a place to play, food to eat, and a place to stay. Non-Winnipeg based members are encouraged to set up there own chapters to help support the collective effort.

The chair people of the WMC will facilitate all projects and pressings. Essentially,
once your project is complete, all you need to do is submit your product and financial contribution to the WMC and we will take care of the rest, at NO CHARGE. In some cases the WMC will also contribute financially to the project to help keep costs down. As the chair-people we will only take an amount of product equal to the cost of our contribution,so we will never take more than we need. Any copies the WMC does take will be put into distribution through any of the bands based in Winnipeg, focusing primarily on the touring bands affiliated with us.

anyone interested in further information, or joining our little co-op can reach us here at thesavants@gmail.com

Together, we can make punk rock a living breathing thing again. We can make it a true community again, and put the love back into it.