Artists Recording Collective Continues to Grow

If you want to get Chris Burnett excited, just bring
up the Artists Recording Collective.
Over the past year, ARC has become a nationally
recognized label. Not only are several local artists
represented here – Will Matthews, Olathe native and
current Honolulu resident Richie Pratt, Toni Gates,
Stan Kessler, and the Sons of Brasil – but there are
also CDs from co-founders Sumi Tonooka and Erica
Lindsay, as well as Gene Perla, Lee Shaw, and Jeff Siegel.
Jim Mair’s upcoming release will be here, too.
“We’d like to grow to about twenty five artists,
that’s the goal now,” says Burnett.
While ARC is a recognizable label with a great
logo and Web site, it’s probably not like what one usually
thinks of as a record label. They work with artists
who are self-producers and facilitate promotion and
distribution through their Web site and electronic communication.
It’s more of an identity than a traditional
label like Blue Note. Click on the Sons of Brasil CD
on the www.artistsrecordingcollective.info/ site and
it’ll link to Stan’s site where you can purchase the CD.
Sumi Tanooka’s link is to CDBaby.com. You will also
find links to artist bios, performance schedules, and
reviews.
You see, ARC doesn’t get in the money side of
things. They don’t sell, they provide identity, promotion,
and services artists need to get their product to
market. It is a platform to allow artists to reach an
audience. “It takes away a piece of anxiety for the artists.
We are artist run. We don’t get involved in their
money.” As they say, there’s no hassle- “no drama, no
egos, no bad trips” is how they characterize it on their
site.
“Most of our artists are mature artists,” Chris says.
“They are also composers, clinicians, and teachers.
They are concert and festival artists, mainly. As such,
they aren’t as visible as club players, and need a higher
profile as a result. ARC empowers them to do that.
The big thing now is to give artists the opportunity to
be heard.”
Erica Lindsay finds ARC to be very freeing. “It’s
hard to get record companies to put out original material,”
she says. “ARC is a collective – by the artists –
just what the label says. It gives us total control. And
grouping together gives us more promotional power.”
Erica met Chris over twenty years ago, when she was
playing in a club and Chris was in the Army. He ran
across her name many years later, made contact, and
they became great friends.
Pianist and composer Sumi Tonooka, who met
Chris through Erica, agrees. “The recording industry
is in a state of flux, mainly due to the changes in technology
and the internet. When I wanted to release my
new CD, I had a lot of questions. Do I try to find a
company to release it? Or should I do it myself? ARC
is the right balance. I get some promotional support.
I can self produce and have label identity. I don’t feel
alone in the process. There are many musicians like
Erica and myself who need this support, and banding
together is helpful.” Sumi’s new release, Long Ago Today,
is the first release on the ARC label.
ARC will shortly move into their second phase. “In
February we will become an LLC. We’ve been working
with a local attorney who has been very helpful in teaching
us about the business. He has made suggestions for
research. It’s been a great learning experience.”
What then? Chris says expansion is possible. “After
we reach twenty five artists, maybe the next goal will
be fifty!”
—Roger Atkinson