Independent music company Exceleration Music has acquired the catalog of US independent label Kill Rock Stars, and has also formed a new partnership with founder Slim Moon to “amplify” the label’s new release program.
Under the deal, Moon will continue to handle A&R and will be actively signing and developing new artists.
Exceleration and Moon will also collaborate on marketing initiatives which it says are “designed to ensure Kill Rock Stars’ culturally significant musical legacy is celebrated and kept active in the fast-changing market”.
Founded in Olympia, Washington in 1991 to release spoken word and music by Moon’s friends in the Pacific Northwest underground music scene, Kill Rock Stars initially focused on female artists such as Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, and Heavens to Betsy.
Exceleration Music is the music venture founded by indie sector executives Glen Barros, John Burk, Charles Caldas, Amy Dietz, and Dave Hansen in January.
The deal is the latest in a series of investments and partnerships from Exceleration, whose roster includes the strategic venture with Los Angeles label SideOneDummy announced earlier this year, as well as the acquisition of indie label Bloodshot Records, and an alliance with the Justin Townes Earle estate announced in 2021.
Exceleration also owns jazz label Candid Records, and has partnered with Alligator Records and the renowned Ray Charles Foundation.
Between 2006 and 2019 Kill Rock Stars was successfully run by Moon’s wife Dr. Portia Sabin, now President of the Music Business Association, who broadened the roster to include recordings of stand-up comedians such as Cameron Esposito, W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu, while also signing artists including Horse Feathers, the Thermals, and Thao & the Get Down Stay Down.
In 2019 the label moved to Nashville and Moon took the reins again, signing artists including Big Joanie, Habibi, Logan Lynn, Bitch, MAITA, TEKE::TEKE, and zannie.
“I am grateful and excited that this opportunity came along. Exceleration’s team and vision is a perfect match for Kill Rock Stars.”
Slim Moon, Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars founder Slim Moon, said: “I am grateful and excited that this opportunity came along. Exceleration’s team and vision is a perfect match for Kill Rock Stars.
“We’ll be able to do even more to support our artists while staying true to the core values KRS was founded on. This is a great situation for our current and future artists, as well as for the KRS catalog.”
“I’m thrilled that Exceleration exists and provides an option for labels who want to stay independent at this time when there’s so much change in our industry.”
Dr. Portia Sabin
Dr. Portia Sabin added: “I’ve known Glen, Amy, Dave, and Charles for years and I trust them to have the skills and knowledge as well as the best interests of our label and the independent marketplace at heart.
“I’m thrilled that Exceleration exists and provides an option for labels who want to stay independent at this time when there’s so much change in our industry.”
“Kill Rock Stars is one of the quintessential indie labels.”
Glen Barros
Glen Barros said: “Kill Rock Stars is one of the quintessential indie labels. Slim and Portia have followed their hearts – and ears! – in building a wonderfully diverse imprint that defies definition but still manages to convey a crystal-clear identity.
“And they’ve built it with complete integrity. We are incredibly grateful that Kill Rock Stars will be joining us here at Exceleration and can’t wait to see what Slim has in store for the future. We look forward to working with him in building the next phase of this fantastic label.”
“The riot grrrl movement and Elliot Smith’s music have played an integral and inspiring role in my life.”
Exceleration partner Amy Dietz, said: “The riot grrrl movement and Elliot Smith’s music have played an integral and inspiring role in my life.
“Those artists, and what they stood for, led me to discover many more extraordinary, genre defining and defying artists on the Kill Rock Stars label.
“The deeper I dug, the more I came to appreciate what an extraordinary community that Kill Rock Stars built, and continue to build around their singular vision and values.
Added Dietz: “I admire that they have been fierce advocates for the independent community as a whole, putting people first and always remaining artist friendly, which aligns very much with our core values at Exceleration.
“Their enthusiasm, passion and creativity are unparalleled, and infectious, and we couldn’t be more excited to have the opportunity to work with this amazing catalog and to collaborate with Slim, Portia and the whole KRS team in this next chapter. The future is very bright!”Music Business Worldwide
