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hazard
records FAQ
What is Hazard Records?
Hazard Records is a public domain netlabel (and former CDR-label)
best defined by the motto: “Do you want to lose all the rights
to your music? Come to Hazard Records!”
What do you mean by “public domain
label”?
Once you make a record with us, it is on the public domain: you
have given it to humanity (at least theoretically). You can’t
expect, therefore, any compensation from us or from anyone else.
What do you mean by “netlabel”?
We started in 1998 as a CDR label, which means that we made and
sold CDRs. We do not burn CDRs anymore, but e provide you with
all you need to make them, including the artwork. Since you can
find these things in the internet, we are a netlabel.
Where can I find the music?
The files are on the Internet Archive [link al Archivet] (the
best site on the web) and they are linked from from the albums’
pages on our site. You can access the albums either through the
“catalogue” page, or through the “artists” page.
Are 128 kbps MP3s enough?
Not really. In our CDR period the records were duplicated from
CD-quality 44.1 kHz, 16 bit files. When we starting uploading
files to the Internet Archive we compressed them to 128 kbps (bandwith
was a problem these days). We are uploading 192 kbps now, and
we’ll probably use larger and better formats next year. Needless
to say, we keep CD-quality safety copies of all the recordings
and we are glad to make them available to those who need/want
the uncompressed files.
Can I sample from your records?
Of course, we will not complain, but as our founding
manifesto[link al manifest] said, “we will not be concerned with
the hypothetical legal source of the content of our records and
we will not question in any case its future use in other
contexts. However we warn that for the same reason for which we
will not be concerned with the legal source of our records, we
won't respond to third parties that believe in having rights
over the ideas contained in them nor to judicial decisions over
same”. Beware of the people who believe in copyright!
Who can be on Hazard Records?
Anyone who is against concepts like authorship and copyright (or
even property, for that matter) or anyone who simply does not
care very much about these concepts can make a record with
Hazard Records.
Why should I want to be on Hazard
Records?
Are YOU asking us??
What do I do to be on Hazard Records?
You could just release your CDR by your own means and put Hazard
Records on it. We would not complain, of course. We do not claim
any rights on the label name, either. (Beware, there are at
least two or three other labels with similar or identical names
that might claim ownership on the “Hazard Records” name. Absurd
but true).
If you prefer to be on the Hazard Records label in a more
traditional way, be on the webpage, &c…, send your records (don’t
email MP3s!!!) and we’ll talk about it. Be aware that you will
still have to release your CDRs by your own means, we will make
no promotion, and you will not be able to complain.
What do YOU do then?
We do things like keeping this webpage, writing FAQs like the
one you are reading (& some articles too), uploading the mp3s to
the Internet Archive… We also assign the Hazard Records
catalogue number and sometimes even release a sampler CD. And of
course we keep the right to decide if a record should be on our
catalogue (it’s not that we feel we are better or wiser than you,
it’s just that we started this thing).
If I send you my music will you email
me and tell me what you think of it?
No. Unless we want you on the label, of course. And even then we
will not tell you what we think of your music. It’s none of your
business.
What do you do with all the records you
receive and do not include in the catalogue?
We feel free to sample from them. After all, you sent then to
Hazard Records, didn’t you? You are supposed to want them in the
public domain, so we will treat you as if they were in it.
What if the records you receive have a
copyright notice?
They go directly into the dustbin. Life is too short to listen
to them.
Is there something else I should know
about Hazard Records?
Sure, there is a lot more to it.
In 1998 we believed that records were too expensive, so we tried
to keep our prices low. We sold the CDRs at 6 €/$ (there are
some exceptions, though) plus shipping expenses. Now we give
them for free on the internet. As you can see, we do not want to
run the risk of making money with this. That’s why it’s going to
last.
Another thing we can mention is that, though we are not opposed
to any music style (and of course we hate labels, stupid,
artificial distinctions between genres), the records we have
released so far are mostly related (but not limited) to “free
improvisation”, “appropiation”, “noise and experimental
electronica”, “minimalism”, “sonic art and landscapes”… (enough?)
And, yes, we are based in Barcelona, Spain, in case it makes any
difference.
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