K-Core Not Folded, Label Heads Suing
by Lesley Barger | 00.00.0000

In retaliation against what seems to be an indie-rock coup, the original founders of Kindercore Records--the label previously reported by Filter to be defunct--filed suit today against their “strategic” business partner, The Telegraph Company (officially known as International Development of Entertainment Alliances, or I.D.E.A.), for breach of contract, slander, libel, and a slew of other infractions. As it turns out, Kindercore’s alleged folding is not a folding at all, but a questionable and undesirable change of hands. Or, perhaps more rightly, of pocketbooks.

Daniel Geller and Ryan Lewis, the label heads of Kindercore, formed (what they believed would be) a beneficial partnership with Telegraph in 2001. They expected to continue guiding the artistic direction of Kindercore while furthering their own musical projects as members I Am The World Trade Center and the Agenda, respectively.

However, according to a release from Kindercore, the relationship with Telegraph quickly dissolved. The result: less and less creative control for Geller and Lewis--including the signing of acts, which were either passed on or never heard by the founders--and the dropping of their own bands from the label. Oddly enough, I Am The World Trade Center has been one of Kindercore’s most successful bands, which seriously calls into question I.D.E.A.’s motives in sending their business partner’s project packing.

The relationship continued to break down, culminating in the Nov. 12 announcement that Kindercore Records would no longer be in business, followed by the revelation that it would, instead, remain open under new management.

“We were as surprised as anyone… to learn that Kindercore would be closing,” stated Geller in the release. ”We were also surprised on Nov. 14 to find out the label was not closed and would now be run by Stan Hartman [CEO of I.D.E.A.] who had previously stated to us that he wanted nothing to do with the label.”

The duo expressed heartfelt concern for the artists still associated with Kindercore, and qualified their filing suit by insisting that taking this conflict to court was a last, but necessary, resort.

"Bringing this legal action was the last thing we wanted to do," Lewis said, "but we felt it was the only thing we could do to help the friends and artists who had faith in us when we entered into this arrangement with Telegraph."

The plaintiffs are being represented by Quinn Heraty of the Heraty Hall law firm, and a legal fund has been established to allow friends to help with the high cost of pursuing legal action.

In today’s corporate-dominated music world, it is getting more and more difficult for independent labels to survive without some assistance. In earlier days, the scene was of little financial interest to corporate America. But modern "indie" acts like the White Stripes and others have revealed that the little guy is now a viable commercial commodity able to pull in huge profits.

Larger companies have been scooping more and more indie labels under their wing and, no matter how well-meaning, this assistance can come at a price. Bigger companies often favor financial gain over artistic achievement, and this philosophy, however business savvy, just doesn’t mix well with that of the indie world. So be wary, ye independent labels, lest ye face a fate like that of the unfortunate Kindercore.

And so, in authentic DIY spirit, we say, "Damn the man!"