East Side Digital | |
---|---|
Parent company | NorthSide |
Founded | 1981 |
Founder | Rob Simonds |
Distributor(s) | Alternative Distribution Alliance |
Genre |
Rock Experimental Alternative country |
Country of origin | U.S. |
Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
East Side Digital is a record label and distributor based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
ESD was started and curated by Rob Simonds (who also created Rykodisc [1]) in 1981 to import and distribute vinyl records on Japanese labels to record stores and other retailers. [2]
In 1982, ESD became one of the first U.S. distributors of compact discs, soon releasing records by rock and experimental performers on the ESD label. [3]
Subsequently, Ryko Distribution Partners took over ESD's distribution duties, allowing ESD to primarily be a record label. [4]
ESD is now a sub-label of NorthSide Records, a label Simonds created that specializes in Nordic roots music. [1]
Due to the advent of streaming and downloads of digital music, ESD has reduced operations to only offering music by local band Halloween, Alaska. [3]
This section contains a partial list of artists who released records on the ESD label.