ANTI- Records

Name: Tools 4 Music
Address: US
Price range: Free

United States • Los AngelesFounded 1999

ANTI- Records is an American independent label founded in 1999 as a sublabel of Epitaph Records by Brett Gurewitz in Los Angeles. It focuses on alternative, roots, and singer-songwriter music, and is home to Tom Waits, Neko Case, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Mavis Staples, and Solomon Burke (catalog). ANTI- operates within the Epitaph ecosystem and is distributed by Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA).

Contact & HQ

Headquarters

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Ownership & Distribution

Label Type

Independent Label

Parent Company

Epitaph Records

Distribution

Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA / Warner Music Group)

Additional Details

Genres

AlternativeRoots MusicSinger-SongwriterSoulExperimental

Signing Process

ANTI- runs its own A&R within the Epitaph ecosystem. Unsolicited demos are not accepted. The label is highly selective and signs alternative, roots, and singer-songwriter artists with distinct artistic identities. ANTI- was created to sign artists who did not fit the punk focus of the parent Epitaph label.

Demo Policy

No unsolicited demos. Submit through representation or build a strong artistic profile first.

Notable Artists

Tom Waits
Neko Case
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Mavis Staples
Solomon Burke (catalog)
Merle Haggard (catalog)

ANTI- Records is an American independent label founded in 1999 as a sublabel of Epitaph Records by Brett Gurewitz in Los Angeles. It focuses on alternative, roots, and singer-songwriter music. ANTI- is home to Tom Waits, Neko Case, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Mavis Staples, Solomon Burke (catalog), and Merle Haggard (catalog). The label operates within the Epitaph ecosystem and is distributed by Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA, part of Warner Music Group).

ANTI- was created to sign artists who did not fit the punk focus of the parent Epitaph label. Its founding signings (Tom Waits, Merle Haggard, Solomon Burke) established ANTI- as a home for established artists seeking an independent home with artistic freedom. The label's roster has since expanded to include Neko Case, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and Mavis Staples, representing a continued commitment to alternative, roots, and soul music with artistic credibility. ANTI-'s model favors artists with distinct artistic identities and long-term career potential.

How ANTI- Operates

ANTI- runs dedicated A&R within the Epitaph ecosystem from its Los Angeles headquarters. It is distributed by ADA (Warner Music Group), giving it major-distribution reach while operating as an independent label. The label's strength is its roster of artistically credible acts (Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Mavis Staples) and its commitment to artistic freedom. Its A&R favors established artists and distinctive new voices in alternative, roots, and singer-songwriter music.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you make alternative, roots, or singer-songwriter music with artistic credibility, ANTI- is one of the most respected independent labels in that space. Its roster of artistically credible acts (Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Mavis Staples) gives it unmatched credibility in alternative and roots music. Its commitment to artistic freedom makes it attractive for artists who want creative control.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

Highly selective: ANTI- signs very few artists each year.
No unsolicited demos: ANTI- does not accept cold submissions.
Artistic credibility bar: The label's roster of established artists (Tom Waits, Nick Cave) sets a high bar for new signings.
Epitaph ecosystem: ANTI- operates within the Epitaph ecosystem, which affects deal structures.