Loma Vista Recordings is an American independent label founded in 2012 by Tom Whalley in Los Angeles, in partnership with Republic Records (Universal Music Group). It is home to St. Vincent, Miguel, Rhye, and Show Me the Body, and has released catalog from Soundgarden and Sylvia Robinson. The label operates as a joint venture with Republic Records and uses UMG's global distribution. Show Me the Body have expanded their international music community into an independent label, recording studio, and community organizing platform, including their In Broad Daylight festivals in New York and Los Angeles.
Loma Vista was founded by Tom Whalley, who previously served as chairman of Warner Bros. Records and president of Capitol Records. The label's name means "hill view" in Spanish. Its roster reflects Whalley's taste for artist-driven alternative, indie, R&B, and hardcore. The label's signings of St. Vincent (whose albums have won GRAMMYs) and Show Me the Body (whose hardcore community organizing extends beyond music) show a commitment to artists with distinct identities and cultural impact.
How Loma Vista Operates
Loma Vista runs dedicated A&R under founder Tom Whalley from its Los Angeles headquarters. It operates as a joint venture with Republic Records, combining independent curation with UMG's global distribution and marketing. The label's strength is Whalley's industry experience and his ability to sign artists with distinct artistic identities. Show Me the Body's expansion into their own label, recording studio, and community organizing platform (including In Broad Daylight festivals) shows the label supports artists who build beyond music.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
If you make alternative, indie rock, R&B, or hardcore with a distinct artistic identity, Loma Vista is a respected independent label with major-label distribution. Its track record with St. Vincent and Show Me the Body shows it can develop artists who win GRAMMYs and build cultural movements. The Republic Records partnership gives it UMG's global reach while preserving independent curation.
Drawbacks and Things to Consider
- Master ownership: Loma Vista (via Republic and UMG) owns your masters under a standard deal.
- Highly selective: Loma Vista signs very few artists each year.
- No unsolicited demos: Loma Vista does not accept cold submissions.
- Joint venture structure: The Republic Records partnership means deal structures involve both labels.
Notable Artists and Releases
Loma Vista has released albums that have won Grammys and charted in the top 10 on the Billboard 200. Below are 10 notable releases with chart data.
St. Vincent - "Masseduction" (Loma Vista, 2017)
St. Vincent's fifth album, released October 13, 2017 on Loma Vista Recordings. It debuted at #10 on the US Billboard 200 with 29,000 first-week units. It peaked at #6 on the UK Albums Chart. The album won Best Rock Song for its title track and Best Recording Package at the 2019 Grammy Awards. It was also nominated for Best Alternative Music Album. Produced by Jack Antonoff and St. Vincent.
St. Vincent - "St. Vincent" (Loma Vista/Republic, 2014)
St. Vincent's fourth album, released February 25, 2014 on Loma Vista and Republic Records. It peaked at #12 on the US Billboard 200 and #21 on the UK Albums Chart. It sold nearly 30,000 copies in its first week. The album won Best Alternative Music Album at the 2015 Grammy Awards. St. Vincent became the second female solo artist to win that category since Sinead O'Connor in 1991.
Ghost - "Impera" (Loma Vista, 2022)
Ghost's fifth album, released March 11, 2022 on Loma Vista. It debuted at #2 on the US Billboard 200 with 62,500 copies sold in its first week. It also peaked at #2 on the UK Albums Chart. The album reached #1 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums, Top Hard Rock Albums, Top Album Sales, and Independent Albums charts. It was Ghost's highest-charting album to date.
Ghost - "Prequelle" (Loma Vista, 2018)
Ghost's fourth album, released June 1, 2018 on Loma Vista. It debuted at #3 on the US Billboard 200. It reached #1 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums charts. The album's first-week sales of 61,500 copies were the band's best sales week at the time.
Ghost - "Meliora" (Loma Vista, 2015)
Ghost's third album, released August 21, 2015 on Loma Vista. It peaked at #8 on the US Billboard 200. The single "Cirice" won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 2016 Grammy Awards. The album reached #1 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart.
Killer Mike - "Michael" (VLNS/Loma Vista, 2023)
Killer Mike's sixth studio album, released June 16, 2023 on VLNS and Loma Vista. It peaked at #58 on the US Billboard 200 and #12 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album won Best Rap Album at the 2024 Grammy Awards. The single "Scientists & Engineers" (featuring Andre 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen Kane) won Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance at the same ceremony. It was Killer Mike's first solo album in over 10 years.
Korn - "Requiem" (Loma Vista, 2022)
Korn's fourteenth studio album, released February 4, 2022 on Loma Vista. It debuted at #14 on the US Billboard 200 with 23,500 album-equivalent units. It reached #1 on Billboard's Top Hard Rock Albums chart and #2 on Top Rock Albums. The album peaked at #1 in Australia and #8 on the UK Albums Chart. It was Korn's first release on Loma Vista after moving from Roadrunner Records.
Sylvan Esso - "What Now" (Loma Vista, 2017)
Sylvan Esso's second album, released April 28, 2017 on Loma Vista. It was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2018 Grammy Awards. The single "Die Young" has over 4.9 million views on YouTube.
Show Me the Body - "Dog Whistle" (Loma Vista, 2019)
Show Me the Body's second album, released March 29, 2019 on Loma Vista. The New York hardcore band expanded their community organizing platform alongside the album, including their In Broad Daylight festivals. The single "Camp Orchestra" has over 481,000 views on YouTube.
Marilyn Manson - "We Are Chaos" (Loma Vista, 2020)
Marilyn Manson's eleventh studio album, released September 11, 2020 on Loma Vista. It was his second album with the label after "The Pale Emperor" (2015). The album marked a continuation of Manson's partnership with producer Shooter Jennings.
Deal Structures
Loma Vista operates as a joint venture with Republic Records (Universal Music Group). The label is now part of Concord. Deal structures include:
- Standard recording deals: The label funds recording, marketing, and distribution. Loma Vista (via Republic and UMG) owns the master recordings under standard deals.
- Joint venture structure: Deals involve both Loma Vista and Republic Records. Republic provides UMG's global distribution and marketing infrastructure. Loma Vista handles A&R and artist development.
- Licensing deals: Some catalog releases are licensed to the label. Soundgarden and Sylvia Robinson catalogs are managed through Loma Vista.
- Distribution through UMG: All releases use Universal Music Group's global distribution network. This gives artists access to worldwide physical and digital distribution.
- Selective advances: Loma Vista competes with major labels for signings. Advances are competitive but the label signs very few artists each year.
How Artists Get Signed
Loma Vista runs its own A&R under founder Tom Whalley. The signing process works as follows:
- Tom Whalley's personal curation: Whalley personally oversees A&R decisions. His experience as former chairman of Warner Bros. Records and president of Capitol Records gives him direct access to top-tier artists. Ghost, St. Vincent, and Killer Mike were all signed under Whalley's direction.
- Industry referrals: Managers and attorneys with relationships at Loma Vista or Republic Records can introduce artists. Whalley's decades of industry connections are the primary pipeline for signings.
- Existing traction required: Loma Vista signs artists with established audiences. St. Vincent had already released four albums before signing. Ghost had charted in the top 30 before joining Loma Vista. Korn had decades of career success before their move to the label.
- No unsolicited demos: Loma Vista does not accept cold submissions. Artists must be introduced through representation.
- Genre range: The label signs across genres. Its roster includes metal (Ghost, Korn), alternative (St. Vincent, Sylvan Esso), hardcore (Show Me the Body), hip-hop (Killer Mike), and R&B. Whalley's taste drives the selection, not genre boundaries.
Similar Labels
- Concord - Loma Vista's parent company
- Republic Records - Loma Vista's joint venture and distribution partner
- Epitaph Records - Similar independent label with major distribution
- Rise Records - Similar independent rock and metal label
- Sumerian Records - Similar independent metal and rock label
- Metal Blade Records - Similar independent metal label
Related Resources
- Record Label Contracts Explained - What a Loma Vista deal contains
- Independent Labels vs Major Labels - The joint venture model
- How to Get a Record Deal in 2026 - Building an artistic profile
- Republic Records - Loma Vista's distribution partner
- Loma Vista Recordings Official Site - Roster and releases
