Where do I send my demos/singles/CD’s etc. ? Preferably to another label with a smaller roster and/or more time to process such items. We are sorry to say that we no longer accept unsolicited demo submissions. We understand that this sounds terribly pretentious and though at least one of us is terribly pretentious, we are just trying to be fair. We don't have enough time or hands to properly process all of the packages we receive. Rather than let a serious fire hazard develop in our cramped offices (and rather than waste your time and energy), we strongly discourage you from sending us your demo/single/cd etc. unless we have sought you out and requested one. Thank you. How about if I send you links to my MP3’s or web pages? Do you look at those any faster than you open packages? Please, don't do this. We appreciate that many talented artists are trying to be heard, but sending us email about your MP3 files is not the way to do it. When people get pushy with us, we tend to ignore them. If this means we run the risk of missing out on some tremendous new sounds, so be it. You've probably missed out on something really great once or twice before in your life, but you haven't let that drive you insane. Please allow us that luxury, too! How do I get promotional copies of new releases for my fanzine/magazine/school paper/scary on-line thing? If you're in the US, send writing samples to the attention of Catherine Herrick, Matador Records, 304 Hudson Street, New York, NY, 10013. If you're in the UK, please send writing samples to the attention of Rich Walker, Matador Records, 17-19 Alma Road, London SW18 1AA. Does Matador have an internship program? Yup. If you're in the New York area, send your resume to Heather Macintyre, Matador Records, 304 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013. Internships are for a) personal satisfaction b) experience c) whatever, make up your own reason... i.e. no money. And you must be living in the New York area. What about street teams? If would like to be part of the Matador street teams in the US, please give Claire Taylor a call at (646) 218-1123. Is Matador hiring? No. That would require someone else being fired or suffering a severe injury and we know you wouldn’t be rooting for that sort of thing. I'm having a problem with ordering something from The Matador Store. Who should I contact? Please send all customer service questions, problems or complaints to store@matadorrecords.com. I was watching “The Gossip Show” on E! Entertainment Television, and one of the reporters was mentioning something about these new hair accessories — I think she called them Fairy Dust. They are little singular rhinestones which attach in your hair with velcro somehow!! She said they come in a package of 8. She said something about the place that sold them, which had the word “ice” in the title, but I didn’t hear the whole thing!! These hair gems are so cute, and I would love to have some. If you know what I’m talking about, or where I can purchase these, pleease e-mail me!! I would really appreciate the help. Thanks! Sorry, but per the terms of our recent extrication from Capitol Records, we can no longer offer any information about Fairy Dusts. I’ve just made a low budget/student film and I want to use some matador music to show the movie at Film Festival what should I do? Download this PDF, fill it out, and email it to Jenn Lanchart or fax it (212) 995-5883. Who do I contact about using Matador music in a studio, film, television program or advertisement? Jenn Lanchart can be reached at Beggars Group, 304 Hudson Street, NY, NY 10013 U.S. I’ve got a show on a radio station and I want free stuff. Who do I contact? If you're in the US, email a playlist of your most recent non-comm AAA or college show to Robby Morris, and he’ll think about it. Also include a cover note stating what Matador artists you are particularly interested in. NOTE: If you are a college radio DJ, please check with your music director or program director first to make sure you are not already on the Matador mailing list. We have a strict policy of one promo CD per radio station, and those generally are sent to the music department, except in rare circumstances. If you're a commercial radio programmer in the US, please contact Jeremy P. Goldstein. If you're in the UK, please send the same information to our European office's general info address. What are Matador’s criteria for signing new artists? We’re not looking for any specific thing — except truth, beauty, solace, shelter, etc. Musical taste is a funny thing, especially if you have some. Does Matador sign artists from the U.K. or Europe? Yes. We’ll sign someone from Mars if we like their music enough. I’ve just turned 17 and was recently scouted by a famous modeling agency. My problem is that I’m a late developer and I’ve got barely any facial hair. All my friends are shaving daily now, but not me. I’m scared it’s going to get in the way of my modeling career if I can’t produce a five o’clock shadow for the macho shots. Is there any cream or lotion I could rub in? I know everyone develops at different rates but 17 is a bit late, isn’t it? Facial hair is often the last male sexual characteristic to develop. Most men aren’t shaving daily until they’re 19 or 20 and many men don’t develop full facial hair until their 30s. Modeling agencies want people who reflect the real world and one thing which makes young men attractive is that they don’t yet suffer from a five o’clock shadow. We’d be astonished if your clean-shaven good looks stood in the way of a modeling career. There are no lotions to quicken hair growth but a moisturizer will help to keep your skin looking baby soft. How did Matador begin? What has happened since? The label began in 1989 when Chris Lombardi dragged the Austrian duo H.P. Zinker into Wharton Tiers’ Fun City studio to record OLE-001, ...and there was light. Run out of Chris’ New York apartment, Lombardi added artists such as the Dustdevils, Railroad Jerk and Superchunk to the initial roster. Joined by longtime Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy in 1990, Matador experienced its first taste of crazed media attention & big sales with the North American release of Teenage Fanclub’s debut long-player, A Catholic Education. Over the years, the label has moved from shoebox sized offices to larger and larger complexes, the staff has grown from 2 to 24, and the roster has simply exploded. As well as functioning as the North American home to Pavement, Liz Phair and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Matador has helped artists such as Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, Cornelius, Solex, Pizzicato Five, Helium and the Arsonists reach audiences worldwide.* Matador has also served as the North American licensee for a number of exceptional international acts, including Belle & Sebastian, Mogwai, Boards of Canada, Red Snapper, Arab Strap and others. Since 1996, Matador has maintained separate offices and staff in London. In addition to supervising the promotion, sales and marketing of Matador titles on the continent, Matador Europe has also licensed recordings from some of North America’s most acclaimed new artists, M. Ward, Sleater-Kinney, Modest Mouse, and Superchunk to name a few. Matador Europe is currently signing artists for the world, with several new projects in the works. While Matador has often been characterized (not by the label itself) as an underground or “indie” rock label, over the years, the label’s musical direction has grown, to the point where many hip hop, electronic and experimental acts play as prominent a role in the label’s sound & future as any number of singer/songwriters and rock bands. Sometimes all of the above converge. Major projects for the new millennium include Matmos, the decade-in-the-making debut album from the Large Professor, solo debuts from Stephen Malkmus and Spiral Stairs (the latter with Preston School Of Industry) and the long-awaited debut from NYC's Interpol. In 2002, Matador joined forces with the UK's Beggars Group. Beggars purchased 50% of Matador, and took over Matador's worldwide marketing. The Matador marketing staffmembers moved over to the Beggars umbrella, and Beggars US moved into Matador's larger New York offices. In the UK, Matador Europe continues to have its own separate office in Kensal Rise. Matador continues to do its own wholly independent A&R, art, production and direct-store distribution (which will also handle releases from other labels in Beggars Group). The label continues to be run by Chris Lombardi, Gerard Cosloy and Patrick Amory. [Press release.] Throughout the label’s history, Matador has been a champion of artistic freedom, diversity and innovation. The label’s catalog and release schedule reflect the tastes of the company’s owners, Lombardi and Cosloy, and their longstanding commitment to sharing the music they love with as many others as possible. Who distributes Matador? Matador Distributor Information - A list of the companies that distribute Matador to record stores across the world. Matador Friendly Stores List - ¡Viva La Independent! These stores have most of our records, most of the time. Online & Mail Order Information - Buy directly from Matador through the Matador Store! Although Matador no longer does snail-mail order, there are many companies that do, listed at the link above. Who owns Matador? Matador is half-owned by label founder Chris Lombardi and co-president Gerard Cosloy, and half by Beggars Group. Why is Matador’s vinyl so expensive? We use only 100% virgin vinyl and press on 180 grams. In addition, we sell fewer copies of every record on vinyl as each year passes. The high origination costs for vinyl (separate tape master, cutting lacquers, reference acetates, test pressings, metal mothers and stampers for the music, and separate films for the artwork) mean that it has become impossible for us to break even at that sales level. We’re committed to releasing vinyl — it’s what 23 out of 24 employees prefer — but we’re also committed to staying in business. So a price hike was necessary. And you know what? It’s still cheaper than CD. Avril Lavigne is awesome, when is her new album coming out? Yes, she is great, isn’t she. But you’re thinking of Sub Pop Records. We don’t have anything to do with them. Thank you very much. Feel free to email any other questions.