Chapter Music

The label was founded by Guy Blackman in Perth, Western Australia in June 1992, after he released several issues of a Syd Barrett-inspired fanzine called Chapter 24,{{Cite web|url=http://www.rockwired.com/guyblackman.html|title=Rockwired interviews Guy Blackman|publisher=Rockwired|last=Lush|first=Brian|date=September 2008|accessdate=4 January 2011}} started in October 1990, when Blackman was seventeen.{{Cite web|url=http://australianetwork.com/nexus/stories/s1856092.htm|title=Chapter Music|publisher=Australian Network|accessdate=4 January 2011}} Initially, Blackman released compilation cassettes of local Perth underground bands, the first of which was Bright Lights, Small City in July 1992.{{Cite web|url=http://www.messandnoise.com/articles/3452045|title=Passion for Pop|publisher=Mess + Noise|last=Schaefer|first=Renae|date=28 December 2008|accessdate=4 January 2011}} A Sonic Youth tribute tape{{Cite web|url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/soundsaustralia/Sounds_Australia_at_CMJ2010.pdf|title=Sounds Australia @ CMJ 2010|page=6|publisher=APRA/AMCOS|accessdate=4 January 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226232553/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/soundsaustralia/Sounds_Australia_at_CMJ2010.pdf|archivedate=26 February 2011}} called Kill Yr Idols! was the label's next release, followed by a new fanzine called Salty & Delicious. The label released a further eight cassettes (mostly compilations), one CD, and four issues of the fanzine prior to Blackman's relocation to Melbourne, Australia. Blackman explained in 2012: "When I sold out of the first Chapter Music cassette on the night of the show, that was a huge success for me, as a 17-year-old boy."{{cite news|author1=Anthony Carew|title=Chapter Music celebrates 20 years|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/chapter-music-celebrates-20-years-20121115-29dky.html|accessdate=20 October 2014|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=15 November 2012}}

Blackman relocated to Melbourne in mid-1995, where he released Chapter Music's first seven-inch vinyl single, pressed at Corduroy Records, a new pressing plant in Australia at the time.{{Cite web|url=http://www.corduroy.com.au/chapter/chapter_history.html|title=Chapter Music|publisher=Corduroy Records|accessdate=4 January 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524234836/http://www.corduroy.com.au/chapter/chapter_history.html|archivedate=24 May 2011}} The single, a Molasses/Minimum Chips split single—Blackman is a member of the latter band—was released in September 1995. This was followed by a seven-inch single by Perth band Sulk, with a third release, a split single for Sleepy Township/Cannanes released in October 1996.

The label briefly closed for 18 months in 2002 when Blackman and his partner, Ben O'Connor, relocated to Japan.{{cite web|title=History|url=http://chaptermusic.com.au/history/|work=Chapter Music|publisher=Chapter Music|accessdate=19 December 2013|author=Guy Blackman|date=December 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131219080422/http://chaptermusic.com.au/history/|archive-date=19 December 2013|url-status=dead}} In a 2013 interview, Blackman explained that he made connections with a "little underworld of Japanese underground psychpop" during his time in Japan, in addition to playing his own live shows and collaborating with local artists. Blackman said that by the time his visa expired he felt like his time in Japan was merely starting; however, at the time of the interview, he explained that he retained connections with artists like Tenniscoats following his return to Australia.{{cite web|author1=Alex Griffin|title=Interview: Guy Blackman|url=http://lifeisnoise.com/2013/04/05/interview-guy-blackman/|website=lifeandnoise.com|publisher=lifeandnoise.com|accessdate=20 October 2014|date=5 April 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20141020074754/http://lifeisnoise.com/2013/04/05/interview-guy-blackman/|archivedate=20 October 2014}}

Chapter Music reissued the 1980 self-titled live recording of Melbourne post-punk/noise band Primitive Calculators in 2004, which was the band's sole official release at the time.{{cite web|author1=Chris Downton|title=Primitive Calculators – The World Is Fucked (Chapter Music)|url=http://www.cyclicdefrost.com/2014/01/primitive-calculators-the-world-is-fucked-chapter-music/|website=Cyclic Defrost|publisher=Cyclic Defrost|accessdate=20 October 2014|date=6 January 2014}} The label released the 17-track Primitive Calculators and Friends compilation in 2007, which featured the only Primitive Calculators studio recording ever released and the Little Bands compilation.{{cite web|author1=Adrian Trajstman|title=Primitive Calculators Primitive Calculators and Friends|url=http://www.messandnoise.com/releases/5598|website=mess+noise|publisher=mess+noise|accessdate=20 October 2014|date=2007}} In a 2009 interview, Stuart, of Primitive Calculators, said: "I think Guy Blackman is a kind of angel to do what he does and stay who he is."{{cite web|author1=René Schaefer|title=mess+noise icons: Primitive Calculators|url=http://www.messandnoise.com/icons/3505595|website=mess+noise|publisher=mess+noise Proprietary Limited|accessdate=20 October 2014|date=9 February 2009}}

The label's 20th anniversary occurred in 2012 and the label was co-managed by Blackman and O'Connor by this stage. In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) in November 2012, O'Connor explained: "We've only ever done things that we love and care about", while Blackman expressed his view on the label's longevity openly:

I've found myself becoming very sensitive to any perceived indifference to the anniversary ... To me it seems like a big deal. There's not that many record labels that last this long; Ben and I have watched a lot of them come and go.

Chapter Music released a compilation of rarities, 20 Big Ones, as part of the 20th anniversary commemoration—including a song by Minimum Chips—and an anniversary show was staged in Melbourne, during Melbourne Music Week,{{cite web|title=Melbourne Music Week First Announcement|url=http://www.messandnoise.com/news/4505839|website=Mess+Noise|publisher=Mess+Noise Proprietary Limited|accessdate=20 October 2014|date=15 August 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102132617/http://www.messandnoise.com/news/4505839|archivedate=2 November 2014}} with performances from Crayon Fields, Twerps, Pikelet, Laura Jean and Primitive Calculators, among others.

In the 2012 SMH interview, Blackman described the label's health as "better than ever", and explained in an interview the following year that the label "can provide support for a long term career for a band ... The community aspect and the relationships are the most important thing about the label." During 2013, Chapter Music attended the CMJ Music Marathon and released albums by Dick Diver, Beaches, Primitive Calculators, Pikelet and Bushwalking.{{cite web|title=Pikelet Calluses|url=http://www.messandnoise.com/releases/2001242|website=mess+noise|publisher=mess+noise Proprietary Limited|accessdate=20 October 2014|date=2013}} The Primitive Calculators release, The World Is Fucked, is the first-ever studio album by the band, which was 35 years old at the time of the release date.{{cite web|author1=Miles Brown|title=PRIMITIVE CALCULATORS' FIRST TRACK IN 35 YEARS WILL TEAR BALLS|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/primitive-calculators-first-track-in-35-years-will-tear-balls/|website=noisey|publisher=Vice Media LLC|access-date=20 October 2014|date=26 September 2013}}

An August 2014 announcement revealed that Twerps signed to US label Merge Records, while retaining their arrangement with Chapter Music for Australia and New Zealand.{{cite web|title=Twerps Sign to Merge Records|url=http://messandnoise.com/news/4668443|website=mess+noise|publisher=mess+noise|accessdate=20 October 2014|date=20 August 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102132649/http://messandnoise.com/news/4668443|archivedate=2 November 2014}} The Underlay EP—described by music journalist Anthony Carew as "the work of a band who’s already done a lap around the hype-bubble block and returned feeling jaded"—was released by the band in August 2014.{{cite web|author1=Evan Minsker|title=Twerps Underlay EP|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19724-the-twerps-underlay-ep/|website=Pitchfork|publisher=Pitchfork Media Inc|accessdate=20 October 2014|date=28 August 2014}}{{cite web|author1=Anthony Carew|title=Twerps Underlay|url=http://messandnoise.com/releases/2001376|website=mess+noise|publisher=mess+noise Proprietary Limited|accessdate=20 October 2014|date=3 September 2014}} Also in August 2014, Laura Jean released her self-titled album on Chapter Music, which was recorded in England, UK, with John Parish.{{cite web|author1=Anthony Carew|title=Laura Jean: 'I Don't Play Around'|url=http://messandnoise.com/articles/4672907|website=mess+noise|publisher=mess+noise Proprietary Limited|accessdate=20 October 2014|date=30 September 2014}}

In 2023, Chapter Music released The Native Cats' catalogue on streaming services.{{cite news |title=The Native Cats’ Catalogue is Available on Streaming Services for the First Time |url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/the-native-cats-catalogue-is-available-on-streaming-services-for-the-first-time/ |access-date=17 September 2024 |work=Musicfeeds |date=22 July 2023}}

Beaches' 2008 debut album was shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize, and listed in the 2010 book 100 Best Australian Albums. In December 2013, Chapter Music artists Dick Diver, Primitive Calculators, Bushwalking and Beaches featured in the critics' lists of the mess+noise and The Guardian websites, as they selected their best Australian albums of 2013. Dick Diver's Calendar Days was voted into the number 1 position by the Guardian critics;{{cite news|title=The 10 best Australian albums of 2013|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/australia-culture-blog/2013/dec/17/the-10-best-australian-albums-of-2013|accessdate=19 December 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=17 December 2013}}{{cite web|title=M+N Critics Poll 2013|url=http://www.messandnoise.com/articles/4633789|work=mess + noise|publisher=mess + noise Proprietary Limited|accessdate=19 December 2013|date=19 December 2013}} the album was then voted into the number 1 position of the mess + noise 2013 readers poll.{{cite web|title=M+N Readers Poll 2013|url=http://messandnoise.com/articles/4633948|work=mess + noise|publisher=mess + noise Proprietary Limited|accessdate=20 December 2013|date=20 December 2013}} In BuzzFeed's "The Very Best Australian Albums of 2013" list, published on 29 December 2013, both Beaches and Dick Diver appeared.{{cite web|title=The Very Best Australian Albums Of 2013|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/the-very-best-australian-albums-of-2013|work=BuzzFeed|publisher=BuzzFeed, Inc|accessdate=31 December 2013|author=Brad Esposito|date=29 December 2013}}

In 2019, Chapter Music won the AIR Award for Best Independent Label.{{cite web|website=AIM|url=https://www.air.org.au/awards|title=AIR Awards:2019 AIR Awards Winners Announced!|access-date=27 August 2019|archive-date=27 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827061527/https://www.air.org.au/awards|url-status=dead}}

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}

• Always
• Andreas & Oscar
• Andrew Wilson
• Beaches
• Bum Creek
• Bushwalking
• Chris Robison
• The Cannanes
• Clag
• Clare Moore
• Coolies
• Crayon Fields
• Danny & The Parkins Sisters
• Darren Sylvester
• David Chesworth
• Dick Diver
• Driving Past
• Essendon Airport
• Fabulous Diamonds
• Frida Hyvönen
• Geoffrey O’Connor
• The Goon Sax
• Gregor
• Gus
• Guy Blackman
• Hit The Jackpot
• Jeremy Dower
• Jonny Telafone
• Karl Smith
• Kath Bloom
• Kath Bloom & Loren Connors
• Lakes
• Laura Jean
• Letraset
• Maher Shalal Hash Baz
• Minimum Chips
• Molasses
• New Estate
• Ninetynine
• O!
• Panel Of Judges
• Pikelet
• Primitive Calculators
• Richard Lockwood
• Riot Guy
• Sachiko Kanenobu
• Sleepy Township
• Small World Experience
• Standish/Carlyon
• Sweet Whirl
• Sulk
• Tenniscoats
• The Ancients
• The Apartments
• The Stevens
• Totally Mild
• Tracey Read
• Tully
• Twerps
• Wagons
• Woelv{{cite web|title=Artists|url=https://chaptermusic.com/artists/|work=Chapter Music|publisher=Chapter Music|accessdate=20 October 2014|date=October 2014}}

{{div col end}}

• List of record labels

{{reflist}}

• {{official|http://www.chaptermusic.com.au}}

{{Authority control}}

Chapter Music

Chapter Music