Skunk Records

{{Short description|California-based record label}}

{{Infobox record label

| name = Skunk Records

| image = Skunk Records.jpg

| image_bg =

| parent =

| founded = 1990

| founder = Michael "Miguel" Happoldt
Bradley Nowell

| status =

| distributor = Suburban Noize

| genre = {{hlist|Third wave ska|reggae|dub}}

| country = United States

| location = Long Beach, California

| url =

}}

Skunk Records is a Long Beach, California based record label that was founded by Michael "Miguel" Happoldt and Bradley Nowell in 1990. Skunk is affiliated with the spinoff label Cornerstone R.A.S.{{cite news |last1=Hochman |first1=Steve |title=Long live the spirit of Sublime |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-20-ca-popeye20-story.html |access-date=21 January 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=20 March 2005}}

The inspiration for forming a record label came to Happoldt in 1989 as a way to release music for his band the Ziggens. Happoldt met Nowell shortly thereafter, who insisted on having Sublime backed by the nascent label. Happoldt was selective in choosing other acts, which later included Slightly Stoopid, Juice Bros, Philieano, Toko Tasi, and Paulie Nugent. After the death of Nowell, Happoldt took on the label independently. By the early 2000s, the label was in decline. Happoldt continues to make records for the label.{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Nate |title=Miguel Happoldt's Un-Twisted History of Skunk Records|url=https://www.ocweekly.com/miguel-happoldts-un-twisted-history-of-skunk-records-6581637/ |website=OC Weekly |access-date=21 January 2024 |date=24 February 2014}}

Happoldt has encouraged bands on Skunk to move to larger labels as they increase their audience, as he prefers to focus on music creation instead of marketing.{{cite news |last1=Fadroski |first1=Kelli Skye |title=Skunk Records celebrates 25 years with all-star gigs |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2014/02/24/skunk-records-celebrates-25-years-with-all-star-gigs/ |access-date=21 January 2024 |work=Orange County Register |date=24 February 2014}}

In 2009, Skunk Records and Suburban Noize Records entered into a distribution partnership.{{cite news |last1=Patti |first1=Mike |title=Skunk Records Creates Partnership With Suburban Noize |url=https://thepier.org/skunk-records-creates-joint-partnership-with-suburban-noize-records/ |access-date=21 January 2024 |work=The Pier Magazine |date=9 July 2009}} In 2014, the label celebrated their 25th anniversary with a four show tour.{{cite news |last1=Patti |first1=Mike |title=Skunk Records 25th Anniversary |url=https://thepier.org/skunk-records-25th-anniversary-celebration-tour/ |access-date=21 January 2024 |work=The Pier Magazine |date=18 February 2014}}