Help Mode Records to Carry On!
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NEW! $10,000 MATCHING GRANT CHALLENGE! by the Robert D. Bielecki Foundation if we meet our fundraising goal of $9,500 by the end of March. Please help us meet this goal!
Bringing the world high quality releases of contemporary classical, jazz and other musical genres for over 35 years, Mode Records now needs your support to modernize its promotion, informational, and sales platforms.
Internationally recognized record label Mode Records’ recordings of impeccable performances, captured with the best quality sound, have earned it great critical acclaim and a loyal following.
A small independent company, Mode’s catalog of over 300 releases includes music of the great composers of the latter 20th century and today’s aspiring contemporary New Music artists. Beginning with its first release in 1984, created in collaboration with composer John Cage, Mode has presented uniquely curated releases with a personal vision of producing fine recordings which are not necessarily a part of current mainstream music fashion, but which need to be heard.
The label’s musical arc spans from the international innovators of the late 20th century avantgarde through to today’s fine composers and musicians. This value has been recognized both critically and by the fact that Mode can be found in libraries of prestigious universities including Juilliard, Harvard and Cal Arts, to name a few. Mode’s catalog tends toward exploring a composer’s work in depth. Its reputation has brought many great composers and artists to record for and be documented by Mode — and continues to do so.
Pianist Aki Takahashi with Michael Hynes & Brian Brandt recording Morton Feldman's "For Bunita Marcus" (Berlin, 2007)
But the music business is changing…
Notably, the rise of streaming (and its infamously poor royalties), along with the decrease of physical product and download sales, has caused a severe downturn in income and investment capital for both record labels and artists throughout the industry.
With the decline of stores and physical product as a traditional means of sales, it is critical to have a comprehensive, full-service website as a source of sales and information about Mode and its roster of composers and artists. Mode was early on the web, however, its digital presence needs updating.
How You Can Help:
Mode Records urgently needs your support to modernize its promotion and sales platform via its website and other digital channels in order to survive and thrive in today’s music world. This upgrade will also ensure that Mode is an in-depth resource of information for the label’s music, composers and performers and can continue to provide unique, quality recordings.
Your donations will support the following essential website upgrades and production needs:
- Working with webmaster to improve and modernize the underlying architecture of its website
- Reformatting website to make it easily viewed across all platforms (computers, tablets and phones)
- Addition of a shopping cart
- Addition and update of musical samples and detailed composer and artist information to all release pages
- Provide high resolution download options directly from website
- Making Mode’s catalog available on Bandcamp and other platforms
- Hiring freelance assistant to facilitate with the gathering and addition of archival data, information and files to expand its role as an informational resource
We are extremely grateful for your support to help us modernize and remain relevant and competitive in today’s market. It is our hope to continue to enrich music and its world of listeners with exciting, emerging composers and musicians.
As longtime patrons or new listeners, please help Mode to continue the pursuit of excellence in New Music. No donation is too small (or too big!). Your support will make it all possible and is greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Brian Brandt, Founder and Producer, Mode Records
www.moderecords.com
Gifts of Appreciation:
Contributions of $25 or more ($50 or more for international donors due to postage) - Limited Edition CD of John Cage and Vittorio Rieti performed by pianist Margaret Leng Tan created especially for New York’s Isamo Noguchi Museum in 2005/2006
Contributions of $500 or more - Mode’s very first release (2-LP set) — John Cage’s “Etudes Boreales” and “Ryoanji,” signed and numbered by the composer. (limit of 14 copies)
Video trailer for Mode's Bluray release of John Cage "Music for Speaking Percussionist," performed by Bonnie Whiting. Directed by Anton Cabaliero, produced by Brian Brandt (San Diego, 2017)
More About Mode Records
Mode’s “curated” aspect is important. It is not a label run by committee but rather one built on a personal vision. Listeners who follow the label, as well as the composers and artists who have and continue to record on it, know what to expect of the music released on Mode.
At 54 volumes, Mode’s John Cage Edition is the largest collection of the composer’s music on one label, with more to come. Further Editions are dedicated to iconic composers Morton Feldman, Iannis Xenakis, Morton Subotnick, and Giacinto Scelsi along with many others.
Mode has frequently been at the forefront of innovation. It released its first CD in 1988. It released the very first 5.1 surround sound New Music DVD in 1998 (Roger Reynolds’ “Watershed”), and continues to be a proponent of surround recordings with the largest catalog of such New Music releases of any label.
Mode continues its belief in the value of physical product (CDs, DVDs, Blurays and recently again, vinyl) in tandem to digital sales. Mode is distributed in North America, Europe and Japan through various distributors. Its entire catalog is available for download and streaming worldwide via Naxos — the largest independent classical distributor — to all digital providers.
A Personal Note
I was always an avid music lover, record collector and listener. While I did not intend to start a record label, it happened thanks to a “chance” encounter with John Cage, when I offered to release a record of his recent works because, as Cage said, “no other label seemed interested.” And so the journey began.
Working with Cage from 1984 until his death in 1992, I learned much about the interpretation of his music, a truly enlightening and valuable experience. Through Cage I met countless wonderful musicians and composers, and through them countless more. Mode Records expanded to encompass many of my musical interests, and continues to do so.
I am sincerely grateful to have this opportunity to work with so many outstanding, generous composers and musicians over the years, enriching my life — and I hope, the lives of others through Mode’s releases. By properly documenting the work of those now gone, those present, and those of the future, I hope to carry on this legacy.
— Brian Brandt, Mode Records.
The JACK Quartet performing Iannis Xenakis' "ST-4." Directed by Tim Chu, Produced by Stephan Schmidt & Brian Brandt (DVD, Cologne, 2009)
Bringing the world high quality releases of contemporary classical, jazz and other musical genres for over 35 years, Mode Records now needs your support to modernize its promotion, informational, and sales platforms.
Internationally recognized record label Mode Records’ recordings of impeccable performances, captured with the best quality sound, have earned it great critical acclaim and a loyal following.
A small independent company, Mode’s catalog of over 300 releases includes music of the great composers of the latter 20th century and today’s aspiring contemporary New Music artists. Beginning with its first release in 1984, created in collaboration with composer John Cage, Mode has presented uniquely curated releases with a personal vision of producing fine recordings which are not necessarily a part of current mainstream music fashion, but which need to be heard.
The label’s musical arc spans from the international innovators of the late 20th century avantgarde through to today’s fine composers and musicians. This value has been recognized both critically and by the fact that Mode can be found in libraries of prestigious universities including Juilliard, Harvard and Cal Arts, to name a few. Mode’s catalog tends toward exploring a composer’s work in depth. Its reputation has brought many great composers and artists to record for and be documented by Mode — and continues to do so.
Pianist Aki Takahashi with Michael Hynes & Brian Brandt recording Morton Feldman's "For Bunita Marcus" (Berlin, 2007)But the music business is changing…
Notably, the rise of streaming (and its infamously poor royalties), along with the decrease of physical product and download sales, has caused a severe downturn in income and investment capital for both record labels and artists throughout the industry.
With the decline of stores and physical product as a traditional means of sales, it is critical to have a comprehensive, full-service website as a source of sales and information about Mode and its roster of composers and artists. Mode was early on the web, however, its digital presence needs updating.
How You Can Help:
Mode Records urgently needs your support to modernize its promotion and sales platform via its website and other digital channels in order to survive and thrive in today’s music world. This upgrade will also ensure that Mode is an in-depth resource of information for the label’s music, composers and performers and can continue to provide unique, quality recordings.
Your donations will support the following essential website upgrades and production needs:
- Working with webmaster to improve and modernize the underlying architecture of its website
- Reformatting website to make it easily viewed across all platforms (computers, tablets and phones)
- Addition of a shopping cart
- Addition and update of musical samples and detailed composer and artist information to all release pages
- Provide high resolution download options directly from website
- Making Mode’s catalog available on Bandcamp and other platforms
- Hiring freelance assistant to facilitate with the gathering and addition of archival data, information and files to expand its role as an informational resource
We are extremely grateful for your support to help us modernize and remain relevant and competitive in today’s market. It is our hope to continue to enrich music and its world of listeners with exciting, emerging composers and musicians.
As longtime patrons or new listeners, please help Mode to continue the pursuit of excellence in New Music. No donation is too small (or too big!). Your support will make it all possible and is greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Brian Brandt, Founder and Producer, Mode Records
www.moderecords.com
Gifts of Appreciation:
Contributions of $25 or more ($50 or more for international donors due to postage) - Limited Edition CD of John Cage and Vittorio Rieti performed by pianist Margaret Leng Tan created especially for New York’s Isamo Noguchi Museum in 2005/2006
Contributions of $500 or more - Mode’s very first release (2-LP set) — John Cage’s “Etudes Boreales” and “Ryoanji,” signed and numbered by the composer. (limit of 14 copies)
Video trailer for Mode's Bluray release of John Cage "Music for Speaking Percussionist," performed by Bonnie Whiting. Directed by Anton Cabaliero, produced by Brian Brandt (San Diego, 2017)
More About Mode Records
Mode’s “curated” aspect is important. It is not a label run by committee but rather one built on a personal vision. Listeners who follow the label, as well as the composers and artists who have and continue to record on it, know what to expect of the music released on Mode.
At 54 volumes, Mode’s John Cage Edition is the largest collection of the composer’s music on one label, with more to come. Further Editions are dedicated to iconic composers Morton Feldman, Iannis Xenakis, Morton Subotnick, and Giacinto Scelsi along with many others.
Mode has frequently been at the forefront of innovation. It released its first CD in 1988. It released the very first 5.1 surround sound New Music DVD in 1998 (Roger Reynolds’ “Watershed”), and continues to be a proponent of surround recordings with the largest catalog of such New Music releases of any label.
Mode continues its belief in the value of physical product (CDs, DVDs, Blurays and recently again, vinyl) in tandem to digital sales. Mode is distributed in North America, Europe and Japan through various distributors. Its entire catalog is available for download and streaming worldwide via Naxos — the largest independent classical distributor — to all digital providers.
A Personal Note
I was always an avid music lover, record collector and listener. While I did not intend to start a record label, it happened thanks to a “chance” encounter with John Cage, when I offered to release a record of his recent works because, as Cage said, “no other label seemed interested.” And so the journey began.
Working with Cage from 1984 until his death in 1992, I learned much about the interpretation of his music, a truly enlightening and valuable experience. Through Cage I met countless wonderful musicians and composers, and through them countless more. Mode Records expanded to encompass many of my musical interests, and continues to do so.
I am sincerely grateful to have this opportunity to work with so many outstanding, generous composers and musicians over the years, enriching my life — and I hope, the lives of others through Mode’s releases. By properly documenting the work of those now gone, those present, and those of the future, I hope to carry on this legacy.
— Brian Brandt, Mode Records.
The JACK Quartet performing Iannis Xenakis' "ST-4." Directed by Tim Chu, Produced by Stephan Schmidt & Brian Brandt (DVD, Cologne, 2009)
Organizer
Brian Brandt
Organizer
New York, NY
