What's It Like Running A Label With Your Dad? Here's Your Answer

What's it like running an indie label with your dad... It’s a funny proposition on paper, right? The music industry is tough enough as it is, let alone when you throw in the extra dynamic of starting a business with a parent.

But that’s exactly what I’ve done with my father, Tim. Around three and half years ago we founded Sydney-based Double Drummer Music, which started as a publishing company, but has subsequently evolved to encompass label services and management. Our growing roster includes acts from across three states - Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird, Greta Stanley, Dominic Breen, YSKA, Fresco Kyoto, Why We Run and Dust Of Us.

Are we crazy? Maybe. But do we love it? So much. We’re both total music obsessives, plus we also love our artists dearly as people and are driven to help them with their goals as much as we can.

Starting your own business is really challenging, regardless of what you’re trying to do. Doing it with a family member adds a layer of pressure to your relationship that didn’t exist previously. Before dad and I started Double Drummer, I don’t think we ever had disagreements. But we do now; and about stupid stuff too. We can be total pedants with one another sometimes.

For example, me: ‘Dad, you didn’t actually tag anyone in that post, you just wrote their names. It looks real boomer.’

Or him: ‘Edward, you really gave away too much in that meeting – it’s great that you’re so open, but you probably overshared a little bit there.’

Oops, I may have just done it again.

But at the end of the day, my old man is also one of my best mates and I know how lucky I am to genuinely enjoy spending time with him. A friend of mine summed up this good fortune recently when he said to me, ‘That’s so cool that you have a label with your old man and that you guys actually enjoy spending time with each other. I’d never hang out with my dad – he’s a dick.’

Luckily not only is my dad not a dick, he’s also a wealth of great knowledge and advice, as well as being the whole reason I got into music in the first place as a kid. He’s got so many amazing stories from all the incredible artists he’s worked with over several decades in music and I’ve learned so much from him.

Aside from being a label that’s literally a family, we’re really proud of the fact that the familial vibe extends to the artists. Some of our artists have become friends and almost all of them have shared bills with other acts on the roster.

Given that anyone can release their own music in 2020, I think one of the most important things that a label provides is a sense of community, love and moral support. Artistic people are usually highly sensitive souls and can be plagued by self-doubt – I know because I’m like that myself. If you’re able to provide a supportive, encouraging framework for a creative person, it feels like you’re doing a little bit of good in this wild world and helping them on their journey. Dad and I are trying our best to do that.

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Double Drummer announced a new global label distribution deal with the local arm of independent artist and label services company, Believe, yesterday. Read the story here.