Wilco Leaving Label, Starting Own?

Wilco will not be renewing their deal with Nonesuch Records and they will be (more than likely, details are scarce) starting their own label. I'll avoid the obvious "Wilco (The Record Label)" joke and move straight on to excitement for the possibilities that this may bring. 


Here are some snippets from Paste and Pitchfork:


Via Paste:

We’ve had Wilco (The Band), Wilco (The Album), “Wilco (The Song)” and now, it looks like we’re getting Wilco (The Record Label).

In an interview with D.C. website Express Night Out, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline mentioned that Wilco’s new album would be on their own record label. “I don’t know the name of it,” Cline told Express Night Out. “Jeff was basically not wanting to be on a record label for a while—he didn’t renew his contract with Nonesuch—so we’re striking out on our own, our own label. There might be a 7-inch or something, a little souvenir when we do this Mass MoCA [Solid Sound Festival in North Adams, Ma.] I’m not sure, really. Basically, Jeff and [Wilco manager] Tony Margherita are the masterminds, so I’m just cruising with what they want to do.”

In an e-mail exchange with Paste, Wilco’s publicist, Deb Bernadini mostly echoed Cline’s words: “I can confirm that Wilco’s deal is indeed up with Nonesuch Records. It has not yet been determined who will release the next Wilco record, but forming their own label and releasing future albums through it is definitely a potential scenario.”

Cline was vague on the details of the upcoming album but mentioned that the band would be recording “a lot” in October. In the meantime, the guys are keeping busy curating the Solid Sound Festival, which features the likes of Hannibal Burress, Kristen Schaal, Mavis Staples, Vetiver and Avi Buffalo.

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Via Pitchfork:

According to Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, the band has left Nonesuch Records, its home for most of the past decade, and is starting its own label. Cline dropped this particular bombshell during an interview with Express Night Out. Thanks to James DuBray for the tip.

Talking to Express Night Out, Cline says, "I think our main task now is to work on new material and a new album. And now that we have our own record label, there's going to be funny things to come out." He adds, "I don't know the name of it. Jeff [Tweedy] was basically not wanting to be on a record label for a while-- he didn't renew his contract with Nonesuch-- so we're striking out on our own, our own label. There might be a 7" or something, a little souvenir when we do this Mass MoCA [the Wilco-curated Solid Sound Festival]. I'm not sure, really. Basically, Jeff and [Wilco's manager] Tony Margherita are the masterminds, so I'm just cruising with what they want to do."

A rep for the band confirms that Wilco's deal with Nonesuch has expired, but does not confirm that the band will definitely be releasing future albums on their own, though it is a possibility.

So if you're attending the Solid Sound Festival next month, keep an eye out. You could take home the very first product released on Wilco's mysterious new label.

Wilco and Nonesuch have a storied history. The label signed Wilco after the band was dropped by Nonesuch's fellow Warner Music Group imprint Reprise during the making of the now-classic Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.