The Record Machine is a pioneering, homegrown record label based in Kansas City, Missouri. Mike Russo, Richard Robinett, and Nathan Reusch founded TRM in 2003 when we released our first record. In the 12 years since, we have gone on to release over 50 albums. Our roster averages 10-12 bands from across the United States. In 2013 The Record Machine added current team members Alex Ellis and Steven Ervay. Our goal is to make an organic community of artists and help connect them with listeners. Tim Finn of The Kansas City Star remarked about The Record Machine’s output “[They] have assembled a stable of diverse artists who are making music that deserves national attention.”
In 2011 we co-founded and curated the inaugural Ink’s Middle of The Map Music Fest in our hometown of Kansas City, MO. The festival has featured artists like fun., Grizzly Bear, Iron & Wine, of Montreal, The Get Up Kids, Atmosphere, OK Go, Lord Huron, Shiner, Kate Nash, Two Door Cinema Club, Daniel Johnston, and many more. The festival has also grown to include Ink’s Middle of the Map Forum (a civic minded arts, tech, culture conference) and Ink’s Middle of the Map Film Fest (5 days of independent films at Alamo Drafthouse). In four years the event has cemented a place in Kansas City culture. In a recent Kansas City Business Journal article Mayor Sly James remarked, “[Middle of the Map] is a great way for Kansas City to show off and, more specifically, showcase our flourishing arts and culture scene. Events like Middle of the Map Fest bring crowds of people to our city who often times leave in awe of everything Kansas City has to offer.”
