Back in 2010, a couple of friends—who shared a love for live music (and, well, beer)—started a conversation that would change everything. One warm Arizona night, we were hanging out with a friend who played drums in a local band. The injustice of being a talented, hardworking musician... and getting paid in beer or exposure. We knew firsthand how difficult it was for these artists to land decent g
igs. Even when they did, the compensation was often minimal—or non-existent. What frustrated us the most was how many of these musicians had incredible original music that never reached beyond the bar crowd. I remember thinking, as I listened to the radio in my car, "Why am I hearing this when my friends’ music is better?"
Fueled by a few beers and a lot of passion, the idea hit us:
What if we built a radio station that played only indie music? A platform where original artists could finally be heard, appreciated, and supported. We envisioned a station powered by the artists themselves—an audience of musicians, fans, and indie lovers helping each other rise. Before long, we had a website, a streaming station, and music from over 180 Arizona-based bands. We even had a mobile app! We hosted daily and weekly DJ-led shows, live broadcasts, appearances, promos—and picked up a few sponsors along the way. Our audience grew quickly, with listeners tuning in from around the world. But despite our passion, we were a few years ahead of our time. Streaming technology was expensive, unlimited data plans didn’t exist, and we were funding everything out of our own pockets. Eventually, we had to pause the station. But that spark never left. And now... WE’RE BACK, BABY! They said it might happen—and it has! With new energy, better tools, and in the right decade, NoLabelBands.com is back with a vengeance. This time, we’re here to stay and we’re it taking worldwide. But we need your support. In the past, we never asked bands to pay us to be played—and we still don’t. That said, we’ve learned a few things along the way, and we now know that for this to work long-term, we need a little help from our community. We're asking for a $5 donation per song you send us to play and promote. If you’d like to give more, we won’t say no! If you're already featured on our station, donations aren't required—but we’ll gladly accept them if you want to send new music or just support the mission. Most importantly: whether or not you donate, please keep listening. Share the station. Spread the word. Because musicians supporting musicians—that’s how this whole thing works. Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s keep it rockin’!
— The No Label Bands Team
