Chicago record labels

"Bye and Bye" recorded in 1927 on the Black Patti Records label of The Chicago Record Company

Chicago has supported independent record publishing since the 1920s, with local labels associated with blues, jazz, soul, folk, house, classical, dance, and electronic music. This list includes active and defunct record labels founded in Chicago or later based in the city. Inclusion requires independent reliable sourcing that establishes a label's Chicago connection.

Name Founder Founded Genres Artists
Alligator RecordsBruce Iglauer1971Blues, roots, folkKoko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Luther Allison, Albert Collins, Hound Dog Taylor, Johnny Winter, Shemekia Copeland, Marcia Ball
Autograph Records1924
Black Patti RecordsJ. Mayo Williams1927African American jazz, blues, sermons, spirituals, and skits
Bloodshot RecordsNan Warshaw & Rob Miller1994Indie rock with roots inflectionsLydia Loveless, Justin Townes Earle, Wayne Hancock, Scott H. Biram, Bottle Rockets, Deadstring Brothers, Ha Ha Tonka, Jon Langford, Dex Romweber Duo, Andre Williams, Cory Branan, Barrence Whitfield & The Savages, Robbie Fulks, Bobby Bare Jr., Luke Winslow King, Murder By Death, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, Waco Brothers
Cedille RecordsJames Ginsburg1989Classical
Chance Records1950
Chess RecordsLeonard & Phil Chess1950Blues, jazz, doo-wop, gospel, soul, rock and roll, comedySee List of Chess Records artists
Curtom RecordsCurtis Mayfield1968Soul
Delmark RecordsBob Koester1953Blues, jazz, doo-wop, gospel
DJ International RecordsRocky Jones and Benji Espinoza1985House
Drag CityDan Koretzky & Dan Osborn1989Experimental, folkJoanna Newsom, Pavement, Will Oldham (Bonnie 'Prince' Billy), Papa M, Jim O'Rourke, Silver Jews, Smog, Royal Trux, Chestnut Station, Mantis, Palace, Plush, Edith Frost, Azita
Dunwich RecordsPsychedelic rock
Earwig Music CompanyMichael Frank1978Blues, roots, storytelling, jazzDavid Honeyboy Edwards, The Jelly Roll Kings, Big Jack Johnson, Louisiana Red, Sunnyland Slim, Jimmy Dawkins, Frank Frost, Homesick James, John Primer
Flying Fish RecordsBruce Kaplan1974Folk, blues, bluegrass, country
Grrr RecordsGlenn Kaiser and Tom Cameron1987Christian rock, punk, bluesGlenn Kaiser, Rez Band, Darrell Mansfield, The Crossing
HOMHOMHOMMaxwell Citron2012Experimental, rock, popBlue Cloud, Hannah Mayree, Aleph Eris, New Crimes, Lords of Beacon House
HoZac RecordsTodd Novak and Brett Cross2006Underground rock
International Anthem Recording CompanyScottie McNiece and David Allen2014Jazz, experimental
J.O.B. Records1949
Johann's Face RecordsMarc Ruvolo & Gar BrandtMelodic punk and pop
KrankyBruce Adams & Joel Leoschke1993Experimental, Ambient, Electronic, Psychedelic, Alternative RockLabradford, Belong, Grouper, Tim Hecker, Chihei Hatakeyama, Loscil, Pan•American
Lengua Armada DiscosMartin SorrondeguyHardcoreLos Crudos, Limp Wrist, Charles Bronson, Severed Head of State, MK-Ultra
Mercury Records
Minty FreshUpbeat and poppyKahimi Karie
Mutant League RecordsNate Steinheimer2012Punk, hardcore, indie
The Numero GroupRob Sevier & Ken Shipley2003Reissues, Catalog, Boxsets, Soul, Funk, R&B, Gospel, Blues, Indie, Punk, Hardcore, Latin, Folk, New Age, Ambient, Instrumental, Singer-Songwriter, Lounge, Exotica, Girl Group, Pop, Garage, Power Pop
Parrot Records
Red Scare IndustriesTobias Jeg and Brendan KellyPunk
Thick RecordsPunk
Thrill Jockey RecordsBettina Richards1992Indie, post-rockTortoise, The Sea and Cake, Tom Verlaine, Califone, Fiery Furnaces, Archer Prewitt, Eleventh Dream Day
Touch & GoFounded by Tesco Vee & Dave Stimson; Owned by Corey Rusk1981Punk, hardcore, indieTed Leo + Pharmacists, TV On The Radio, Big Black, Don Caballero, Rollins Band, The Jesus Lizard, Slint, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, !!!, Shellac, Pinback, Blonde Redhead
Trax RecordsLarry Sherman, with Vince Lawrence and Jesse Saunders also credited in some accounts1984HouseAdonis, Marshall Jefferson, Mr. Lee, Mr. Fingers, Farley "Jackmaster" Funk, Phuture, Frankie Knuckles, Lidell Townsell, Jamie Principle
Underground Communique RecordsJustin Schwier2004Punk, hardcore, indieShot Baker, Big D and the Kids Table, The Copyrights, Hellmouth, The Heat Tape, The Methadones, Reel Big Fish, Mustard Plug
United Records1952
USA RecordsFounded by Jim Golden, owned by Paul Glass1960Blues, pop, R&B, garage band, Sound of Chicago horns and voice, rock, polka, comedyDeltones, Rivieras, Willie Mabon, Junior Wells, Koko Taylor, J.B. Lenoir, Bobby Whiteside, Buckinghams
Vee-Jay RecordsVivian Carter & James C. Bracken1953R&B, SoulJohn Lee Hooker, Memphis Slim, Jimmy Reed
Wax Trax! RecordsJim Nash and Dannie Flesher1980Industrial, punk, hardcore, indieKMFDM, Ministry, Front Line Assembly, Front 242, Minimal Compact, Braindead Soundmachine, Revolting Cocks, Pailhead, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
WTII RecordsBart Pfanenstiel and David Schock2001EBM, synthpop, industrial, electronicAcumen Nation, Beborn Beton, Blume, In Strict Confidence, Klutæ, Melotron, Sister Machine Gun

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Clague, Mark (2005). "Record Publishing". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  2. ↑ Fielding, Amy (January 18, 2021). "Legendary Chicago house label DJ International Records relaunches". DJ Mag. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Bruce Kaplan; Founder of Flying Fish Records". Los Angeles Times. December 21, 1992. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  4. ↑ Costello, Brian (March 15, 2010). "HoZac Records Takes Underground Punk Acts to South by Southwest". WBEZ. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  5. ↑ Hogan, Marc (January 14, 2020). "How Chicago Label International Anthem Is Rewriting the Rules of Jazz". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  6. ↑ Heath, Harold (March 7, 2023). "A history of Trax Records and the fight for Chicago's house pioneers' royalties". DJ Mag. Retrieved August 14, 2026.