Anti- (record label)
Anti- is an American record label founded in 1999 as a sister label to Epitaph Records.
This article is about the record label. For the type of vinyl record, see Anti-record.Anti-
1999
Andy Kaulkin
AMPED Distribution (physical)[1]
Universal Music Group (worldwide)
Various
U.S.
Los Angeles, California
Founded by Andy Kaulkin, Anti- first gained attention by releasing Tom Waits's Grammy Award–winning Mule Variations in 1999. Other veteran recording artists such as rhythm and blues singers Solomon Burke, Bettye LaVette and Marianne Faithfull have signed to Anti- after leaving other labels.[2]
Andy Kaulkin[edit]
Kaulkin began working for the Epitaph label. His role was looking after the label's data management system.[3] In 1995, he was head of marketing.[4] He eventually worked his way up to become the president for the label, and worked there until 1998. Later he founded Anti-. Under Kaulkin's stewardship, the label began with the release of Mule Variations by Tom Waits which was met with success.[5][3]
Other artists signed by Kaulkin include Mavis Staples, who came to the label as a result of a meeting between Kaulkin and her manager,[6] and Jade Jackson, whose vivid storytelling attracted Kaulkin.[7]
As a musician, Kaulkin played piano on "Haggard (Like I've Never Been Before)", which was the title track of Merle Haggard's album Like Never Before.[8] He had multiple roles as composer, musician and producer on the Blues Got Soul album by King Ernest.[9]