# What we talk about when we talk about release

Source: https://open.substack.com/pub/metalabel/p/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about?r=6d366
Kiwi News: https://news.kiwistand.com/stories/What-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-release?index=0x66ebe4d48ef695e6f3cce1b991553dd72594c67d48a3a33a6b33d68d24055ba41740805d
Submitted by naomiii.eth on 2024-09-19 UTC, 2 upvotes, 0 comments

## Summary

Metalabel argues that creative people should "release" their work rather than simply post it, because a release places a work in an artist's canon and gives it context. The text says a release is not passive but invites an audience to engage, watch, purchase, or attend, and that releases are established ways for creators to monetize and be rewarded for their work. It adds that Metalabel will introduce a new universe for releasing in October, and it highlights The Creative Independent's reissue of the zine "On Dealing With Creative Anxiety," with 50 physical copies and an open digital edition.

## Article

This year you’ve heard us repeatedly extoll the importance of releasing our work as artists and creative people. What do we mean when we say release?

As Tyler the Creator told us this summer, when we put out creative work we’re not promoting ourselves, we’re honoring the time and effort that went into making it. Too many people treat their creative output like fast fashion (h/t Nick Susi). We owe it more.

A release is something you’re saying belongs in your canon. Part of your legacy. It’s not some throwaway thing. This one counts. Taxonomies and catalog numbers help establish this deeper universe.

Content is king and context is queen. Understanding where a work comes from and what universe it exists within is what makes something special and valuable. Releasing establishes the context that lets the work be properly seen.

A release is not meant to be passive. It invites an audience to engage, watch, purchase, attend, or exchange. Releases are established ways for creative people to monetize their work and be rewarded for what they do.

Posting is how creative people have shared work for the past decade. Releasing much more enthusiastically celebrates creative work.

We’re not going to make a more enriching, empowering, and uplifting creative ecosystem by posting more. We’ll make it, together, by re-discovering what it means to release.

In October, Metalabel will introduce a new universe for all creative people to release. If you’re interested in being a part of it, tell us about what you’re working on here.

In its second release with Metalabel, the incredible Creative Independent returns to reissue “On Dealing With Creative Anxiety,” a zine of insights by everyone from actress Audrey Plaza to writer Mike Rugnetta to musician Nikki Sixx on how to channel your creative concerns.

All 52 pages are packed with insights and advice from other artists on how to handle the journey. Just 50 physical copies are being reissued, along with an open digital edition.

Collect The Creative Independent

As culture-heads, we appreciate the deep, the obsessive, and the unusual. Which are just three of the many reasons we connect with artist Lizzie Klein’s singular collection “Virtual Memorials,” which collects and physically prints screenshots of memorials left for real people in virtual spaces. Edition of just 20. Not many remain.

Collect Virtual Memorials

The second Metalabel release from a Swedish musician who releases mesmerizing dreamscapes of .WAV files. Meditative. Hypnotic. Suspenseful. Recommended.

Collect "As Long As"

On TikTok our product designer Erin Rimmer has been making daily videos about artists on Metalabel. Including this one about the iconic “Deep Fried Half Cat” release:

Peace and love, Metalabel