FREER RECORDS IS THE FIRST RECORD LABEL IN THE UNITED STATES FOR PRISON-IMPACTED MUSICIANS. OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD THE CAREERS OF OUR ARTISTS SO THEIR WORK IS WIDELY HEARD, UNCENSORED, AND UPHOLDING OF THEIR HUMANITY.

WHAT WE DO

  • We connect with musicians in prisons and develop relationships with prisons so that we can bring in recording gear and ensure the musicians have access to instruments and practice time. We showcase their work in high-quality digital and physical formats. We ensure our recording and production is at a high level, so we can deliver projects that are competitive with other commercial releases. We market the music to a wide audience, seeking press coverage in major publications and in local news sources in the communities our artists are from. Artists on our label own their masters and receive 60% of royalties during our exclusive license. Whenever incarcerated artists cannot be compensated, we hold the proceeds until their release or dispose of them according to their directives.

  • We complement musical releases and performances with music videos and documentaries. We host live events and exhibits that are vibrant and celebratory, and that use visual storytelling to bring our incarcerated artists to a live audience. We regularly partner with prison-impacted grassroots activists doing frontline work, in order to create music and visuals that uplift the work of activists. In our creative process and community events, we aim to include people who might not always feel welcome in arts spaces.

  • We provide the musicians we support with tools and support they need to flourish artistically. In bringing our projects to life, we create opportunities for prison-impacted people to work with us as paid contractors. This allows them to earn income and learn key skills in music production, video editing, graphic design, and business operations. We also provide paid opportunities for returning citizens to gain experience in non-profit administration, development, and communications.

  • We build strong, long-lasting relationships with musicians, so that we can support their wellbeing and artistic development. We organically build a network of collaborating musicians through word of mouth and community outreach. We were built on a DIY spirit of social justice and engage in activist efforts that benefit our community, whether it be showing up to a parole hearing or supplying people in prisons with musical instruments.

WHO WE WORK WITH

We started off as a concept album about the Black experience of incarceration and re-entry in America. Our roster of artist continues to reflect the anti-Black racism that underlies the US prison system, but also speaks to other forms of other-ing and racism. We work in men and women’s prisons, and we collaborate closely with senior citizens, people with disabilities, Native Americans, veterans, queer and transgender people. We are committed to uplifting underrepresented voices in an already marginalized population.

OUR IMPACT

Over a decade fulfilling our mission:

  •  3 LPs, 4 EPs, and 18 Singles by prison-impacted musicians released to international acclaim and a growing audience of 100,000+ streams. [UPDATE NUMBERS]

  • 65 incarcerated musicians recorded. 18 formerly incarcerated musicians recorded. 17 prisons visited or recorded in 10 states across America. [UPDATE]

  • [QUANTIFY] concerts that connect incarcerated artists to a live audience, [provide examples]

  • ## of Visual Albums/Music videos

  • Wide-ranging critical claim for our artists, with features in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, BBC, Pitchfork, The Marshall Project, Grammys.com, Washington Post, Colorado Public Radio, Detroit Metro Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Oxygen, WNYC's The Takeaway, Interview Magazine, Arte TV France, The Atlantic, and Passion of Weiss, among others

  • Our PPE Into Prisons virtual concert series at the height of the pandemic, featuring major musical acts alongside prison-impacted artists, raised $25K to send 30,285 masks to 26 prisons and jails in 16 states.

  • Our Instruments Into Prisons campaign with the Union of Musicians and Allied Workers has sent 13 facilities 150+ pieces of instruments/gear, serving dozens of incarcerated musicians with a market value of over $20K in equipment.