ABOUT SIXTH RING
Sixth Ring Records is an independent record label built around a simple idea: there’s always more music worth finding.
We work with artists we believe in, help turn their music into physical releases, and introduce listeners to music we think deserves their attention—whether it was released yesterday or fifty years ago.
We’re here for people who still like discovering music.
A LABEL WITHOUT THE BULLSHIT
We believe a record label should help artists build something, not take ownership of it.
Sixth Ring works directly with independent artists to develop releases that make sense for them. That can mean pressing vinyl, developing artwork and packaging, promotion, distribution, reaching new audiences, or figuring out how to make a physical release financially possible in the first place.
What it doesn’t mean is taking ownership of an artist’s music.
Artists keep control of their music, streaming, and creative direction. We work together on the parts where Sixth Ring can actually add value.
Sometimes that’s a full Sixth Ring release.
Sometimes it’s simply helping an independent artist manufacture their own record.
We’re interested in making good records with interesting people, not owning what they create.
FROM OREGON TO BEIJING AND BACK
Sixth Ring was born out of two places on opposite sides of the Pacific.
The name comes from Beijing’s six ring roads — the city where the founder currently resides — and the six rings that make up our mark also form the grooves of a record.
Our roots stretch back to Oregon, where our first artist and much of the label’s early story began.
That distance has become part of what Sixth Ring is: finding artists, music, manufacturers, scenes, and listeners that might otherwise never cross paths.
MORE THAN OUR RELEASES
Sixth Ring isn’t only about the records with our name on the back.
We’re music fans first.
Our Editorial exists for the same reason the label does: we like finding music and telling other people about it.
Album reviews, artist features, interviews, forgotten records, new discoveries, unpopular opinions and whatever else we can’t stop listening to.
We use our own Six Ring rating system, our editors have their own tastes, and we don’t pretend any of it is objective.
You don’t have to agree with us.
In fact, it’s probably more interesting when you don’t.
FOR THE ARTISTS
There isn’t one way to work with Sixth Ring.
RELEASE WITH SIXTH RING
For artists we formally work with, we’ll build a release plan together—from manufacturing and physical production through promotion, sales and getting the record into people’s hands.
MAKE YOUR OWN RECORD
Already independent and want to stay that way?
Good.
We can help artists manufacture vinyl and other physical releases without signing to Sixth Ring or giving us ownership of their music. We’ll work with you to develop a production plan based on what you’re trying to make, how many you need, your budget, and how you plan to sell them.
GET HEARD
We’re always looking for something we haven’t heard before.
If you’re making music you think belongs somewhere around the Sixth Ring, send it our way.
JOIN THE NOISE
New releases. New artists. Records worth rediscovering. Opinions you may or may not agree with.
We’re just getting started.