The history of Yep Roc Records is a storyline that could have been lifted from a movie or a book. It’s a tale of two childhood friends who labored to do something great with what they loved: music.
The label from Haw River, now celebrating its 15th anniversary, has grown from a local business to an international force on the music scene. It also has garnered a roster of impressive artists ranging from The Old Ceremony to Chatham County Line to The Mayflies USA to John Doe. However, these chronicles are merely the denouement of a heartwarming tale. The true gem of the story lies in the company’s history.
Glenn Dicker and Tor Hansen grew up together just outside of Philadelphia. They had known each other prior to elementary school, and as they aged, they bonded over a common love of music.
“We figured out that we were both drawn to music, and we played in bands together in junior high and high school,” Dicker said.
Following college, they found each other again in Boston, where they resumed playing music together and found jobs at Rounder Records. At this company, the initial idea of Yep Roc was established.
“I think the seeds of our experiences there helped pave the way for the vision for what we’re doing today,” Dicker said.
Hansen eventually landed a job with a music distribution company in Chapel Hill. Following that company’s consolidation with Borders, Hansen was asked to move to Ann Arbor, Mich., but he declined in favor of staying in North Carolina. He then started a distribution company called Redeye Distribution, the sister company of Yep Roc, and the initial foundations for the label were set.
Meanwhile, Dicker remained in Boston, breaking off from Rounder Records to start his own company, Upstart Records. This gave him his first taste of heading a record label, a key experience he would apply later at Yep Roc.
A year after Hansen started Redeye, he made the decision to start a label and called on Dicker to be his business partner. Thus, in 1997, Yep Roc Records was formed.
With Hansen leaning toward the sales and marketing side of the business, Dicker focused on artist acquisition and promotion, and with 10 years of experience already under their belts, the business partners prepared for takeoff.
Starting mainly with regional acts, the label got one of its big breaks with the release of Caitlin Cary’s While You Weren’t Looking in 2002, an album that boasted formidable sales and allowed Yep Roc to launch its brand globally.
“That was a big milestone for us,” Dicker said. “We took this solo artist and built her up big, put her on tour nationally and internationally. We had taken a regional artist to a national and international stage, which was a huge step for us.”
A year earlier, the company had already set off on the path to recognition with the signing of Nick Lowe, an established national artist, and the release of his album The Convincer. After this, many other popular artists began to look at Yep Roc in a new light, which legitimized the label’s position in the national music scene.
Artists involved with the label are extremely fond of their work environment. Chatham County Line, brought into the company by producer and artist Chris Stamey, is one such act.
“I like the fact that they’re very artist friendly, and they’ve been easy to deal with,” said John Teer of CCL. “They come out to a ton of our shows and show a great deal of support for us. They’re willing to help us and give us artistic freedom. They believe in our vision as a band.”
Artist John Doe also spoke highly of the label when explaining his decision to join Yep Roc.
“I started hearing about them in 2004, and I liked the kind of people that were on their label,” Doe said. “I saw that they loved music and that they had a good business sense, which is kind of rare.”
It’s not a broad generalization to assume that most record companies eschew allowing artists their creative freedom, but Dicker has a candid reasoning when it comes to his philosophy.
“Frankly, I don’t find that we’re qualified to judge anyone’s music or make recommendations on what they should do,” he said. “We love these artists and fully believe in what they do and the music they’re creating.”
At its 15th anniversary, the company is still blooming. It’s hosting an upcoming three day-long anniversary show full of its artists at the Cat’s Cradle from tonight through Saturday. Attendees can expect surprise collaborations and new live presentations from the performers.
In examining the current state of the label and the future directions it will take, Dicker said, “I feel like we’re in a very good position; that we have an incredible roster of artists that don’t seem to be slowing down, and I feel like were getting more opportunities every day to work with new and developing artists.
“I guess where I see this all going is hopefully continuing to move forward. I don’t see any dramatic changes or anything radical happening. Really, I think it’s all about supporting what the artists’ vision is of their art — that’s what we want to do and I think we’ve maintained that level all along. It seems like it’s going in the right direction.”
Contact the desk editor at diversions@dailytarheel.com.
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