Merge Records to Mark 25 Years With Singles Series
The indie record label that has at one time or another served as home to Arcade Fire, Teenage Fanclub, Superchunk and more will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2014 with a “year-long celebration,” according to its website. Chief among those is a subscription-based series of seven-inches, dubbed “Or Thousands of Prizes,” which will include monthly colored-vinyl deliveries from Superchunk, Mikal Cronin, Mount Moriah, the Mountain Goats, the Clientele, Destroyer, King Khan and the Shrines, Lambchop and others. The label is promising that most will be split singles, with each side dedicated to different bands. A subscription includes a collector’s box, a T-shirt, a “surprise” 12-inch, a CD containing all of the tracks, an eBook and more.
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The label intends to ship two seven-inches bimonthly beginning in February. Fans who are willing to fork over the subscription fee of $125 by the end of November receive a free download of Superchunk covering the Misfits’ “Children in Heat.” Proceeds from the subscription series will benefit Oxfam America, an organization that addresses global issues like poverty and hunger. The 7-inches are only available as a set, purchased through the group’s website, and will not be available as individual items or available to purchase in stores.
In addition to these releases, the label teased as-yet-unannounced “anniversary events” and giveaways planned for 2014. The label has not yet offered any hints as to what those festivities might be.