Red Brick Records and Forcefield Records: Making the music industry more sustainable – how and what indie labels can learn from one another
Red Brick Records and Forcefield Records are both music collectives working with various Swiss artists. Their work lies at the intersection of DIY and professionalism. They are also committed to fostering connections between Swiss musicians.
The Swiss music industry needs to make room for young, DIY music projects and artists again, which is why we need labels and collectives such as Red Brick Records and Forcefield Records. Smaller music labels are essential to counteract the monopolisation by the major music corporations.
Red Brick Records has been operating as a record label for more than 15 years. During that time, it has established a sustainable administrative and financial structure which enables the cooperative’s members to pay themselves a wage for their work. Forcefield Records has been operating as a collective for six years and has been run on a voluntary basis since its inception. As part of the Migros Culture Percentage m2act project, Forcefield Records is taking over the operations of Red Brick Records. This enables the collective to develop and fund itself sustainably, democratically and for the long term.
Across several sessions, the two labels will also be discussing how to prevent burnout and self-exploitation in the music industry and how alternative technologies can be used to distribute music.
In a further step, the lessons learnt and best practices from Red Brick Records and Forcefield Records will be shared with various other music collectives and the public as part of a label tour. There will be a panel discussion featuring various music experts (artists, key players from the nightlife and club scene, and label representatives) as well as concerts in smaller and alternative venues. Many people mainly listen to music digitally: through its events, the project promotes face-to-face interaction between musicians and the audience
As the first and only queer-feminist label in the Swiss music industry, Forcefield attracts a younger audience both on and off stage. Another aim of this project is to connect emerging artists with Red Brick Records, thereby helping to promote queer-feminist values
The monopolisation of the Swiss music industry continues to grow, and it is essential that young artists, collectives and DIY projects are supported and given a place within the industry. The project by Red Bricks Records and Forcefield Records aims to help work towards this goal.
The members of Red Brick Records and Forcefield Records are keen to establish a community where people can exchange ideas about music and sound creation, share resources such as skills and materials, forge new connections, and ultimately join forces.
Their best practices include not only their effective administrative and financial structures but also the access both labs have to young people in Switzerland, the reputation they have built up, and the hard-won status they have achieved within the scene. As collectives, they are invited by various stakeholders to attend a range of events.
Contributors
Laura Schuler and Hilke Ross (Red Brick Records)
Sole Lüthy and Louisa Loosli (Forcefield Records)
@redbrickrecords
@forcefield_records
Spotify Red Brick Records
Published 29.6.26