The label essentially closed its doors in 2019.
In 2019, the indie rock-focused record label Tiny Engines found itself in a predicament after several of its artists accused the label of payment issues and breach of contract—a situation which co-founder Chuck Daley acknowledged. Fast forward to now, and co-founder Will Miller has announced plans to breathe new life into the label, taking the helm as its sole owner and implementing a “new management structure.”
In a statement shared on Tiny Engines’ Twitter account on Friday, Miller expressed his commitment to “ensuring that artists and their records are cared for properly and treated with the requisite respect,” as well as “ensuring that artists are paid what they are owed.”
The statement elaborates that all accounting between the label and its artists has been settled, with all artists having now been paid in full. Moreover, 80% of the label’s masters ownership contracts have been restructured into licensing contracts—with the transition of the remaining 20% planned for completion by the end of 2023. This shift means that the label’s artists will now retain ownership of their masters.
The storm surrounding Tiny Engines reached its peak in November 2019 when Stevie Knipe, performing as Adult Mom, openly accused the label of not paying them promptly, further sharing their sentiment that their “work was not in safe or responsible hands.” Echoing this sentiment, other artists shared similarly disheartening tales, including Sarah Tudzin of Illuminati Hotties. Tudzin released her 2020 mixtape “Free I.H.: This Is Not The One You’ve Been Waiting For” as a provisional measure to fulfill her contract, paving the way for her subsequent “real” album “Let Me Do One More” to be released under more favorable conditions.
“It was just uncool,” Tudzin commented. “It wasn’t living up to the ethos that they had laid out for the artists that they represented, and [Adult Mom] finally decided to call them out on it, and then everything fell apart.”
Looking ahead to the label’s future, Miller adds a note to fans: “You, the fan, owe us nothing. We will strive to regain your trust through our actions as a label and in how we treat our artists. If you choose not to support Tiny Engines, please continue to support the artists in any way you can.”
See the full statement from Tiny Engines below.
Tiny Engines’ catalog features releases from artists including The Hotelier, Spirit of the Beehive, Mannequin Pussy, Empty Country, Tigers Jaw, Beach Slang, It Looks Sad., and more.
