Before I tell this story, I want to fully disclose that I’m involved with this project. I DO NOT receive monetary compensation for my work (nor have I ever) on this project, but I do receive the releases we put out for free in digital format. Thus far I haven’t received the actual vinyl releases for free, but this may happen in the future, so I’ll go ahead and disclose that now, too.

In other words, I put in a lot of work at night and on the weekends and get “paid” in free music a few times a year.

I’ve written before about collaboration, and this is an extension of that story.

In 2006, a few members of the dubstepforum.com message board mentioned in a thread (conversation) that the forum had a lot of unsigned talent among their 5,000 members, and enough resources on the forum to start a record label and get those talented artists exposed to the limelight.

In short order, Pressing Issues was formed. Members of dubstepforum.com came together from all over the US (NYC all the way to San Francisco), Canada, the UK, and eastern europe to work in A&R, marketing, operations and design roles.

The logo? Community chosen
The music? Submitted by the community and voted on by the community
The initial funding? Provided by the community

Everything about this project came from the community.

Pressing Issues took a hiatus in late 2008-2009, but is now back planning the 3rd release. Even though dubstepforum.com has exploded from 5,000 to almost 35,000 members, Pressing Issues is still about the community.

The greatest thing about the concept is that every community has the power to come together and make a project like this happen. We all have our unique talents, our individual interests, and something special to contribute to group projects.

I challenge musicians and aspiring musicians out there reading to see what your community can come together to accomplish. As already shown, something as simple as a post on a message board can quickly transform into something much bigger. In this case, a record label. In your case… who knows?