Major Label

Major Label is an independent German record label founded in 1998 by Andreas Ettler (bassist of Verbrannte Erde) and Robert Stieler in Berga/Elster. The label is now based in Jena and Leipzig. It handles production, distribution, and shipping itself, with some products distributed by Broken Silence Independent Distribution GmbH from Hamburg. The label's musical styles include indie, punk, new wave, electronic music, and since late 2007, radio plays (Hörspiele). Inspired by renowned German independent labels such as Aggressive Rockproduktionen and Weird System, but musically more aligned with post-punk, Major Label has developed a distinctive sound profile over the years. The first releases were clearly rooted in dark post-punk: the first release in 1998 was the third studio tape by State of Emergency on vinyl, followed in 1999 by a CD release by Serene Fall (a side project of EA 80) and in 2000 a split 10" with Strahler 80 from Austria and Unabomber from Hamburg. Some members of Unabomber later formed Turbostaat. To date, around 80 releases have appeared on Major Label, with the musical range increasingly extending beyond punk. In 2002, the instrumental album "Exit" by Guts Pie Earshot was released, recorded only with cello, bass, and drums. Similarly hybrid was the debut album "Häßlich und Neu" by Kommando Sonne-nmilch around Brezel Göring (Stereo Total) and Jens Rachut (Angeschissen, Dackelblut, Oma Hans, Blumen am Arsch der Hölle & Seuchenprinz). The quirky mix of punk, radio play, and minimal electronics was initially celebrated by the press as "brave commercial suicide" and remains one of the label's most successful releases. The album "Jamaica" by Kommando Sonne-nmilch, released on Major Label and Buback, reached No. 3 in the editorial charts of the music magazine Spex in 2007. In collaboration with the Hamburg label Nobistor, Major Label released a three-part radio play in 2007, written by Jens Rachut with prominent speakers (e.g., Laura Tonke) and musicians (Jonas Landerschier of Jan Delay, Brezel Göring of Stereo Total). The radio play trilogy aired in November 2007 on 1 Live of WDR 3. Until 2006, the label distributed its releases itself. Since November 2006, there has been a supplementary deal with Broken Silence Independent Distribution GmbH from Hamburg. In 2005, the operators of Major Label founded the sublabel Super Kamiokande Detector, on which four releases have appeared that did not fit into Major Label's catalog due to their musical orientation. Although most records are released independently, successful collaborations have developed over the last 10 years with labels such as Buback, Nobistor, SM Musik, Rundling, Eastcore, Alerta Antifascista, Up-Art, Sacro K-Baalismo, Transit Records, Klabauter, and Nix-Gut Records. Artists and bands on the label include Bambix, Boxhamsters, Brockdorff Klang Labor, Die Art, Die Strafe, Die Tödliche Doris, EA80, Fliehende Stürme, Freunde der italienischen Oper, Guts Pie Earshot, Jens Rachut, Johnnie Rook, Kommando Sonne-nmilch, L'Attentat, Leatherface, Razzia, The Distorted Elvises, and Wissmut. Recent releases mentioned on the official website include albums by OIRO, AUSGESTORBEN, PANIKRAUM, and pADDELNoHNEkANU, as well as radio plays by Kai Grehn. The radio play "Imiona Nurtu" reached No. 1 on the hr2 audiobook bestseller list 4/2026. Upcoming releases include albums by KLEIBER, MARGOT ERKNER, FREUNDE DER ITALIENISCHEN OPER, and new material from GUTS PIE EARSHOT.

Major Label was founded in 1998 by Andreas Ettler, bassist of Verbrannte Erde, and Robert Stieler in Berga/Elster. Prior to this, Robert Stieler had gained experience at Matatu Records, a label he co-founded, and brought that experience to the newly founded label. Since 2007, Lars Nagler has been a permanent part of the label. Inspired by renowned German independent labels such as Aggressive Rockproduktionen and Weird System, but musically more aligned with post-punk, Major Label aimed to develop a similarly distinctive sound profile over the years. The first releases were clearly rooted in dark post-punk. The first release in 1998 was the third studio tape by State of Emergency on vinyl. This was followed in 1999 by a CD release by Serene Fall, a side project of EA 80, and in 2000 by a split 10" with the two bands Strahler 80 from Austria and Unabomber from Hamburg, who had named themselves after the pseudonym of American bomber Theodore Kaczynski. Some musicians from Unabomber are active in the band Turbostaat. To date, around 80 releases have appeared on Major Label, and the musical range has increasingly extended beyond the punk genre. In 2002, for example, the instrumental album "Exit" by Guts Pie Earshot was released, recorded only with cello, bass, and drums. Similarly hybrid was the debut album "Häßlich und Neu" by Kommando Sonne-nmilch around Brezel Göring of Stereo Total and Jens Rachut (Angeschissen, Dackelblut, Oma Hans, Blumen am Arsch der Hölle & Seuchenprinz). The quirky mix of punk, radio play, and minimal electronics was initially celebrated by the press as "brave commercial suicide." The album remains one of the label's most successful releases. The album "Jamaica" by Kommando Sonne-nmilch, released on Major Label and Buback, reached No. 3 in the editorial charts of the music magazine Spex in 2007. In collaboration with the Hamburg label Nobistor, Major Label released a three-part radio play for the first time in 2007. Jens Rachut as author developed a grotesque counter-design to the common creation doctrine with partly prominent speakers (e.g., Laura Tonke) and musicians (Jonas Landerschier of Jan Delay or Brezel Göring of Stereo Total). The radio play trilogy aired in November 2007 on 1 Live of WDR 3. Until 2006, the label distributed its releases itself. Since November 2006, there has been a supplementary deal with Broken Silence Independent Distribution GmbH from Hamburg. In 2005, the operators of Major Label founded the sublabel Super Kamiokande Detector. Four releases have appeared on it that could not be accommodated in Major Label's catalog due to their musical orientation. Although most records are released independently, successful collaborations have developed over the last 10 years with the following labels: Buback, Nobistor, SM Musik, Rundling, Eastcore, Alerta Antifascista, Up-Art, Sacro K-Baalismo, Transit Records, Klabauter, Nix-Gut Records. Artists and bands on the label include Bambix, Boxhamsters, Brockdorff Klang Labor, Die Art, Die Strafe, Die Tödliche Doris, EA80, Fliehende Stürme, Freunde der italienischen Oper, Guts Pie Earshot, Jens Rachut, Johnnie Rook, Kommando Sonne-nmilch, L'Attentat, Leatherface, Razzia, The Distorted Elvises, and Wissmut.

• 2026

  Radio play 'Imiona Nurtu' reaches No. 1 on hr2 audiobook bestseller list 4/2026

• 2007

  Lars Nagler joins as permanent member; first radio play trilogy released in collaboration with Nobistor; album 'Jamaica' by Kommando Sonne-nmilch reaches No. 3 in Spex editorial charts

• 2006

  Distribution deal with Broken Silence Independent Distribution GmbH

• 2005

  Sublabel Super Kamiokande Detector founded

• 2002

  Release of instrumental album 'Exit' by Guts Pie Earshot

• 2000

  Split 10" with Strahler 80 and Unabomber

• 1999

  CD release by Serene Fall, a side project of EA 80

• 1998

  Label founded by Andreas Ettler and Robert Stieler in Berga/Elster; first release: State of Emergency's third studio tape on vinyl

Independent label with a distinctive post-punk and punk sound, expanding into radio plays and electronic music.

• Häßlich und Neu

• 2002

  Exit

• 2007

  Jamaica

• Imiona Nurtu - Die Namen der Strömung

• Die Causa Jeanne D'Arc

• Zweite Kasse bitte

• Planetenübergabe

• Selbst

• Niemand liebt dich mehr

1. 1Official websitemajorlabel.de
2. 2Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org