Hand Drawn Records/Pressing
The Opportunity
Launch the most state-of-the-art vinyl pressing facility in the world. Focus on the indie label’s innovation, one-stop-shop method, & expose them to a national audience for the first time.
Dallas’ Hand Drawn Records approached CultureHype to assist with launching its new vinyl pressing arm. The independent label has a history of working with established local artists & this addition would solidify them as a full-service shop. As noted in Forbes, “The label owners found themselves already serving as brokers with vinyl pressing plants for a bunch of their peers, so they decided to take the next step & open a plant themselves.”
Furthermore, the innovative technology was a major breakthrough at a time when record quality was declining. CultureHype chose to divide the opportunities into local & national, centered around music & innovation. Locally, this was an opportunity to showcase a brand branching out into new creative territory. Nationally, it spoke to the trends in the resurgence of vinyl, meeting a need for true quality. As we built a bigger presence both in Texas and beyond for Hand Drawn, we were able to strategically network & build new connections during SXSW for vinyl pressing projects, promote top acts being pressed to vinyl at the facility, Record Store Day collaborations, and more - ultimately positioning the label to win “Best Record Label” at the Dallas Observer Music Awards & garner interest from artists in Dallas & beyond.
The Development
Built new relationships with national media in the sectors of tech, business, music/entertainment, & innovation. Launch the most high-tech vinyl presses in the world during a time where vinyl sales were at an all-time high and vinyl was a trending national topic.
The Results
CultureHype advanced Hand Drawn Records’ vinyl pressing addition onto a local, regional, & national stage. After lining up a Wired video exclusive that showed the first-ever high-tech vinyl press in action, our team spread the news like wildfire across a bevy of national media outlets such as Popular Science, Pitchfork, & Forbes. CultureHype also developed a strategy for media coverage that earned spots in outlets like D Magazine, Dallas Observer, WFAA 8’s Shaping DFW series, & The Dallas Morning News.
Noteworthy Press Clips
Forbes - Hand Drawn Pressing Brings New Technology to Vinyl Pressing
Wired - Meet the Record-Pressing Robot Fueling Vinyl’s Comeback
Launch DFW - Old School Music Format Finds New Life Via Technology and Personal Touch
D Magazine - Hand Drawn Records Is Helping Dallas Find Its Groove, Again
Dallas Observer - Hand Drawn Records Expands to Include a Crowdfunding Site, Line-In
Hand Drawn Records - WFAA “Shaping DFW” featuring Dustin Blocker of Hand Drawn Records