Our mission
Trans Music Archive is a nonprofit organization founded to record the history of trans music and safeguard its future. In the age of social media and streaming services, our existence is at the whim of corporate oversight and algorithms. We aim to empower artists, promote the value of physical music, and preserve the legacy of trans musicians in a time tested and future proof medium - vinyl records.
Trans music has always been here and will always be here.
We want to:
Produce vinyl pressings for trans musicians
Protect the legacy of trans music by cataloging a physical archive
Reissue albums from the past not previously available on vinyl
Foster community, host listening sessions and build an audience to promote trans music and appreciate our history
Promote, educate and fund research into trans music history
FAQ
Why aren’t you a record label?
As a nonprofit organization, we want artists to retain 100% ownership of their master rights.
Why is physical music important?
Music streaming services and social media algorithms have devalued music in the recent decades. One vinyl sale will yield as much profit for the artist as the equivalent of 4200 streams on Spotify*. The tangibility of a physical vinyl record gives both the artists and the consumers more value and exists outside of the digital ecosystem ensuring its longevity independent of tech companies.
*based on a vinyl record sale with 10$ profit and an average Spotify global payout payout rate ($0.0023 per stream)
Why now?
To date, there is no comprehensive history of trans music making. In a political climate where we face censorship and erasure, we want to document our history and ensure our future by physical means.
Who are we?
Trans Music Archive is co-founded by Ariel Loh and Rowan McDonald based in Ridgewood, NY.