Beat the World Records

Beat the World Records is a Portland, Oregon-based record label founded by the alternative rock band The Dandy Warhols. The label emerged from the band's desire to control more of its recording and release activity after its separation from Capitol Records. Before the label formally launched, the band began developing a roster in 2007 by signing the Portland shoegaze group The Upsidedown and the indie electropop artist Logan Lynn. The label was formally established in 2008 as a third-party label associated with Caroline Records and EMI. The Dandy Warhols supplied the label's first major release, ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols..., in 2008. The label also issued two remix EPs built around that album, extending the release program into electronic and reworked versions of the band's material. During its early Caroline/EMI period, Beat the World Records released Logan Lynn's Feed Me to the Wolves EP, repackaged his earlier work as The Complete Collection, and issued an album by The Upsidedown. Lynn later released the full-length From Pillar to Post on the label in September 2009. The roster expanded to include acts such as Monstrous, The Hugs, Spindrift, and artists connected with The Dandy Warhols' broader creative circle. However, not every signed or associated act released music through the label. Monstrous, The Hugs, and Spindrift are reported as having made no official Beat the World release. The label's comparatively limited infrastructure became a point of criticism during this period. Logan Lynn departed in 2010 after three years with the label, citing shortcomings in radio promotion, distribution, licensing, and public relations. The Hugs also left around the same time. Beat the World Records ended its relationship with Caroline Records and EMI in 2010 and began working with The End Records in 2011. Its later catalog included The Dandy Warhols' This Machine, released on April 24, 2012. The label's documented activity is closely tied to The Dandy Warhols and to a small group of Portland and alternative artists. Publicly available reference material does not establish whether the label remains active, has continued releases after the documented period, or has been formally dissolved.

Beat the World Records was created by The Dandy Warhols, a band from Portland, Oregon, as an effort to establish a more direct route for releasing music. The project began taking shape in 2007, when the band signed Portland shoegaze group The Upsidedown and indie electropop artist Logan Lynn. At that stage, the label concept was connected to the band's broader interest in supporting artists within its local and professional network. The label became official in 2008, following The Dandy Warhols' split from Capitol Records. It initially operated as a Caroline Records and EMI third-party label. The first official release was ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols..., issued by the founding band. The label subsequently expanded the album's life with Earth to the Remix E.P. Volume One and Earth to the Remix E.P. Volume Two, which presented electronic reinterpretations of material from the album. Beat the World's early catalog also included several Logan Lynn projects. In 2008 it released the Feed Me to the Wolves EP and assembled Lynn's previous work in The Complete Collection. The same year, it issued a full-length album by The Upsidedown. Lynn's relationship with the label continued with From Pillar to Post, released in September 2009. The label also associated itself with Monstrous, The Hugs, Spindrift, and other acts linked to The Dandy Warhols' creative circle, although Monstrous, The Hugs, and Spindrift did not make official Beat the World releases according to the available account. In 2009 Beat the World released The Dandy Warhols' cover of The Beatles' “Blackbird” as a tribute connected with the death of Michael Jackson. Later that year, it issued The Dandy Warhols Are Sound, the original mix of the band's Welcome to the Monkey House album. The mix had been prepared by producer Russell Elevado but had previously been rejected by Capitol Records and left unreleased for several years. Its reception was comparatively muted against the commercially established version of the album. The label encountered difficulties associated with its small-scale operating model. Logan Lynn departed in July 2010, and The Hugs left around the same time. Lynn subsequently self-released the album he had been developing for Beat the World as a benefit for Portland's Q Center. Contemporary comments attributed to Lynn criticized the label's lack of radio support, distribution, licensing, and public relations, while Courtney Taylor-Taylor acknowledged that the band had limited business experience in running a label. Beat the World Records ended its Caroline/EMI arrangement in 2010 and began working with The End Records in 2011. The Dandy Warhols released the new album This Machine on April 24, 2012. The documented history establishes the label's founding, principal release periods, roster changes, and distribution relationships, but does not provide enough reliable information to determine its current operating status or subsequent catalog activity.

1. 2012This Machine released

   The Dandy Warhols released This Machine through the label on April 24.

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2. 2010Caroline/EMI relationship ends

   The label cut ties with Caroline Records and EMI and later moved to a working relationship with The End Records.

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3. 2009From Pillar to Post released

   Logan Lynn issued the full-length album From Pillar to Post through Beat the World Records in September.

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4. 2008Formal label launch

   Beat the World Records was formally established after The Dandy Warhols left Capitol Records, initially in association with Caroline Records and EMI.

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5. 2008First catalog releases

   The label released ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols..., two remix EPs, Logan Lynn projects, and a full-length album by The Upsidedown.

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6. 2007Initial artist signings

   The Dandy Warhols began developing the label concept and signed The Upsidedown and Logan Lynn.

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A musician-founded independent label focused on alternative, indie rock, shoegaze, electropop, and related Portland-connected acts, with an emphasis on releases by The Dandy Warhols and affiliated artists.

• ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols...Studio album2008

  The Dandy Warhols' first official release on Beat the World Records, issued in 2008 and serving as the label's principal launch-era album.

• Earth to the Remix E.P. Volume OneRemix EP2008

  An electronic remix release built from material associated with ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols..., demonstrating the label's interest in alternate versions and remix-oriented releases.

• Earth to the Remix E.P. Volume TwoRemix EP2008

  The second remix EP connected with The Dandy Warhols' Earth-era material, issued a few months after the first volume.

• Feed Me to the WolvesEP2008

  An EP by Logan Lynn released during the label's early Caroline/EMI period.

• The Complete CollectionCatalog reissue2008

  A Beat the World package collecting Logan Lynn's existing catalog and extending the label's role beyond new recordings.

• From Pillar to PostStudio album2009

  Logan Lynn's critically recognized full-length album released by Beat the World Records in September 2009.

• The Dandy Warhols Are SoundStudio album2009

  A release presenting the original mix of Welcome to the Monkey House, prepared by Russell Elevado and previously shelved after Capitol Records rejected that version.

• This MachineStudio album2012

  A new studio album by The Dandy Warhols released through Beat the World Records on April 24, 2012.

• 2010Change distribution relationshipStrategy

  Beat the World ended its relationship with Caroline Records and EMI after its initial operating period.

  What changed. The label began working with The End Records in 2011.

  Aftermath. The label continued to release Dandy Warhols material, including This Machine in 2012.

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• 2008Create a band-owned labelStrategy

  The Dandy Warhols wanted a more direct way to develop artists and issue recordings after their relationship with Capitol Records ended.

  What changed. The band established Beat the World Records and initially structured it as a Caroline Records/EMI third-party label.

  Aftermath. The label released music by The Dandy Warhols, Logan Lynn, and The Upsidedown, while expanding its associated roster.

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• 2012The Dandy Warhols release This Machine

  The Dandy Warhols released the album This Machine through Beat the World Records on April 24, 2012.

  Product launch
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• 2010Logan Lynn leaves Beat the World Records

  Logan Lynn announced his departure from the label after releasing an EP, an album, and a single. The Hugs also left around the same period.

  Leadership changeOther
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• 2010Beat the World ends Caroline/EMI relationship and works with The End Records

  Beat the World Records separated from its Caroline Records and EMI arrangement and began working with The End Records in 2011.

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• 2008The Dandy Warhols launch Beat the World Records

  The Dandy Warhols formally established Beat the World Records after leaving Capitol Records. The label operated initially as a third-party imprint associated with Caroline Records and EMI.

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• 2008Beat the World issues its first releases

  The label released The Dandy Warhols' ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols..., followed by remix EPs and releases connected with Logan Lynn and The Upsidedown.

  Product launch
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1. Beat the World Records