Machine Shop Records
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA record label founded by Linkin Park members Brad Delson and Mike Shinoda, associated with rock, hip hop, alternative rock, and nu metal releases.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Machine Shop Records, also known as Machine Shop Recordings, is an American record label established by Linkin Park members Brad Delson and Mike Shinoda. Its origins trace to the band’s early fan-community activity: the operation began as the Shinoda Imprint and was connected to the informal work of preparing Linkin Park fan materials and releases. The label’s first documented release was the Linkin Park Underground 2.0 extended play, issued for the band’s fan club in November 2002. A subsequent Linkin Park Underground release followed in 2003. The imprint was later renamed Machine Shop as the band members became more directly involved in its operation, with Delson taking an A&R role. Machine Shop’s catalogue has covered a broad section of the modern rock and hip hop spectrum. Its associated styles include alternative rock, nu metal, mainstream rock, hip hop, and underground hip hop. The label’s most prominent early achievement was its participation in Collision Course, the 2004 collaborative EP by Linkin Park and Jay-Z. That project was issued through a multi-label arrangement involving Machine Shop, Warner Bros. Records, and Roc-A-Fella Records, and became a major commercial release in the United States. Machine Shop also handled or shared credit on Linkin Park live and fan-oriented projects, including Live in Texas and continuing Linkin Park Underground editions. The label expanded beyond Linkin Park-related material during the middle of the 2000s. It released or supported projects associated with Fort Minor, Mike Shinoda’s side project, including The Rising Tied and related singles. The Fort Minor campaign helped bring Styles of Beyond and Holly Brook into the label’s wider orbit. Holly Brook released the Like Blood Like Honey album through the label in 2006, while other associated artists and projects included No Warning, Simplistic, LNDN, and various mixtape contributors. Machine Shop also issued compilation and mixtape projects such as Machine Shop Mixtape, We Major, and Razor Tag, linking its identity to a combination of band-led releases, artist development, and genre crossover. The label entered a period of inactivity or hiatus during the late 2000s. Mike Shinoda attributed the pause to disagreements between Machine Shop and Warner Bros. Records. The dispute affected the label’s ability to continue releasing projects and contributed to the departure of artists including Holly Brook and Styles of Beyond. The pause also meant that some Linkin Park-associated projects were not released through Machine Shop. Shinoda later indicated that a new release was possible and that the label was considering projects from the United Kingdom, but the available account does not establish a sustained independent relaunch. Machine Shop subsequently became involved with charitable and digital projects, including Download to Donate initiatives connected with Haiti and tsunami relief. It also participated in the American release of the Linkin Park-related game project 8-Bit Rebellion!. The label’s post-hiatus profile was again closely tied to Linkin Park, including the United States release of A Thousand Suns in 2010 and later Linkin Park albums and companion projects such as Living Things, Recharged, and The Hunting Party. Distribution and territorial arrangements varied: releases outside the United States were often handled by the band’s broader label network rather than Machine Shop alone. The label is best understood as a boutique imprint built around Linkin Park’s creative ecosystem rather than as a large standalone recording company. Its importance comes from giving the band a platform for fan-club editions, side projects, collaborations, artist signings, charitable compilations, and selected U.S. releases. Public reference material describes periods of activity and inactivity but does not clearly establish a current operating status, an active website, or a separately listed corporate structure.
History
Machine Shop Records grew out of Linkin Park’s early fan and independent-release activity. The operation was initially called the Shinoda Imprint and was associated with Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson. Its informal roots reportedly lay in the band’s early efforts to package CDs, stickers, and other materials for fans. At first, the imprint was intended primarily to support annual Linkin Park Underground fan-club releases rather than to function as a conventional open-market label. The first documented Machine Shop-related release was Linkin Park Underground 2.0, issued in November 2002. Linkin Park Underground 3.0 followed in 2003. These releases combined music with fan-club benefits and merchandise, including apparel, stickers, a key chain, a band photograph, a guitar pick, and a membership card. Because Linkin Park’s principal albums were already managed through Warner Bros. Records, Machine Shop initially operated as a complementary imprint rather than as the sole home for the band’s core catalogue. The imprint was later renamed Machine Shop as Delson and Shinoda became more directly involved. Delson served as an A&R representative, while Shinoda was identified as a founder and president. The label’s profile expanded sharply in 2004 through Collision Course, the collaborative EP made by Linkin Park and Jay-Z. The project was released through Machine Shop, Warner Bros. Records, and Roc-A-Fella Records, and its success established the imprint as a visible participant in high-profile crossover releases. Machine Shop also shared involvement in Linkin Park’s Live in Texas and continued issuing fan-oriented material. During the mid-2000s, Machine Shop developed a broader roster and release network. It was associated with No Warning, Simplistic, LNDN, Styles of Beyond, Holly Brook, and Fort Minor, Shinoda’s hip hop-oriented side project. The label’s non-Linkin Park catalogue included Suffer, Survive by No Warning and Holly Brook’s Like Blood Like Honey. Fort Minor’s The Rising Tied, released in 2005, became one of the imprint’s most visible projects. The Fort Minor single Where’d You Go featured Holly Brook and reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100, while Numb/Encore, the Linkin Park and Jay-Z collaboration, won the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Machine Shop also used compilations and mixtapes to connect rock and hip hop audiences. Machine Shop Mixtape appeared in 2005 and included contributions associated with artists such as Taproot, Papa Roach, and Deftones. Other projects included We Major and Razor Tag, as well as fan-club material for Fort Minor’s Militia community. This activity gave the label a distinctive role within Linkin Park’s wider creative and promotional ecosystem. By January 2009, Shinoda described Machine Shop Recordings as being on hiatus because of disagreements with parent-label partner Warner Bros. Records. The pause affected the label’s release schedule and was followed by the departure of associated artists including Holly Brook and Styles of Beyond. Shinoda later suggested that new releases were possible and that the label was considering material from the United Kingdom, but the reference account does not document a sustained relaunch under a new corporate structure. After the hiatus, Machine Shop was connected with Download to Donate projects, including initiatives for Haiti and tsunami relief. It also participated in the American release of 8-Bit Rebellion!. The label’s renewed mainstream association came through Linkin Park’s A Thousand Suns in 2010, followed by releases and related projects including Living Things, Recharged, and The Hunting Party. Territorial arrangements remained important: Machine Shop generally handled selected United States releases, while Linkin Park’s releases in other countries were often issued through the band’s broader label arrangements. The available reference material does not establish whether Machine Shop Records remains active today.
- 2010
Post-hiatus projects resume
[1]The label is associated with Download to Donate releases, 8-Bit Rebellion!, and the U.S. release of A Thousand Suns.
- 2009
The label enters a hiatus
[1]Mike Shinoda attributes the pause in operations to disagreements with Warner Bros. Records.
- 2006
Holly Brook releases Like Blood Like Honey
[1]Holly Brook’s debut album is issued through the label and reaches number 23 on the U.S. Heatseekers chart.
- 2005
The Rising Tied is released
[1]Fort Minor’s debut album gives Machine Shop a high-profile release beyond Linkin Park’s main band catalogue.
- 2004
Collision Course expands the label’s profile
[1]The Linkin Park and Jay-Z collaboration is released through a partnership involving Machine Shop, Warner Bros. Records, and Roc-A-Fella Records.
- 2003
Linkin Park Underground 3.0 is issued
[1]The label continues its fan-club programme with another Linkin Park Underground extended play.
- 2002
First documented fan-club release
[1]Linkin Park Underground 2.0 is released as the first documented release associated with the imprint.
- 2001
The Shinoda Imprint is established
[1]Linkin Park members Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson establish the imprint that later becomes known as Machine Shop Records.
Products and positioning
A Linkin Park-associated boutique imprint focused on rock, alternative music, hip hop, nu metal, artist development, fan-club releases, and selected collaborative or charitable projects.
Fan-club extended plays · 2002
Linkin Park Underground releases
A continuing series of fan-club releases containing previously unavailable recordings and related membership benefits. Linkin Park Underground 2.0 was the first documented release associated with the imprint, followed by Linkin Park Underground 3.0 and later editions.
Collaborative extended play · 2004
Collision Course
A collaborative EP by Linkin Park and Jay-Z that combines material from both artists. It was issued through a multi-label arrangement involving Machine Shop, Warner Bros. Records, and Roc-A-Fella Records, and became the imprint’s most prominent early crossover release.
Hip hop album · 2005
The Rising Tied
The debut album by Fort Minor, Mike Shinoda’s side project. Its release broadened Machine Shop’s identity beyond Linkin Park’s principal rock catalogue and helped connect the label with Styles of Beyond and Holly Brook.
Alternative pop album · 2006
Like Blood Like Honey
Holly Brook’s debut album released through Machine Shop. The project represented the label’s artist-development activity outside the Linkin Park and Fort Minor projects.
Compilation mixtape · 2005
Machine Shop Mixtape
A label-associated mixtape featuring contributions connected with rock and alternative acts including Taproot, Papa Roach, and Deftones, illustrating Machine Shop’s cross-genre programming.
Rock album · 2010
A Thousand Suns
A Linkin Park studio album identified as the label’s first major release after its hiatus. The album reached the top of the Billboard 200 and restored Machine Shop’s visibility through a major Linkin Park release.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010Download to Donate
United States
Machine Shop was associated with digital releases designed to support relief efforts connected with Haiti and tsunami-affected communities.
Outcome. The projects provided a charitable digital-release channel during the label’s post-hiatus period.
- 2005Fort Minor and Machine Shop crossover campaign
United States
The label promoted Fort Minor’s The Rising Tied and related singles, including projects involving Styles of Beyond and Holly Brook.
Outcome. The campaign expanded Machine Shop’s audience beyond Linkin Park and produced a significant chart profile for Where’d You Go.
- 2002Linkin Park Underground fan-club programme
United States
Machine Shop supported annual fan-club extended plays and packaged them with membership materials and merchandise, making community engagement a central part of the imprint’s early activity.
Outcome. The programme established the label’s initial operating model and continued through additional Linkin Park Underground releases.
Brand decisions
2010
Resume selected U.S. releases and digital projectsStrategyBackground
Following the hiatus, the label’s activity was again connected to Linkin Park, digital charitable initiatives, and selected American releases.
Action taken
Machine Shop participated in Download to Donate projects, 8-Bit Rebellion!, and the U.S. release of A Thousand Suns.
Aftermath
The label regained visibility through Linkin Park’s mainstream releases, while international distribution continued to be handled through the band’s broader label arrangements.
2009
Pause label operationsStrategyBackground
Machine Shop faced disagreements with Warner Bros. Records, its parent-label partner, during a period when the imprint was handling releases and artist relationships within the Warner distribution system.
Action taken
Mike Shinoda stated that Machine Shop Recordings would go on hiatus.
Aftermath
Associated artists including Holly Brook and Styles of Beyond departed, and the label’s release schedule became limited before later Linkin Park-related and charitable projects appeared.
Recent events
- 2010
Machine Shop supports Download to Donate projects[1]
Campaign
The label became associated with digital releases supporting relief efforts for Haiti and tsunami-affected communities.
- 2010
A Thousand Suns marks a major post-hiatus release[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Linkin Park’s A Thousand Suns was identified as the label’s first major post-hiatus release and reached the top of the Billboard 200.
- 2010
Machine Shop returns with relief-oriented digital releases[1]
Campaign · Other
The imprint resumed visible activity through Download to Donate projects and later supported major Linkin Park releases in the United States.
- 2010
A Thousand Suns tops the Billboard 200[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Linkin Park's A Thousand Suns became a major post-hiatus release associated with Machine Shop's United States operations and reached number one on the Billboard 200.
- 2009
Machine Shop enters a hiatus amid Warner Bros. disagreements[1]
Other · Leadership change
Mike Shinoda stated that label activity was on hold because of disagreements between Machine Shop and Warner Bros. Records.
- 2009
Machine Shop Records begins a period of hiatus[1]
Other
Mike Shinoda reported that the imprint was entering a hiatus because of disagreements with Warner Bros. Records.
- 2005
The Rising Tied expands the label through Fort Minor[1]
Product launch · Campaign
Mike Shinoda’s Fort Minor project released The Rising Tied through the label, increasing Machine Shop’s visibility beyond core Linkin Park albums.
- 2004
Collision Course delivers a major collaborative release[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Machine Shop participated in the multi-label release of the Linkin Park and Jay-Z collaboration Collision Course.
- 2002
Linkin Park Underground 2.0 becomes the first documented release[1]
Product launch
The label issued an extended play for Linkin Park’s fan club, accompanied by membership and merchandise materials.
- 2001
Machine Shop begins as the Shinoda Imprint[1]
Other
The Linkin Park-associated imprint was established by Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson before later adopting the Machine Shop name.
Sources1 sources
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