Modern Short Stories

Modern Short Stories was formed in Pittsburgh during the summer of 2008 by Steve Soboslai and Chris Fafalios, members of Punchline, together with Amanda Yu. The label developed after Punchline left Fueled by Ramen, the record company that had released the band’s earlier work, including the albums Action and 37 Everywhere and a re-release of The Rewind EP. Rather than continuing solely as a traditional record imprint, the founders described Modern Short Stories as a media label. Its slogan, “Every song is a modern short story,” expressed a broad creative concept linking recorded music with writing, illustration, video, and other forms of storytelling. The project’s background included Punchline’s participation in Heavy.com’s Contraband Contest. In 2007, the band won the competition’s $25,000 prize after uploading 65 videos and attracting nearly 1.2 million views. Chris Fafalios helped mobilize the band’s fan community during the contest. The episode gave the group experience with online promotion and direct audience participation before the label was established. Modern Short Stories’s first documented release was Punchline’s Just Say Yes, issued on September 18, 2008. The imprint then moved into publishing and illustrated content. On February 2, 2009, it released Whistle Pig, a collection created by Chris Fafalios and Tony Hartman that combined short stories, poetry, illustrations, humorous cartoon material, and fairy-tale-like writing. The release reflected the label’s stated ambition to operate across media rather than limit itself to albums and singles. The documented roster included Punchline, Justin Oliver, Spontaneo, and The Composure. During the label’s early period, public plans also referred to a Justin Oliver album, a Punchline DVD, and a further Punchline full-length album. The available reference material does not confirm that each proposed project reached release through Modern Short Stories. The label’s public-facing social-media activity reportedly stopped being updated after 2017. No reliable current corporate, ownership, or operating information is available, so the imprint’s present status cannot be confirmed.

• 2017

  Public Facebook activity reportedly ends

  [1]Modern Short Storiesen.wikipedia.org

  The label’s Facebook page was reported as having received no updates after 2017; this does not by itself establish a formal closure date.

• 2009

  Whistle Pig broadens the label’s output

  [1]Modern Short Storiesen.wikipedia.org

  Modern Short Stories released Whistle Pig, a collection of writing and illustrations by Chris Fafalios and Tony Hartman.

• 2008

  Modern Short Stories is founded

  [1]Modern Short Storiesen.wikipedia.org

  Steve Soboslai, Chris Fafalios, and Amanda Yu established the Pittsburgh-based media label after Punchline’s departure from Fueled by Ramen.

• 2008

  Just Say Yes becomes the first documented release

  [1]Modern Short Storiesen.wikipedia.org

  Punchline’s album Just Say Yes was released through Modern Short Stories on September 18.

• 2007

  Punchline wins the Heavy.com Contraband Contest

  [1]Modern Short Storiesen.wikipedia.org

  Punchline won the contest’s grand prize after publishing 65 videos and attracting nearly 1.2 million views, an experience that helped develop the group’s online promotional base before the label was founded.

An artist-led independent media label combining pop-punk music releases with books, illustrations, and other creative projects.

• Music album · 2008

  Just Say Yes

  An album by Punchline and the first documented release issued by Modern Short Stories. It established the imprint’s initial connection to its founders’ band and served as the label’s launch music project.

• Book · 2009

  Whistle Pig

  A collection by Chris Fafalios and Tony Hartman combining short stories, poetry, illustrations, comic writing, and fairy-tale-inspired material. Its publication demonstrated Modern Short Stories’ broader media-label positioning.

• Music album

  Justin Oliver album

  A Justin Oliver album was announced or planned for release in the label’s early period. The available source material does not verify its final release date or confirm that it was issued by Modern Short Stories.

• Video

  Punchline DVD

  A Punchline DVD was reported as a planned Modern Short Stories project for spring 2009. The available reference does not confirm whether the project was completed or released.

• 2008

  Adopt a cross-media label modelStrategy

  Background

  The founders created the imprint after Punchline left Fueled by Ramen and framed it as a media label rather than only a conventional record company.

  Action taken

  Modern Short Stories combined music releases with plans and releases involving books, illustrations, video, and other storytelling formats.

  Aftermath

  The release of Whistle Pig in 2009 provided a documented example of the label extending beyond recorded music.

  Source

• 2008

  Launch Modern Short Stories with Punchline's Just Say YesProduct launch

  Background

  The founders needed an independent release vehicle following Punchline’s departure from Fueled by Ramen.

  Action taken

  The label issued Punchline’s Just Say Yes on September 18, 2008.

  Aftermath

  The album became the imprint’s first documented release and anchored its initial music catalog.

  Source

1. 1Modern Short Storiesen.wikipedia.org