Rory Records

Rory Records is an independent American record-label imprint established in 2012 by Max Bemis, the vocalist and principal songwriter of the rock band Say Anything. The imprint was created under the umbrella of Equal Vision Records, an independent label with a long history in alternative, emo, punk, and related guitar-driven music. Rory Records releases were distributed through RED Distribution, connecting the imprint to a larger established music-distribution network while allowing it to maintain a focused identity and artist roster. The imprint’s association with Bemis gave Rory Records a strong connection to the alternative-rock and emo communities. Its documented roster included Say Anything, Bemis’s own band, as well as projects and artists such as Matt Pryor, Merriment, Museum Mouth, Perma, Pretty & Nice, Rising Fawn, Saves the Day, and Two Tongues. The roster reflected a broad interpretation of the independent alternative scene, spanning established acts, side projects, and emerging bands. TALLHART was also associated with the label before disbanding in 2014, and XO appears in the label’s former roster. Rory Records functioned primarily as an artist- and release-focused imprint rather than as a large standalone corporate label. Its business model depended on the infrastructure of Equal Vision Records and RED Distribution for label administration and distribution, while its public identity was shaped by Bemis’s curatorial role and relationships within the alternative-music community. Available reference material identifies the imprint, its founder, affiliation, distributor, and roster, but does not establish a current operating status, a separate headquarters, a standalone website, or detailed financial information.

Rory Records was founded in 2012 by Max Bemis, known principally as the frontman of Say Anything. Rather than operating as an entirely independent distribution company, the imprint was established within the Equal Vision Records structure. This arrangement placed Rory Records in the network of an established independent label while giving it a distinct identity associated with Bemis and his connections to alternative rock and emo. The imprint’s releases were distributed through Equal Vision’s distributor, RED Distribution. That relationship provided access to professional music-distribution infrastructure without requiring Rory Records to build a separate large-scale distribution operation. The available record does not specify a separate headquarters, corporate ownership structure beyond its Equal Vision affiliation, or the scale of its staff and operations. Rory Records’ documented roster included a mixture of established bands, solo artists, side projects, and newer independent acts. Say Anything was among the associated artists, alongside Matt Pryor, Merriment, Museum Mouth, Perma, Pretty & Nice, Rising Fawn, Saves the Day, and Two Tongues. TALLHART was listed among former acts and is identified as having disbanded in 2014. XO was also listed as part of the former roster. The imprint’s identity was therefore tied less to a broad commercial catalog than to its role as a curated outlet within the independent alternative-music scene. Its affiliation with Bemis, Equal Vision Records, and RED Distribution connected it to the wider infrastructure of American independent music. Publicly available reference material supplies only limited information about later activity, and does not confirm whether Rory Records remains active, dormant, or formally discontinued.

• 2014

  TALLHART disbands

  [1]Rory Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  TALLHART, listed among Rory Records’ former acts, disbands in 2014.

• 2012

  Rory Records is founded

  [1]Rory Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Max Bemis establishes Rory Records as an independent imprint of Equal Vision Records.

• 2012

  Distribution relationship identified

  [1]Rory Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Rory Records releases are distributed through Equal Vision Records’ distributor, RED Distribution.

An independent alternative-music imprint centered on artist-led releases and connected to the Equal Vision Records ecosystem.

• Recorded music · 2012

  Rory Records releases

  The imprint’s core output consists of recorded-music releases by artists associated with its roster. Public reference material identifies the label and its artists but does not provide a complete release catalog or enough detail to describe individual albums, EPs, formats, or release dates comprehensively.

• Music catalog · 2012

  Alternative and independent rock catalog

  Rory Records’ documented roster places its catalog within the alternative-rock, emo, punk-adjacent, and independent-music sphere. Associated acts include Say Anything, Saves the Day, Two Tongues, Perma, Merriment, Museum Mouth, Matt Pryor, Pretty & Nice, and Rising Fawn.

1. 1Rory Recordsen.wikipedia.org