Vancouver-based Peppermill Records is not your typical record label. First off, they’re a net-label…

Of course that’s not such a rare thing these days, but they specialize in using the net as a means to create uniquely curated worldwide collaborative projects.  Peppermill’s first release, the 30 Days project, brought thirty talented artists from all over the world together to create one song a day, starting back in December 2005. It was a “sort of chain-collaboration where one finished at midnight and passed it on to the next to continue the set”, says the Peppermill website, which also acknowledges that this idea was adapted from the democratic, collectively-run Soulseek Records (yes, that Soulseek). Seems like a perfect starting point for a cc netlabel — exemplary of the idea-sharing ethos that inspires the movement.  Peppermill’s site offers links to some fascinating co-conspirators in the net-audio world. The wizard behind Peppermill, PK, recently tipped me off to the lalala4e label out of Mexico and holy smokes!  Peppermill Records itself has gone on to release 15 fantastic albums — one of them extending the 30 Days idea into 52 Weeks, divided into four seasons. They’ve also ran into some interesting issues at the intersection of free music and fair use, which are really deserving of their own article (you can read about one of those projects here: http://www.peppermillrecords.com/comesitbymyfire/).  —————–  http://freemusicarchive.org/member/jason/blog/30_Days