The End Records

Lore & Background

The End Records was founded by Andreas Katsambas in Pasadena, California, with the goal of helping small underground artists. Within three years it became a full-time job, and Katsambas moved the office to Salt Lake City in 2002. Too underground to get a national distribution deal, he started his own webstore, which helped cover basic expenses and slowly started bringing in other titles. The next three years were critical in expanding the label, which began signing bands such as The Gathering, Crisis, Arcturus, Ulver and more.

In 2005, after meeting with many major distribution companies, The End signed a national distribution deal with RED Music and moved to Brooklyn, New York, the following year. The move enabled the label to expand and diversify its roster with artists such as Mindless Self Indulgence, Danzig, Lemonheads, Juliette Lewis, Badly Drawn Boy, Brendan Perry, Art Brut, The Prodigy, Anathema, Dir En Grey, and Anvil. In 2007, The End was featured in Fortune Small Business and CNN, which won Fortune their sole New York Press Club award for entertainment news in the magazine category. In 2008, the label won the CMJ Indie Label of the Year award and celebrated Mindless Self Indulgence's entrance into the Billboard Top 30 Charts.

In 2010, multi-platinum-selling artist Danzig entered the Top 40 charts with Deth Red Sabaoth. The label adapted to industry changes by signing indie electronic artists like Audio Bullys and Does It Offend You Yeah? along with electro-dub artists The Orb and The Prodigy. In 2012, the label released the Halo 4 Original Soundtrack, which cracked the record for Billboard's Highest Charting Video Game Soundtrack ever. In June 2016, The End was acquired by BMG Rights Management.

Reader's Guide

The End Records played a significant role in bridging underground metal and indie scenes with mainstream distribution, particularly through its national deal with RED Music and later with ADA. The label's ability to adapt to industry changes—from signing electronic acts to releasing a record-breaking video game soundtrack—demonstrated its flexibility. Its acquisition by BMG Rights Management in 2016 marked the end of its independent era, but its legacy includes launching or supporting artists like Mindless Self Indulgence, Danzig, and Lordi, as well as preserving catalogs like Music For Nations. The label's CMJ Indie Label of the Year award and its role in bringing Finnish metal band Lordi to international attention (after Lordi won Eurovision with 120,000,000 votes) underscore its cultural impact.

Did You Know?

• The End Records was founded in Pasadena, California, and later moved to Salt Lake City before settling in Brooklyn, New York.
• In 2008, the label won the CMJ Indie Label of the Year award.
• The End Records released the Halo 4 Original Soundtrack, which became Billboard's Highest Charting Video Game Soundtrack ever.
• The label was acquired by BMG Rights Management in June 2016.