Moon Ska Records

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Moon Ska Records was one of the most influential ska record labels of the 1980s and 1990s.

The label operated from 1983 until 2000 and during those 17 years, only released ska and ska-influenced bands. Originally named Moon Records, as a tribute to Sun Records, the label changed its name to Moon Ska Records because another label owned the copyright to the Moon Records name. Moon Ska NYC (or just Moon Ska) was started by Robert "Bucket" Hingley, founding member of The Toasters. Based in New York City, Hingley started the label as a means to distribute albums by The Toasters. The label became an American source for many British ska import albums.

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The label rose to prominence in the early 1990s by releasing albums by many of the ska genre's biggest acts, such as The Toasters, The Slackers, Hepcat, The Scofflaws, Mephiskapheles and The Pietasters — as well as many up and coming bands such as Spring Heeled Jack and Mustard Plug. The label promoted non-Moon Ska bands through various compilation albums, featuring bands like The Allstonians, Gals Panic, Less Than Jake, and the earliest recordings by No Doubt. In 1997, the label branched out to form Ska Satellite Records, in order to produce albums from smaller acts at a lower budget. Moon Ska also produced patches and T-shirts that were sold at ska concerts around the world.

In the mid-1990s, the label operated its own store in East Village, Manhattan. The store was a way to buy albums directly from the source, at cheaper prices than those at chain stores. It became a hangout for both ska band members and fans from around the world.

Amidst the end of the ska boom of the mid-1990s, sales began to drop and many records were returned to the small label. Certain distribution companies were filing bankruptcy while owing Moon Ska thousands of dollars in unpaid invoices, for albums that were already sent to stores. Those same record stores refused to keep the album prices in the suggested $10 range, and instead marked them up to between $17 and $19. All of these factors led to the end of the Moon Ska store, and eventually, the label itself.

The label is survived by Moon Ska World (formerly Moon Ska Europe) which is a licensed affiliate, and is not owned by Hingley. The label, based in the United Kingdom, continues to release albums from acts such as The Upsessions, Skaville UK and Go Jimmy Go. Unlike its American sister label, Moon Ska World has released albums from outside of the ska genre. With the recent name change, it has announced that it will shift its focus to ska and old reggae roots with new albums by Rhoda Dakar, The Toasters and The Rudimentals in the pipeline.

In 2003, three years after the demise of Moon Ska Records, Hingley started his second ska label, named Megalith Records and the label has released material by The Toasters, New York Ska Jazz Ensemble, Victor Rice, Eastern Standard Time, Mr T Bone, Bomb Town, Bigger Thomas & The Hub City Stompers.

Ska

Mento - Calypso - Jazz - R&B - Rocksteady - Reggae - 2 Tone - Third wave ska - Ska jazz - Ska punk - J-ska - List of ska musicians - Music of Jamaica - Caribbean music genres - Caribbean music in the UK - Culture of Jamaica - Dance Hall (venue) - Skank (dance) - Sound system (Jamaican) - Toasting - Jamaican record producers - Studio One - Trojan Records - Blue Beat Records - 2 Tone Records - Moon Ska Records - Asian Man Records
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