By: Shane Bagot, Follow South Jersey Community Journalist
CHERRY HILL, N.J. – South Jersey’s independent record label, Unable Records, headquartered in Cherry Hill, is part of a larger organization called Unable Music Group. The record label was founded by Mike Ransom in Jacksonville, Florida, as a punk rock label.
Ransom had fallen out of the scene and was missing it. With no time to start a band, he decided to offer his knowledge and connections to a record label to help smaller artists.
“I wanted to start a label and help bands put out music,” Ransom said. “Maybe bands that couldn’t otherwise get some attention or couldn’t get the money behind their projects to get things out on their own. So I wanted to put out music that I wanted to listen to.”
Ransom grew up in the punk rock scene during the 1990s in South Jersey. He knew the business and knew the market. He had built up years of strong connections and memories from his time playing in bands. Ransom said it was a place to be together and hang with people you could build lifelong friendships with.
One of the inspirations for starting the company was his wife, Amanda. She had seen her husband’s detachment from the music scene affecting him. It was a part of him, and he needed to get back into it somehow. She motivated him in this direction. She is not involved in everyday operations, but is always a huge help to him.
“I lean on her for advice,” Ransom said. “The number one person that I go to when I need help working out a problem is her all the time. I couldn’t do it without her support.”
Since its start in 2007, the company has evolved past just the label. The last record released under Unable Records was King Rat’s 2017 record, No Apologies, No Regrets. Before the release, things were changing. It transitioned more to an artist services company. Described as a combination of a record label, publisher, and manager into one.
A change in the operation had come from the evolution in the music industry. Around 2015, Ransom had seen the effects of it. Streaming services were steadily on the rise, social media was becoming a huge part of how music was being pushed, and artists were at a point where they could do everything on their own. Ransom figured out that the artist needed advice and help navigating the industry.
An important aspect of the music for Ransom has always been connections. That followed him to his business.
“I have to sort of have some sort of connection with that artist,” Ransom said. “If I bring them on, it’s because I feel like their music is speaking to me in a way that is meaningful and that I can give them ideas to take that feeling and those connections and make them with their fans.”
Desire for connections is symbolized in his business partner and best friend, Jason Ruch. They met each other in 2011 when Ransom was looking for a studio to record a project. He interviewed Ruch’s studio, 0x1 Sound Studio, and they clicked instantly. They knew they had to find some way to work together. Luckily, they were the missing parts of each of their businesses that they needed.
The company is looking to move towards synchronization licensing for the future. They acquired a company, Sync Runner, which helps find opportunities to use music in media like film, television, video games, and commercials. While difficult to do, Ransom says the payoff could be very lucrative.
While the new wave of the industry the last few years, he does not want to forget about all they still do for bands.
“We’re going to put out records,” Ransom said. “Help artists put out records. Help them plan their marketing. I still love to do that.”
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