toxichighway web store FAQ section

While certainly true, the way we run things here is entirely different to the way typical "labels" are run. First off, Toxic Highway founder/president Aaron Tom, created it as a means to self-release his projects. Thus, he has a direct hand in creating each album released by the label. He's also got a direct hand in promoting the album, from designing the front cover artwork, right down to the creation of music videos. This ensures that each project is properly understood, and marketed accordingly. Furthermore, recording and advertising costs are kept to a bare minimum, with a majority of the advertising done, for free, online. This means, unlike other labels, we don't charge you $13 for something that costs $2 or less to produce. All of our albums are $7, including shipping, EVERY DAY. Lastly, it's in our music. Each and every one of the four projects that comprise Toxic Highway Recordings have their own style, their own sound, and, most importantly, their own IDENTITY. Each band sounds entirely different from the next, which keeps things fresh and unique. We're not in this to become famous...we're in it to make music, and allow the masses to share in our vision of what music can, and perhaps should, be.

There are two answers: First, we aim to cut costs in every possible production area, allowing us to offer our CDs for cheaper. While it may not sound like much, slim-line CDs weigh .3 oz. less than standard cases. Believe it or not, that's enough to mean roughly $.25 savings in shipping costs for EACH album shipped. That adds up over time. Secondly, we like the compact size of the slim-line cases anyway, as the standard cases feel too big and bulky.

Too many things to go into, but I can hit a few key points: We don't gyp our artists out of well-deserved royalties; we don't sell our albums for ridiculous prices ($13 for a CD nowadays? Really?); we don't have any desire to cater to people's tastes to become rich and famous; we boycott GREEDY corporate establishments (including eBay, SnoCap, and iTunes, who take FAR more out of each sale than they should be entitled to)...in other words, we're a label of average people, catering to the average person.