Shakenstir » BoDeans Find Success Going D.I.Y.

BoDeans Find Success Going D.I.Y.

Though the do-it-yourself attitude has long been a staple of the punk community, more and more artists are taking matters into the own hands. With the future of the music industry in question, some bands have decided to do away with signing to a label altogether, and have found just as much—if not more—success on their own. As one of America’s premier roots-rock groups, the BoDeans are a primary example of this emerging trend. After having released nine records on various major and indie labels over the past 20 years, the Waukesha, WI band decided to form their own label, He & He LP, to put out their new album “Still.”

Released on March 4th, “Still” debuted in the Billboard Top 200, and came in at #30 on the Top Independent Albums chart. The record’s first single, “Everyday,” has also landed in the top 10 on the Americana charts, and is one of the top 3 most-added songs at Triple A radio. Though the BoDeans have seen this kind of success before, they have now reached these numbers independently by taking advantage of the industry’s current state. Utilizing partnerships with key retailers like Best Buy and Target, as well as doing a six-week nationwide radio and retail promotion tour, has helped facilitate initial sales of “Still,” and an upcoming headlining tour will further support the album.

To ensure the business side of He & He runs smoothly, the BoDeans have enlisted the services of several industry professionals, aiming to maximize “Still’s” success. With indie firms like OarFin, Koch, Under The Radar, Songlines and Moxie Star handling various aspects of distribution, radio promotion, publicity and marketing, the label—and thus, the band itself—is able to retain control. After decades of having their career dictated by others, the BoDeans are finally in the driver’s seat, and are proving that D.I.Y. isn’t just for punks anymore.

Since their inception in 1983, the BoDeans have had eight albums in the Billboard Top 200 and multiple singles in the Top 40. They were named “Best New Band” by Rolling Stone magazine in 1987, and also gained national exposure by touring with U2 that same year. Their hit song “Closer To Free” became the theme to Fox’s “Party Of Five” in the mid-‘90s, and was one of the most played songs at radio in 1996.

Though key members Kurt Neumann and Sammy Llanas have explored their own solo projects along the way, the BoDeans have remained active for nearly three decades.