80 One Records
Find out what JMU’s very own record label is all about
By Carrie Teichert, contributing writer
Posted on November 2, 2006

From singing in the shower to performing in front of hundreds of people, JMU’s own record label 80 One Records is making student musical artists’ dreams come true.

Founded by professor Chris Stup in fall 2003, 80 One Records makes up a branch of the University Program Board. Stup wanted to create a label that could sign and produce student musical artists. Alumn us Matt Stuart and senior Sean Branigan were approached by Stup and became the label’s first student directors.

An executive board that keeps the label up and running, with Maleika Cole as the current student director. However, a great deal of student involvement beyond the executive board.  80 One Records provides experience and exposure to various aspects of the music industry. Students are involved in committees ranging from promotions and marketing to distribution, making it a completely student-run business.

According to senior Randi Sponenberg, current University Program Board president and former 80 One Records director of label promotions, 80 One Records is unique in that it is the only student-run record label in the country that is run through a program board. Most college record labels are run through music schools or music industry departments.

80 One Records functions on a limited budget and is funded through the University Program Board. UPB is a Front End Budgeted group on campus, which means that it receives most of its money from the SGA every year, and a portion of that budget is allocated to 80 One Records, Sponenberg said.

Senior Kat Ninno is the project promotions chair and has been involved with the label since her freshman year. Ninno said JMU is one of few universities, especially of its size, to provide such a unique service to the student body by the student body.

“80 One Records is about bringing the music of the students, back to the students, all while being run by the students themselves,” Ninno said.

Currently the label has two signed artists, seniors Nathaniel Baker and Eddie Cain Irvin.

Baker was approached his freshman year by Stuart and Branigan after he played at the label’s first concert. Since then, Baker has released two CDs. Irvin signed with the label in spring 2005 and just performed his first CD release show this fall. Since 80 One Records doesn’t have a recording studio on campus, Irvin had to record his first album LifedieLife Dedicated, on his own. He is currently working on his second album.

“80 One is an amazing building block to starting a musical career,” Baker said.  “It’s a good way to get comfortable performing and to perfect your sound as a musician.”

Sponenberg said it is an amazing experience to watch the music go from an idea in someone’s head to a pressed album.

“My favorite memory from working with the record label was the release of Nathaniel Baker’s EP The Black & White EP last February,” she said. 80 One Records had started working on Baker’s new album in July when they began recording the music. From there on, the label and Baker worked tirelessly on preparing the album for release in February

“The steps involved in putting on a release show and preparing the album for release were an incredible learning experience and all of the work paid off when we were able to sit back and watch people enjoying the music at the release show and buying the album to bring home,” Sponenberg said.

Irvin admits that being signed to the label has helped his career as a musical artist.

“Since signing with the label, incredible things have happened,” Irvin said.  His band opened for Guster at the JMU Fall Convocation show. Irvin also thrives on the immense support he receives from the various 80 One committees involved with his promotions as an artist. 

In regards to the relationship the two men will have with 80 One Records after they graduate, they will no longer be an artist under the label.

“80 One is strictly for students here at JMU,” Baker said.  “It would be nice to stay on because they have helped me out a lot.”

While under the label, 80 One Records tries to promote its artists to other labels in hopes that they will be signed to another label after graduation. 

Recently, 80 One Records has signed two artists to Artist Development Contracts, Nelly Kate and Doug Roberts. 80 One Records is always accepting demos for consideration and encourages students to submit materials for review.

For information regarding 80 One Records, visit upb.jmu.edu. Also be sure check out Nathaniel Baker at nathaniel-baker.com and Eddie Cain Irvin at eddiecain.com.