[cookythecook]

Awesome news. Hope death waltz doesn't go away and just become a part of mondo. Love death waltz!!!!!! Hopefully the deluxe subscriptions continue to be offered too, never wanna part with mine.

[Darren LD1984]

That's amazing news. Congratulations Spencer!

[philball1974]

Value of DW sub editions have just gone up!!

[tim28212]

let the flipping commence!

[manuorru]

Needed a few minutes for realize, but now I'm turning more and more convinced this is a good thing!
Congrats Spence!

[EdKings]

Great news for DW and Mondo! Congrats to Spencer! Hope this doesn't affect the superb service from DW, they've always been verry up to date with the customer. Hoping DW still going for subsciptions for the deluxe versions. Congrats to both!

[texasvinyl]

Congrats on the (presumably) big check from Drafthouse and new responsibilities! This will be a good thing and facilitate opportunities for both brands.

[chuck]

Spence, you're the perfect man for the job. If there's anyone out there crazy enough to do this and do it well, it's you. Best of luck.

[liftman2013]

Congrats to Spencer! I initially read that too as The death of death waltz amd thought 'oh no!'. But if that doesnt mean that and the labels thrive onwards fantastic!

More conpanies should be like this. Less rivals and helping each other out for the best!

[philball1974]

Does this mean mondo hq is moving "down to margate" ha!!

Can we see waxwork/ows join forces as well?

[Spun out of control]

@philball1974

My thoughts exactly re: Waxwork and OWS...

@liftman2013

Generally I feel that more labels and more competition is a good thing for vinyl enthusiasts - think Spencer himself has said in the past it encouraged him to up his game what with newcomers appearing all the time, and that's no bad thing, and a lot better than one big complacent conglomerate (not that I'm suggesting that's what DW and Mondo will become)

[liftman2013]

@Spun no that is true give me a small personnel organisation dealing with something over a big company where your just a number anyday of the week

Competition is fun and although we love to complain about them its always interesting to me that they all have varying release strategies. Some obv alot better than others...

So who knows where it will go from here. More releases. Less but greater ones? Better release strategies and pricing?...

[Hoodini]

The conglomerates wars begins...
Nah iam joking ; iam sure it 's a great news ; I mean to see dedicated people right on the spot !
Best of Luck Mr Spencer, iam sure you will take care of us and destroy some flippers in the excitment

[blakeheartsmusic]

well, as a resident of Austin, that remembers when Mondo was more or less a small T-shirt and poster shop attached to the drafthouse theatre, I've personally seen a strange shift. 2 years ago, I remember trying to avoid the hassles of personal international shipping, and thought that local shops such as Waterloo records could help me out. At the time, they had no idea what I was talking about, and said they couldn't put orders in for such specific boutique releases. *at the time End of an Ear did have some cool vintage OSTs to classics, and knew what I was inquiring about.

I think a lot of the initial mondo vinyl hype was secondary to the astronomical poster hype ($500 variant posters for The Thing). Obviously the presentation is a huge draw to both entities, but the quality of restoration, and personal love that Spencer has for his releases is what really sets it apart. Reading retrospective liner notes from original composers / musicians, connects me with the work in a way that opens up the soundtrack to exist in a separate realm.

I personally find it sad that people try to commoditize and profit off of niche interests, especially when they may not even realize the power of Spencer's work, rescuing and reinvigorating musical bodies of work that would otherwise be inaccessible. I love the attention to aesthetic detail, and know how much it helps create a more personal connection with the work than a digital download, but, it is also disappointing to see releases instantly placed at mark up. Not just because it deprives honest fans from collectively being able to enjoy the work, but also because another person is profiting, apart from the DW team that works so hard.

Perhaps this will also mitigate some of the UK vs US release discrepancies. I'm very excited, I think it will set an overall precedence of quality, forcing other labels to rise to the occasion as well. Congrats Death Waltz, you deserve it!

[Hatter313]

well said. the more I think about it, the more I think this will turn out to be good news. I was always into Mondo's work before they started their label, and some of my first forays into the reissue game was with them, but the usual complaints are what keep me from fully embracing them. however, knowing that Spencer, who has created not only a wonderful and pioneering label but also a business model that is open and transparent with its customers, is going to be running the Mondo label now really makes me smile. I think amazing things are in store for us, and I hope that all those problems we have had with Mondo in the past will start to be ironed out with Spencer's leadership.

[hugeworm1224]

Sorry to change the subject a bit but I was just wondering if spencer had ever mentioned what he would have available at his booth during mondocon?

[toosoonjunior]

I, for one, welcome our new soundtrack overlords.

[deafmetal]

This surely means that the new DW/Mondo juggernaut will be able to repress The Thing, yes?

[matowest]

toosoonjunior
I, for one, welcome our new soundtrack overlords.
You have my undying respect for making this joke.

[philball1974]

Yeah he is.....
Come hang at the DW booth , we’ll have free stickers , badges and totes for forum members

[karswell]

toofunnytoosoonjunior!

[ghostfires]

If you check out End Of An Ear's Instagram, they put up a picture of Spencer and friends hanging out in their shop.

[deathwaltz]

I'll be at the booth all weekend with Carlos.

We'll also have Sonny & Biddy on Hand to sign and doodle and Kimberlery Dunne (Forbidden World art) will be on hand too.

Come say Hi and have a chat.

Also bring donuts.

[Hardrain02]

I think the joining of forces should yield some amazing packages. Cant wait to see what happens. And what the future titles will be for both labels.

Will the Margate shop/Gallery still be going ahead? Been looking forward to spending some time there once open.

[zachbehm91]

This is nothing but positive for me. Not sure if anyone has said this yet, but...
I hope we get a Mondo subscription like Death Waltz has. It would be nice to not have to worry so much about loosing a release to flippers because i did not have money, or i was at work, or heck i was just in the bathroom with out my phone since they sell out so fast – when they announce the sale. That way the enjoyment of the release and music could be first and foremost rather than coming after frustration from having to buy a release from some guy online selling it for 50$ more.

Also the prospect of having digital freaking downloads of mondo releases like Death Waltz does whenever they can would bring such a smile to my face.

I think Spencer is a music/movie/vinyl fan first and foremost and that he understands it a little better than Justin does over at Mondo who i think comes from a more of a toy perspective. He is a huge fan of toys which is awesome - but toys have a completely different fan base - where people are completely okay with spending over 200$ for something that is NEW and not being sold by a flipper. I realize the records are not that much - but they are still a ton - and while the artwork with Mondo is a huge deal - it should also be about the music too, and i think Spencer puts the music before the outer packaging - giving us amazing remasters etc. I think the combination of Justin's eye for the presentation - mixed with Spense's ear for the music will be an amazing combo.