Dischord Records
1980–present·Washington, DC·1 band
Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson's DC label and the gold standard for DIY ethics. Minor Threat, Rites of Spring, Fugazi, Jawbox, Shudder to Think, Lungfish, Q and Not U. 50/50 splits, no contracts, affordable records, all-ages shows. The operation has been running out of the same Georgetown rowhouse since 1980 and the ethos hasn't budged an inch. Every DIY label that actually means it is modeled on this one.